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| Peppermint Sunshine performs at The Basement in Hotel Samilton. Picture by Rashbehari Das |
Peppermint Sunshine, a new pop-folk-alternative band, performed at The Basement on May 7, with Arijit Sett on guitar and vocals, Bhaskar Dutta on guitar, violin and vocals, Arka Alam on guitar and vocals, Anirban Karak on cello, bass, violin and vocals and Dhritiman Das on lead and bass guitar.
The performance was mint-fresh with the right mix of attitude and a sing-along playlist. Covers included Sing Along by Dave Matthews Band and Blue Man Group, Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen, Haye bhalobashi by Mohiner Ghoraguli and being “big Beatles buffs”, Across The Universe and In My life. Originals featured, too, with the semi-autobiographical Song Of My Youth, the upbeat Everybody Run and the more subdued Lost and A Little Bit Of Love.
Friends first, the group had jammed together for projects where music was a “by-product”. For example, Magic Wallrush street exhibition that was founded jointly by Arijit, Arka and Opashona Ghosh. Opashona was also in charge of “value additions” at the show, so out came the shocking pink wigs, friends blowing soap bubbles and the fairground atmosphere.
Arijit, a second-year student of English, stressed the “JU connection” which set the ball rolling. Anirban, a violinist and pianist, also teaches in Abraham Mazumder’s academy. The final addition to the group is 17-year-old Dhritiman ‘Topshe’ Das, who just appeared for the ISC examinations from Don Bosco Park Circus.
And what does Peppermint Sunshine imply? “It’s very obviously Beatles-influenced,” smiled Topshe.
The band was formed a week before the gig and is already trying to record and release their originals independently. With four vocalists, they are working with harmonisation and the cello and violin, and melodic music and acoustics. A double bassist Sandeepan Das will join them, and they are on the lookout for a drummer.
