It is nearly impossible to put in writing something about Motherjane that hasn’t been said or written before without evoking a clichéd quote or rehashing an old statement reiterated a million times before and believe me I’ve tried. Over my years as a music writer I have had countless opportunities to express my unadulterated appreciation for this band on the pages of many prestigious magazines and sites, struggling for hours to find just the right adjective that would sum up the band’s impact on the scene and do justice to their cause.Honestly speaking, growing up with the Indian rock scene has always been a frustrating and bittersweet journey for me, as is probably the case with any rock fan in this country. Even though things are slowly but surely getting better there has always been an unduly ignorance towards the country’s rock scene, the western music scene permeating so deeply within our culture, engraining itself within our subconscious over the years that comparison between those ‘rock gods’ and our home grown heroes seems all but inevitable, with most of the Indian bands more often than not falling short of the mark. But ever since I could remember Motherjane has always been the one of the most consistent bands in the Indian rock scene. Now that might not sound like a lot, but in a sea of cookie cutter, download-today, gone-tomorrow rock bands, consistency goes a long way. Original, ambitious, and genuinely honest, the band has defied expectations with an unweaving passion, a distinctive sound with a heavy debt to its carnatic roots and an undeniable religious fan following across the world to become the carrier’s of Indian rock into the next decade and the foremost driving force beneath this now thriving rock scene.
With a presence of over 14 years in the scene and in the press, this article should not be construed as just another reminder of their musical prowess but rather a celebration of a band at its peak and a poignant reminder of the band’s impact expressed in the words of contemporaries, janiacs and international admirers alike.
Siddharth Nair (Blind Image)
“Motherjane are some of the most amazing musicians hailing for Cochin which make me really proud to belong to the state of Kerala. They are one of the few bands that have made India proud when it comes to rock music. As tight as a band can possibly be, they always deliver on stage. All the band members are incredible in their own right, John for his groovy progressive drum patterns, Clyde for the bass backing up the rhythm, Baiju for his carnatic shredding which really gives them their own identity, Deepu for his awesome progressions which give the solos their feel and Suraj for his amazing voice and crowd interaction. They are without a doubt one of the hardest working bands around and if they carry on this way, they'll make it big in no time!”
Shreyans Jha (Null Friction)
“I admire their work and the fact that they go out of their way to research and find influences that most Indian bands would choose to ignore. And unlike most Indian artists, they definitely have a really unique sound - when their song comes on you can always tell that it’s Motherjane. Even though at times I have found their lyrics a bit disappointing, their music has always been embedded in the sounds of their motherland. They've done an amazing job of truly penetrating the small niche market that is Indian rock and in fact should be credited for expanding the market to never before seen audiences.”
Arsh Sharma (The Circus)
“The whole blend of prog rock and Indian carnatic music is absolutely their main draw. In addition to being extremely talented musicians they are incredibly nice people. I recall having spent a night in the same hotel in Bombay as Suraj a while back and understanding and liking his thought process quite a lot.
I’ve seen them live a couple of times now and their performances post ‘Maktub’ have a lot of charisma about them. They’re helping the Indian rock scene grow in the larger sense, and definitely reaching out to the international community in terms of the rock scene, even though there are so many tangents to the scene now and they are not entirely representative of the scene, they’re definitely a good indication of the variety that is there to be offered here. It’s great to have a band like them around who connect at such a spiritual level with their audience, and I hope them the best for the days to come.”
Sairam Raman (Summerpint Junkie)
“I have always considered Motherjane as an example of epic tightness, especially their live performances. The guitarists Baiju and Deepu blow me and my fellow guitarist away every single time we listen to them and even though we don’t try and emulate their sound into our songs, we are definitely influenced by their skill, precision and the way they go about their pieces on the guitar. Also the fact that our band was premiered on TFS rockcast featured alongside the mighty Motherjane is obviously an amazing thing for any young band. As a band they have truly achieved an identity that puts things into perspective for a lot of Indian bands and the connection that they have with their fans is definitely inspiring.”
