Bands create musical riot

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All-girl band The Vinyl Records is known for fusing Indie and post punk with a dash of glam

Young and talented Indie musicians can win it all at the month-long Delhi Indie Night’s “Battle of the Bands” competition — an hour slot on a reputed radio channel, a music video, spa treatment for the whole band, a free trip to Sirohi and a crate of beer.

Having experienced multi-band competitions in the past, where heavy metal and classic rock bands dominate, Delhi Indie Night decided to give alternative and Indie rock bands a chance to establish themselves.
“There is so much fresh and hidden talent in India which is overlooked. We wanted to provide a platform to these younger musicians,” says Andy Dodd, co-founder of Delhi Indie Night.
Nathan Steele, also a co-founder of Delhi Indie Night, adds, “All the time I lived in Delhi, I felt that there is a gap in the live music scene. It turns out that there are great Indie bands out there. They just haven’t had the exposure they deserve till date. So, we thought of organising this event, where we have some really energetic bands giving a power-packed performance every Saturday at Cafe 27.”
Sixty bands had registered for the competition and this has whittled down to the best twelve by the judges. “We want to make live music more accessible by offering free entry, away from the exclusivity of five star venues,” adds Nathan.
The organisers and the music enthusiasts believe that the Indie music scene is in the early stages of development in Delhi.
“Heavy metal and classic rock-style music is still what the majority of gigs are centered around. However, there are some great, new bands in Delhi which I’m convinced are going to make it big. Some of the freshest, most forward-thinking music is coming from really young bands in their late teens and early 20’s. They are the generation, which will change the scene of Indie music in India. This is the kind of fresh, vibrant music which must be heard by all live-music lovers in Delhi,” says Andy.
Reuben Cheriyan, a self taught musician influenced by genres like the blues, rock, soul and jazz shares, “Delhi Indie Night is a great platform for a young musician to get noticed. I am lucky as I am the only solo artist in the entire competition. The rest are all bands, consisting of three or more members playing different instruments. So, it gave me a lot of exposure. Plus the audience has been the kind who listen and pays attention to what is being played, which means a lot to a performer.”
Siddhant Agarwal, guitarist for the band Incredible Mind Funk, says that their band is a mix of various genres. “We play different genres involving a fusion of psychedelic rock, funk rock and Indie music. Inspired by Incubus and Advaita, I feel we have a very unique sound and coming into this competition, which is a tough one, I think we have a good chance of going through the finals. The best part about this competition is the fact that there are no judges involved and the best band gets voted by the audience,” says Siddhant.
Arun Singh Ravi, vocalist and the guitarist of the Mumbai-based hardcore punk band has flown down to the capital to be a part of the competition. “Platforms like this are a basic need for home grown music to survive and grow. We are all set to rock the capital with our power-packed performance. Our USP is we will be playing at least nine original compositions in 20 minutes.”
The “Battle of the Bands” final, will take place on April 27 at Cafe 27 in the capital