NH7 All-Stars: Randolph Correia, Benny Dayal, Vishal Dadlani, Papon and Ankur Tewari: Picture: Parizad D

Karsh Kale Collective + The NH7 All-Stars

You have heard of Karsh Kale Collective, who blend a range of musical genres. But what about The NH7 All-Stars? It’s a line-up that changes with every show and one wonders what’s in store for Calcutta. Before the December 15 (Bacardi Arena) gig, Karsh Kale chats with t2.

Your best Bacardi NH7 Weekender memory?

I’d have to say playing Driven To Tears by the Police with Paul Meany from Mutemath on vox and me jumping on the drums in Delhi.

The NH7 All-Stars: how do you choose songs for musicians who cover a wide range of genres?

Most of the musicians and guests are people that I have worked with before, so it’s not really difficult to cater the set a bit to feature them as guests. Often there are tracks I have worked on with them before, or a cover of a song we said we should do one day. It also has a lot to do with the (Karsh Kale) Collective material we choose to do. Each show we try and take people on a journey so the guests and the songs are chosen according to the graph of the journey.

And how do you decide on the set list for your gigs?

When it’s not the NH7 All-Stars joining, I still have a huge pool of music to choose from to perform, from all my old albums to new material I’ve written with the Collective. We never play the same show twice and that keeps it interesting for me as well.

How much of your life gets reflected in your compositions?

My music is all about my life. I cannot escape it. But for me it’s a way of taking a specific pain or triumph and painting an abstract picture for others to interpret on their own. That’s the thing about music, it can convey emotion and become a mirror for someone even if the language is foreign.

How much effort does it take to come up with titles for songs?

Titles are the least important part of the process and often just happen by the time a song is done, or because I have to name it for some deadline.

How have you managed to shy away from Bollywood and yet remain popular?

There is no conscious avoidance of Bollywood. I have just been busy doing other things. My true love for music is the ability to make my own and perform it live. Being in the studio and staring at a computer screen is becoming less and less appealing to me.

Quick take

What do you like most about festivals?

When a festival becomes a tribal gathering where people let their defences down and cut loose together.

An unforgettable festival moment

Every finale has been a highlight for me.

Craziest thing you have done

Stepping up in front of 9,000 people who have just spent three days watching some of the best musical acts in India, and then doing a concert for all of them is pretty crazy.

How do you unwind?

Let it all go.

A great singer and song you have recently heard

Paul Meany of Mutemath and all their songs.

Picture: Navin Devnani

Dualist Inquiry BAND

Calcutta has been waiting for this cool EDM act –– the brainchild of Sahej Bakshi –– and it will rock the Eristoff Wolves Den stage on December 15. A quick chat with Sahej.

What can we expect from the Dualist Inquiry Band’s first performance in Calcutta?

We’re really excited. The band is an expanded version of my live set-up, and features a lot more live instrumentation and energy. We’re going to be playing an all-original set with a mix of my old, new and unreleased tunes.

When did you decide that electronica is your thing?

There were two moments: when I realised that making music on a computer is not easy, and the second was when I walked into a 100,000-person stadium rave in LA!

What do you have to say to people who think electronica is all about big beats?

I think a lot of people end up experiencing electronic music mostly in nightclubs and music festivals, where there’s an inevitable bias towards playing thumping beats. But electronica is so much more than that; it’s music at the end of the day. All of my favourite electronica, thumping or not, makes me feel something, and that’s why I listen to it.

Do you think music these days is best heard on earphones?

No, I don’t think music is best heard on earphones. Maybe if you’re travelling or in a crowded airport, but my favourite way of listening to music is definitely on a really nice set of speakers at a low-medium volume in my studio.

Quick take

First concert you attended

My first proper outdoor concert was Maroon 5 in my first week of college in LA.

What do you take away most from a place you visit?

Food and condiments.

A song that always gets the audience going

Adustam’s Number2.

EDM aristes hipsters are enjoying…

In India, people have been grooving out to Madboy/Mink, Frame/Frame and Sandunes. Internationally, I’ve been enjoying artistes like Flume, Nero, Noisia, Kill Paris and more.

A song you can’t get out of your mind

Reset by Mutemath.

ZERO

The alternative rock band (featuring Rajeev Talwar on vocals, Sidd Coutto on drums, Girish ‘Bobby’ Talwar on bass and Warren Mendonsa on guitars) from Mumbai has been around since the late 1990s. But instead of falling apart, the band goes on a vacation after every other Weekender gig. So, get ready for a Zero reunion in Calcutta on December 15 (Red Bull Tour Bus). Sidd fields a few questions from t2.

Almost at every other Weekender, there is a Zero reunion. What makes this event special?

It’s a total party. Music, musicians, happy people and joy. Every single one has been like that. Zero is family and we haven’t gigged in almost two years now, so we’ll be all geared up.

You are still popular among college-goers!

The older kids pass on their music to the younger kids, and Zero songs have managed to get passed on all these years later. I suppose we had catchy songs.

In terms of sonic elements, what are some of the changes you see from the band’s early days in the late ’90s?

As Zero, I think we try and sound the same. All of us make music separately now with different influences and different sound. But when we’re Zero, it’s the same ol’ rock ’’ roll.

Being veterans on the music scene, who are some of your favourite discoveries (singers/groups) at festivals in India?

I just saw Dhruv Visvanath and really liked him. There was a band from Chennai called Joos that I saw in 2000 at NLS Strawberry Fields at Bangalore. I still remember their songs.

Quick take

Favourite music festival

Navratri! I’m kidding. But second best to Bacardi NH7 Weekender is any of the other Bacardi NH7 Weekenders.

Music festival nightmare

I didn’t know Storm Festival was a camping scene till I reached there at 4.30am after 10 hours on the road from Bangalore airport. I was not a happy camper.

Singer you would like as your festival date

Lily Allen. Big fan.

Your usual after-after party

Zero’s is food, alcohol and laughter. These days it’s pretty much the same but the food comes much later.

Text: Mathures Paul
Which Bacardi NH7 Weekender gig are you most looking forward to? Tell t2@abp.in' t2@abp.in

NH7 Weekender will be held on December 14-15 at Ibiza Resort (Merlin Greens). For information and tickets, visit NH7.in/weekender. You can book tickets at indianstage.in or ‘dial a ticket’ at +919243777970 or +919674211388. Season ticket: Rs 1,750. Single day ticket: Rs 1,000. Under-21 season ticket: Rs 1,000