JOIN USRanked as the number one Indian rock band in 2015 by Sennheiser, ‘The Local Train’ performed at Hard Rock Cafe recently.
In an interview with Dhanyata Poovaiah, the band members Ramit Mehra, Raman Negi, Sahil Sarin, Paras Thakur talked about their band and their upcoming single.
How has your music journey been so far?
Raman: It has been a very exciting journey. We have been together for six years now. Every day is a learning experience. We are presently working on our new album called ‘Vaaqif’ and we will be releasing a new single called ‘Dil Nawaz’ in a couple of days.
How did it feel to be ranked as the number one Indian rock band by ‘Sennheizer’ in 2015
Raman: We felt great especially because we were judged by Shankar Ehsaan Loy but we don’t really believe in rankings. However, such rankings do give us recognition which in a way pushes us to work harder and set higher bars for ourselves.
Your YouTube videos have got over a million views, how does it feel?
Ramit: Internet is the only platform for us to connect with people. We would like to thank our fans for promoting our band by sharing our videos. Earlier, during the cassette era, it was difficult for a band to promote themselves but now it is much easier.
What was your reaction when Raghu Dixit praised your band?
Paras: It was overwhelming. When established artistes recognise our work. It feels good and also give us motivation. We have actually performed with him on several occasions and he is a very down-to-earth person.
What were the challenges you faced?
Sahil: We first began as a DIY band, without any support structure. From writing the lyrics, recording the song and filming the video, we did everything on our own. Also, we had to invest our own money into filming our videos.
What is your source of inspiration?
Raman: We try to use both good times and bad times we have had as a band while writing our songs. Our fans motivate us to perform better. We are inspired by our fans and the people we meet.
What was your most memorable performance?
Ramit: It is difficult to pick one any as our favourite. We get to travel a lot, visit new places, meet new people. Bengaluru has always given us a good response. Also performing in small towns give us a special feeling.
Where do you see the band 10 years down the line?
Paras: We hope to become an international band some day. We wish people from other countries also listen to our songs, and we get to perform outside India too.
Does the name ‘The Local Train’ signify anything?
Sahil: One day we were trying to upload our first song ‘Choolo’ on MySpace and randomly one of us called our band as ‘The Local Train’ and we just got stuck with it.