Mixing music and art

Amrit Mohan added more meaning to his love for Grunge by starting ‘Mocaine’, a band that mostly performs Grunge and Blues music. He began writing and painting from a young age. But music scored over and Amrit soon contemplated making a career in music. Amrit talks to Metrolife about his love for music and his journey so far.

What’s the idea behind the band name?

I wanted to give the band an abstract name. It can mean different things to different people. It is just like when one looks at abstract art. ‘Mocaine’ is not a word in English. It is a word I came up with. Technically, as a published author, you can say be said that I invented it.

What inspires you to make music?

I was always inclined towards music. I write, make music and also paint. I had 10 to 15 tracks that I had originally written between 2010-2015. When I started writing, I did not have an idea if I would stick to writing or performance but when I finished recording the songs, I realised that I wanted to perform them.

Tell us about the band members?

‘Mocaine’ is a three-piece band. I pair up with different session players for different shows. I am the only permanent member of the band because it is hard to find a permanent member. I enjoy pairing up with new bands and artistes, giving a new edge every time we are on the stage. So, I would say everyone I perform with is a part of the band.

What are your favourite performance spots?

We’ve played in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru Varanasi, and Gwalior so far.‘blue FROG’, Bengaluru was by far the best, followed by The Finch in Mumbai.

Your thoughts about the audience here...

Bengalureans seem to like our kind of music. Everything from the sound to the audio engineering, everybody seems to like what we put together. The audience here is attentive and they make an effort to support the Indie scene.

What sets you apart from other bands?

We are probably the only blues-grunge band in the country at this point. I don’t know of any other band exploring this kind of sound and experimenting with this genre. Secondly, when you perform with musicians like Kabir Agarwal, who are really well-versed in Blues, it adds to the whole charm.

What songs do you enjoy performing?

We have a set list of 30 songs, of which 17 are originals and 13 are covers of bands like ‘Harvey danger’, ‘Snow patrol’, and ‘Nirvana’.

Your biggest challenge...

In the indie scene, it is money.