As the distorted guitars and driving beat of ‘In a hole’ by Jamc comes to a close and the quirky ‘Stereo’ by Pavement begins, I start to hear the faint rumblings of 5 drum sets in the distance banging out the usual danceable bollywood track. As I gaze out the window I see people dressed in their best, moving in a circle, as if drawn to the noise. It had completely escaped my mind that this was navratri season and this was not uncommon at 11:58 pm but as my mind wandered to different subjects, I strained to listen to the final few notes of probably the greatest indie band of the early 90’s. My annoyance with the party goers grew when the next song on my list was completely inaudible over the racket (‘Washer’ by Slint if you’re wondering). That’s when I asked myself the question….is it possible to be indie and Indian at the same time?
Sure I had been drawn to indie music as a kid, just because it was something different and something many people didn’t know about, but it gave me so much more than that, something that mainstream rock could never give me….a different outlook on life. I began listening to music by artists that were equally or in some cases more talented than artists heard on the radio, but apparently all they did wrong was not sign away their integrity to a major label, they did not make a deal with the devil and as a result mainstream popularity eluded them. But they still had the drive and passion needed to make good rock and roll. As a young kid I never knew the difference between good and bad music, I accepted the music on Mtv at face value, heck I even liked rap at one stage!! But as I grew up I realized I didn’t fit in either with the jocks or with the nerds, I needed a place to belong, I needed answers to life and I needed them now! Indie gave those answers to me….not just indie music but indie movies, indie books .I found out that there’s a whole another world out there that most Indians don’t even see or care about. I felt part of a worldwide community of misfits who weren’t head banging or moshing to Megadeth but listening in delight to the mournful croon of Morrissey from The Smiths. Delighted we banded together as a faction of outsiders conspiring to take over the music world. Every day I wake up and feel like a kid in the candy store as I search the internet for new bands coming out of nowhere but having the ability of becoming the next Nirvana and everyday as I listen to the freshly downloaded tracks (thanks limewire) I ask myself the same question “how in hell is this band not more well known?” The answer though is pretty clear, these bands have two options…option (a) give up creative and control and do what the guys in the suits tell you to do or option (b) create what you want, when you want and stick your middle fingers up their corporate asses.
That brings me back to the question at hand, can you be Indian and indie at the same time. Believe me when I say I’ve tried. I’m sure my peers still don’t get what I see in indie music, according to them as long as its loud and you can head bang to it, that its good but I’m here to tell you my friends……you’re probably right, but hear me out when I say that by not asking more from your music, aren’t you just a thoughtless sheep that goes along with what’s popular at the moment? Break out of this safe, protective bubble you’ve created around you and explore the dark, seedy underbelly where the music is raw and exciting and sometimes even scary.
New dilemma: Forming a band with people with the same taste in music as you. The countless number of people that refuse to jam with me just because I won’t agree that linkin park is the greatest band around. Indie is a dirty word around my band mates and as soon as it is mentioned comes the cries of “people won’t listen to us if we play these songs”. So what I ask isn’t it better to play for 10 people music that you like than playing music that sucks to a crowd of 1000. I know, I know taste in music is a person’s personal choice but hell this is my blog and this is my taste. Peace.
Sure I had been drawn to indie music as a kid, just because it was something different and something many people didn’t know about, but it gave me so much more than that, something that mainstream rock could never give me….a different outlook on life. I began listening to music by artists that were equally or in some cases more talented than artists heard on the radio, but apparently all they did wrong was not sign away their integrity to a major label, they did not make a deal with the devil and as a result mainstream popularity eluded them. But they still had the drive and passion needed to make good rock and roll. As a young kid I never knew the difference between good and bad music, I accepted the music on Mtv at face value, heck I even liked rap at one stage!! But as I grew up I realized I didn’t fit in either with the jocks or with the nerds, I needed a place to belong, I needed answers to life and I needed them now! Indie gave those answers to me….not just indie music but indie movies, indie books .I found out that there’s a whole another world out there that most Indians don’t even see or care about. I felt part of a worldwide community of misfits who weren’t head banging or moshing to Megadeth but listening in delight to the mournful croon of Morrissey from The Smiths. Delighted we banded together as a faction of outsiders conspiring to take over the music world. Every day I wake up and feel like a kid in the candy store as I search the internet for new bands coming out of nowhere but having the ability of becoming the next Nirvana and everyday as I listen to the freshly downloaded tracks (thanks limewire) I ask myself the same question “how in hell is this band not more well known?” The answer though is pretty clear, these bands have two options…option (a) give up creative and control and do what the guys in the suits tell you to do or option (b) create what you want, when you want and stick your middle fingers up their corporate asses.
That brings me back to the question at hand, can you be Indian and indie at the same time. Believe me when I say I’ve tried. I’m sure my peers still don’t get what I see in indie music, according to them as long as its loud and you can head bang to it, that its good but I’m here to tell you my friends……you’re probably right, but hear me out when I say that by not asking more from your music, aren’t you just a thoughtless sheep that goes along with what’s popular at the moment? Break out of this safe, protective bubble you’ve created around you and explore the dark, seedy underbelly where the music is raw and exciting and sometimes even scary.
New dilemma: Forming a band with people with the same taste in music as you. The countless number of people that refuse to jam with me just because I won’t agree that linkin park is the greatest band around. Indie is a dirty word around my band mates and as soon as it is mentioned comes the cries of “people won’t listen to us if we play these songs”. So what I ask isn’t it better to play for 10 people music that you like than playing music that sucks to a crowd of 1000. I know, I know taste in music is a person’s personal choice but hell this is my blog and this is my taste. Peace.