Reinhardt Dias (Blakc)
“Even though our sound is extremely different from Motherjane’s, being more of a contribution of individuals then primarily guitar driven progressive rock, we really appreciate the role Motherjane has played in the progress of the scene. We had a brilliant experience playing with them at the MySpace show and hope to repeat it real soon. I believe Baiju’s carnatic influence that he brings to the band is their main appeal as his soloing is based on Indian ragas and when that kind of genre meets rock, it is bound to sound really original and is definitely worthy of Indian rock. Also I believe they have been really underrated over the years; it’s only in recent times that people have noticed them as a veteran band and how they have contributed in a major way to the Indian rock scene, mainly because of their sound which is a perfect balance of Indian and Western. I would just hope that they receive the international recognition they deserve really soon and represent Indian rock at much bigger avenues.”
Sanjeev Thomas (Sanjeev T & the Rainbow Bridge)
“What appeals to me the most about Motherjane is Baiju and his incredible guitar work, probably because of the fact that I am a guitarist myself. Baiju’s carnatic style has me completely tripping and has majorly influenced my recent song as well as video release. Also having Eva Dowd in common between us benefits the both of us as artists and it’s the sharing that keeps us together as a family of sorts. Motherjane has been a band which has stuck through a long period in Indian Rock, through ups and downs. They are and always will be a great influence on musicians here and anywhere they play. To keep a band together is a very tough job, and when like minded musicians dedicate their lives together for music it will grow forever and I’m sure they will too.”
Siva Chandran (Founder of AVIMA & VIMA and Managing Editor of Voize.my)
“The first hint of Motherjane reached our aural shores through Eva Dowd, who submitted the band's songs for the VIMA awards back in late 2008. I actually gave the band an immediate listen because for the life of me I couldn’t figure out how someone in Boston was promoting this rock band from India. Prog-rock wasn’t really my cup of tea, but I gave it a listen anyway and I’m glad I did, because I was totally blown away by their ‘spiritual rock’, their arresting music video visuals, the soaring vocals and the irresistible guitars that painted a whole new soundscape for me. And I've always been a sucker for bands with a message, and there was just so much going on in the heads of the band, especially Suraj. I spent days and nights dissecting the philosophy behind the songs, and that made me grasp their music even better.
Motherjane went into AVIMA 2009 as total underdogs, but deservedly walked away with the top prize after our global judges gave them the thumbs up who instantly felt that their music was extremely memorable and engaging. Motherjane upped the ante by playing at the Java Rocking land music festival in Indonesia, which allowed them to connect with a whole new audience.
Having said that, thousands of talented rock musicians go unnoticed yearly, but it was the sheer marketing and promotions drive of Eva Dowd coupled with the searing tenacity of Motherjane's carnatic rock that made the band cement in the minds of the people. Many will call the music force of Motherjane and Eva Dowd as a stunning and astounding oddity. We call it destiny!”
Sunny Sawrav (Janiac to the core)
“I have been working in multimedia and web support for the record label Aum-i Artistes for a year now, a label which manages the band Motherjane. Now, let me tell you one peculiar thing about Motherjane, I've been to their shows, recording videos, getting fans reviews, talking to celebs about their thoughts on the band and they absolutely love the band! Personally Motherjane means the world to me. Watching them play their songs has never failed to give me goose bumps and each show I have felt spiritually complete. So majestic, yet so humble, it’s an honor to know that I'm working for this band. Now, Motherjane is not just any band; it is, for me, the greatest thing to have happened in Indian rock .Seriously, how many bands out there have emotions in their songs that sound incredible and are completely unique; not many. Also Motherjane is beyond a doubt the only act that can represent India at any International event. Now since I work with the record label, travel with the band so you might think that I obviously will have nothing but praises. But well, it’s all up to you and how you take it. I'm happy working here watching and becoming a part of history in the making!”
Hari Amajaniac (Die hard Janiac)
“The first time I saw Motherjane live was at Rock Ethos two years ago. The last act to perform, their raw magnetism and Baiju’s guitar playing had me completely mesmerized from the beginning. Never before had I experienced a guitarist playing a solo like the one he played on ‘Questions’. Those 25 minutes of music were probably the most important of my life because they started my journey with the band, a journey that has helped me get to know not just five extremely talented musicians but also incredibly genuine human beings. Thanks to a common friend I had the opportunity to personally meet the band that night itself and was completely floored with their down-to-earth behavior. Here was one of the biggest acts in India sitting around and talking with their fans with no ego’s whatsoever.
