Wednesday, February 15, 2006

Hindi Rocks: Hindi rock bands and artistes have come of age

from The Times of India, January 18, 2006

If Sting can do it, so can Strings. If Jethro Tull can do it, so can Jal. If Indus Creed, Pentagram, Parikrama, Zero, et al have had the rockers headbanging to their music, now there are Hindi rock bands and artistes that are grabbing audiences by the gut and refusing to let go.

Once dubbed as noise, rock music is now being embellished with Hindi lyrics and as a result, is garnering a new slice of the audience pie!

Not too long ago, Rabbi Shergill brought the Sufi genre back into the forefront with his Bulla Ki Jaana, with its tilt towards Sufi rock. Then there was Indian Ocean's song Arre Rukja Re Bandey. Junoon and Strings have had aficionados for a long time, as have Fuzon, and now, Jal.

"The listeners now want something new in terms of sound," says Pankaj Awasthi of Khuda Ka Vaasta fame. "It was more difficult to get a label to sign a rock artiste earlier.

But now, things have changed." Even Bollywood is now rocking to the sounds of rock. Case in point: Jal's tracks Woh Lamhey and Aadat and Strings's Yeh Hai Meri Kahaani for Zinda.

Says Ajay Sawant, manager of band Soulfuel, "It's the intense and meaningful lyrics and music of rock that's quite a draw for the audience." Adds Luke Kenny, "Sadly, it has taken Pakistani bands to consolidate the trend of the genre in India.

But as long as Hindi rock bands are getting an acceptance, it doesn't matter who did it first."

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Wednesday, February 15, 2006

Hindi Rocks: Hindi rock bands and artistes have come of age
from The Times of India, January 18, 2006

If Sting can do it, so can Strings. If Jethro Tull can do it, so can Jal. If Indus Creed, Pentagram, Parikrama, Zero, et al have had the rockers headbanging to their music, now there are Hindi rock bands and artistes that are grabbing audiences by the gut and refusing to let go.

Once dubbed as noise, rock music is now being embellished with Hindi lyrics and as a result, is garnering a new slice of the audience pie!

Not too long ago, Rabbi Shergill brought the Sufi genre back into the forefront with his Bulla Ki Jaana, with its tilt towards Sufi rock. Then there was Indian Ocean's song Arre Rukja Re Bandey. Junoon and Strings have had aficionados for a long time, as have Fuzon, and now, Jal.

"The listeners now want something new in terms of sound," says Pankaj Awasthi of Khuda Ka Vaasta fame. "It was more difficult to get a label to sign a rock artiste earlier.

But now, things have changed." Even Bollywood is now rocking to the sounds of rock. Case in point: Jal's tracks Woh Lamhey and Aadat and Strings's Yeh Hai Meri Kahaani for Zinda.

Says Ajay Sawant, manager of band Soulfuel, "It's the intense and meaningful lyrics and music of rock that's quite a draw for the audience." Adds Luke Kenny, "Sadly, it has taken Pakistani bands to consolidate the trend of the genre in India.

But as long as Hindi rock bands are getting an acceptance, it doesn't matter who did it first."

No comments: