Who: Krishti, a fivesome comprising mass communication students Biswapratim Chakraborty and Suryarshi Mitra from St Xavier’s College, English literature student Aritro Ghosh from Sarsuna College and Class XII students Rajdeep Bose and Gourab Biswas from Vivekananda Mission School and Kendriya Vidyalaya School respectively.

The group came together to form the band — krishti in Bengali stands for culture — trying to forge an emotional, approachable sound. The youngsters are trying to revive their generation’s interest in Baul music, fusing progressive sounds with roots music to stand out from the usual fare.

Krishti has been quick in gathering appreciation, bagging the runners-up prize at the Calcutta Medical College fest this September. The band also shone at the Calcutta National Medical College fest and performed as a guest band at Shibpur BE College and West Bengal Tourism Launch Puja — all within a span of six weeks of its genesis.

How: Drummer Rajdeep, vocalist Surya and guitarist Gourab started jamming together. Aritro was roped in on keyboards, while Biswa joined as bass player a little later. Fond listeners, the five thought of creating their own music.

Why: The band uses its songs to vent collective anguish and disappointment and also to sing paeans to the rootsy heroes that are Bauls.

Style: A blend of traditional Baul vocals, with complex compositional structures and elaborate instrumentation borrowed from progressive rock, makes for an experimental sound. Krishti’s sound questions conventions. The band doesn’t hesitate to incorporate metal, reggae or punk sounds within traditional vocal formats of folk music.

Krishti’s originals Shonar tori and Ami bachbo deal with the two main elements of Baul philosophy — dehatatva and bhabtatva . Lyrics, as in Baul music, are open to various interpretations.

Next: Krishti plans a recording soon to showcase its unusual content.