Speaking of humility, an act of kindness from their side that I’ll never forget is the gig at Snehadaan, a home to HIV positive kids, where the band had initially gone for a promotional video campaign but ended up playing an hour long set resulting in a sea of smiles on the faces of the kids. Over the years, I’ve gotten to know them better and have shared a few memorable moments too. An incident that comes to mind is when they played at Opus on September 12th last year, the day before my birthday. They had just finished a gig at around 11:45 or so and I was with them at the venue when at 12 o’clock all the members of the band surprised me by singing “Happy Birthday”, which I can say is personally my best birthday gift ever. After two years of getting up every morning to Motherjane’s music, I can say from the bottom of my heart that to me Motherjane isn’t just a band; it’s a way of life.”
Popie S Wirananggapati
Jakarta, Indonesia
“I first saw Motherjane performing live at Java Rockin' Land 2009 in Jakarta and I thought they are absolutely incredible and different from the any rock band I had ever heard. In fact I was introduced to the Indian rock as whole because of Motherjane and I personally believe that the Indian rock scene is flourishing because of this band. Many bands here in Indonesia are themselves deeply influenced by the sounds of Motherjane because like me they really admire the fact that the band plays such an interesting fusion of Indian classical and western music and this is truly what makes their songs unique. I personally love the guitars and the vocals on all tracks, though I believe all the members contribute equally to the novelty of this band. I have been catching up with their latest track thanks to Myspace and Youtube and absolutely loving the new song ‘Tribes of Babel’. Hope to hear more songs like this from the band very soon while I wait for a new album. Wish to see Motherjane back in Jakarta soon. Love & Best wishes to Motherjane. Keep rocking!”
Russell Fries
Simi Valley, California
“Motherjane’s music is, well let's just say that it’s very moving. I really like their musicality, which is indeed original and earthy, but it retains the rock-n roll element. The fact that they are from India and that they have reached a fan base here in the U.S. is really impressive, even if it's over youtube, myspace or facebook. Their performances are indeed intriguing and each member of the band adds into the beauty of the songs in their own way. If they come to the states I would definitely go see them perform live. I earnestly wish they come to California. I have recommended their songs to many of my colleagues and they have all loved the originality, the powerful vocals and the fine yet raw music. Motherjane is unquestionably worth the praise! I sincerely wish the band all the luck for the future and hope to hear many more songs from them. I hope to see them perform live. I wish their fan following spreads across nations and may they receive the recognition they deserve. Cheers!”
Ifan Maulana
Depok, Indonesia
“Motherjane, a band which is full of life, magical music, colorful performances, and a visual pleasure with amazing sounds. The unique mix of carnatic and rock music with effective vocals is what appeals to me about the band. I love the lead guitar, the rhythm and the melody soothes my mind and makes me vibe at the same time. The songs are so modern yet manage to sound ethnic and I especially love listening to ‘Chasing the Sun’. I wouldn’t hesitate to say that I was surprised to know that they are an Indian band as I was completely unaware of the Indian rock scene. Their songs continue to fascinate me and have managed to take rock music to the next level. I wish the band all the luck in the world and to continue making such amazing music.”
Marcellino Malonda
Jakarta, Indonesia
“The way in which Motherjane manages to intertwine their ethnicity and contemporary style together in such a brilliant fashion, is truly admirable. Indonesian rock initially used to be influenced mainly by American rock, but after listening to Motherjane, people here are trying to maintain their culture through music. The band’s approach to song writing is very Indian and it basically teaches us to respect our roots and not be ashamed of our humble origins. With such a diverse collection of fan following, I believe that Motherjane have the potential to become the biggest band in Asia. I personally love the song ‘Tribes of Babel’ and identify with the lyrics completely, through which the band has had a positive contribution to humanity and has taken a step towards world peace. Lastly I would like to quote my favorite lyrics from the band themselves and say that Motherjane’s music teaches me ‘To celebrate all Earth while we’re still here.’”
Al Fakhri
Shah Alam, Malaysia
“I think it was around October 2009 when I was introduced to Motherjane by Eva Dowd via Facebook. I was unaware of Indian rock at the time but the band really acted as an eye-opener to Indian rock music. I must say that India has a very plausible musical brand in rock, who is better qualified than the Indian rockers themselves to combine both western aggressive rock and Indian music and Motherjane is a testament to that notion. Lyrically, Motherjane is honest in the sense that they are into realities, their descriptive lyrical style allow listeners to be the problem-solvers themselves. ‘Broken’ was the first Motherjane song I heard and I was completely enthralled. The raga acoustic opening riff by Deepu in the song is enough to make any listener invest emotionally into the lyrics. It is incredible how he manages to yield such interesting microtonal notes out of his guitar even though the frets are not curved.
