Delhi band plays universal compositions
Four boys with abiding love for music all grew up in Delhi but had little idea then that they would be able to take this passion forward –together, in the form of a band called Bramhanaad in 2008. Since then, they have been composing tracks in Indo-fusion, putting together elements of rock, folk and pop.
“It is not possible to follow a genre as it can limit work,” says Sarthak, the band’s tabla maestro. So how did they all come together?
Niloy, the bass player tells Metrolife, “Shrehans, the drummer and I used to jam together. We saw Pranoy playing guitar during Durga Puja once and were impressed enough to ask him to join us.
Sarthak Pahwa, a tabla player was the last to sign up.” That they created magic together was proved when Brahmanaad won the Real Rockstar Hunt contest in 2011 from among 15 bands.
What are the challenges when they perform live?
“The best part is, you perform with spontaneity and know how you have fared immediately. The audience is intelligent enough to know the difference between good and bad music. The worst thing that can happen is the sound system going haywire.” Something that the band has already experienced while performing at Powerplay, a sports bar in Gurgaon where the sound system was not on the right mode. Earlier we used to perform without checking the system. Now we limit ourselves to places where the system is foolproof. Quality matters more.”
Have they had any funny moments? Sarthak is the first to share one, “While performing in Charmwood, Faridabad, I was handed a mike instead of the table. Not knowing what to do, I began dancing on stage while my team mates gawked!”
How has it been like performing in Delhi Colleges? “DU gets all sorts of youngsters. The exposure one gets is incredible. As performers we try to learn about their tastes in music, what excites them, what they relate to, their reaction to dharna and naraa.”
For an artist and his audience it becomes an over-lapping of interests. Other than pursuing their passion as a group, they individually contribute to the music societies in their college. They have also performed in IIT Delhi apart from IHC and Siri Fort.
With a total of 16 original compositions the band has given music in plays directed under Film and Theatre Society (FTS). Atul Satya Kaushik, resident director of FTS is the inspiration behind their first hit song, Khwaab. “It is the most requested song,” shares Niloy.
Who is their muse? “Indian Ocean,” they chorus, apart from Grammy-winner Imogen Heap and AR Rahman. Sarthak counts Zakir Hussain and Sivamani amongst his favourites.
