This progressive rock band have been a success because of their positive thinking. I tried getting him to tell me about the challenges they’ ve faced while having to break out from Kerala or to talk me through what it takes for a band to make it big in India. But Suraj was unflinching in his responses and made it clear that confidence and proactive thinking is all it takes.“ Motherjane as a band doesn’ t think about how we cannot do something; we think about what we want, and how to go about getting it. I guess that makes us a progressive band in more than just a musical sense. There are bands that succeed and fail right across the globe. So it’ s not about Geography. You don’ t get to choose the hand you get, but you just have to play it the best way you can.” I then asked him why I only see Rock or Metal bands forming in India. Although I cannot complain, I wondered if the other genres have no scope here. Suraj believes that Metal bands are more in love with their art and are uncompromising about it, which is why there are so many bands out there. They keep doing what they like to do best and if they are persistent, they succeed, unlike a pop act. According to him, India has two categories of music – filmy and non-filmy! And since people these days want something other than filmy, metal / rock music has an avenue to grow because there aren’ t many practitioners for other genres. Call me biased, but if his logic is anything to go by, then I guess we’ re saved from HipHop or Pop for a few years to come! Motherjane has had several milestones to their credit which is chronologically listed in their website. So which do they cherish the most? Suraj was quick to respond,“ For me it is finding these guys. Everything else is an offshoot of that. I think it is all about my relationship with them as nothing would be possible without them.” I responded,“ Yeah right, if you’ d just won the Grammy I’ m sure you’ d give me a different answer!” Tactfully he returned“ Well, but even that would be because of these guys.”“ THE GRAMMY!!!!!”, I screamed“ Ha, well maybe you should give me a call when that happens and then you can ask me that question again!” I liked his spirit. The best part about them is that they don’ t think they’ ve achieved it all, and they keep dreaming big. They’ re an ambitious rock band who takes their jobs very seriously. Or as Suraj put it, they are‘ Salaried Rock stars’! Any other profession they practice has become an alternative to their mainstream work – making music.” Although they travel a lot, they do manage to spend time at home and with family. Apparently they seem to be managing a successful balancing act. I asked them if their roots influence their music a lot.“ We don’ t plan it but each of us brings something different to this band. Where we come from, the