The high snare hits on most songs by John is unusual but interesting and I especially appreciate the way he plays the rides, managing to keep the beats as aggressive as possible. Clyde complements the drums by John with his bass, sounding progressive yet tonal. I always thought he is just the keeper of the rhythm until I saw him play that slapping bass with six strings which portrays his skill as an eminent bass player. While Deepu, John and Clyde are responsible for the progressions, there is Baiju striking the solos, rocking the Indian Musical style with his modal-type playing and Suraj with that pleasant as well as powerful voice representing Indian singing, undoubtedly making them unique enough for international exposures.”
Urska Grcar
Turjak, Slovenia
“Last year when I was in India for the first time, I saw a Kathakali performance which I found awe inspiring, and later while surfing Myspace I found Motherjane and honestly speaking it was the Kathakali face paintings that attracted my attention. I believe they show their love for their homeland and promote India through those eye catching face paintings. Since then I have always wanted to see them perform live but all I have managed is to watch their videos online and am always mesmerized by their vivid stage presence. The way they connect with the audience is just amazing to watch.
The band actually influenced my liking for rock music and appealed to me with their interesting symbiosis of Indian rhythms and rock which give rock music a whole new perspective. ‘Chasing the Sun’ is my all time favorite song by Motherjane and I am in love with Suraj’s powerful voice.
Sadly I didn’t know much about Indian rock scene, but Motherjane has inspired me to explore more bands from that part of the subcontinent. Their music interests people in Europe a great deal as well, probably because of their ability to combine aggressive beats with exotic melodies which make their music suit the ears of every music lover.
I would just like to tell the band to keep up the good work, expand your promotion to other countries such as Europe, because I think you would be as popular here! Next time I visit India I will definitely try to catch up with your concert. Hopefully we'll meet. Love you Motherjane!”
Thoriq Arridlwan Aria
Jakarta, Indonesia
“Last year when Motherjane was scheduled to be one of the bands that performed at Java Rockin' Land festival, I was extremely intrigued about an Indian rock band. I searched for them on the internet and saw some of their videos online which immediately caused me to develop an inclination to their amazing sound. Motherjane plays an eclectic mix of Indian music elements with progressive rock music which gives them a distinctive style. I love hearing Baiju's guitar playing melodically around Suraj's distinguishably pleasant yet strong vocals leaving a lasting impact on the listeners.
Honestly speaking, Motherjane is the only Indian band I have heard so far, so I don’t know much about the Indian rock scene, but I believe that if Motherjane’s music is any indication of the scene then Indian rock is definitely the next big thing. The band has made me curious to find out what other rock bands India has to offer. I would sincerely request Motherjane to visit Indonesia for another show, there are so many new fans waiting for you guys to come and rock Jakarta once again!”
Sofiane Benidir
Blida, Algeria
“I belong to a community of musicians here in Algiers where most of us are fans of progressive music, mainly metal, but from the very first notes of Motherjane’s album ‘Insane Biography’ we we’re hooked! We loved and deeply appreciated the uniqueness of their sound; the Indian aspect was the most original thing to our ears. Though we may be trained to hear distorted guitars, it was quite a treat to have such beautiful melodies native of their country. Their incorporation of local tones into the music showed their love for their land and inspired us to experiment with local sounds and instruments such as a ‘derbouka’ in our songs as well. They represent true rock n’ roll and my deepest wish is to see them perform here in Algiers some day.”
Hot on the heels of their highly coveted song for Amnesty International’s ‘Peace’ album, ‘Tribes of Babel’ and a dual win at Avima 2010 for the most popular act of Asia and best rock vocalist for Suraj Mani, comes some pretty interesting updates from the Motherjane camp. Sumesh Lai the former head of RoseBowl TV for years, who was the creative force behind two of the band’s videos ‘Chasing the Sun’ and ‘Fields of Sound’ when he was at Rosebowl, has left to take on the role of director at Motherjane's record label Aum-I Artistes, where in addition to managing the label he will be also be responsible for creative content and will be working on live DVD productions of the band to be released in the near future. Also the band has already written 26 songs, out of which, ones that are to be included on the album, which is scheduled to begin recording in July and the title is yet to be determined.
