The Score Magazine - Archive April 2015 issue! | Page 27

Shreya Bose
Neel and the Lightbulbs emerged out of a
jamming session, right? Do tell us how it
came about.
We were in the midst of post break up limbo, Roheet
and me. Bass, acoustic guitar and voice was all that
was left of my old band Five Little Indians. We found
Subhodip burning the acoustic guitar at the open
mic which I host, and played the scene as a 3 piece for
a while. Later it was natural to ask Avinash to join
because he was our favourite drummer in the scene.
We recorded a live video of our song 'Lights and
Tunnels' and after we edited it we realised we needed
a band name to upload it. There was an uncomplicated
chemistry between the four of us... it felt right to give
the band a name. So while I suggested Neel and the
Alcoholics, we settled on Neel and the Lightbulbs. I
thank my band mates for their foresight and wisdom.
Now we play with Ronodeep Bose instead of Subhodip
because he took a sabbatical. Our sound is little more
groovy and electric now. As you can hear in the album.
How distinctive is Neel's voice and musical
vision from the rest of the band members?
Or has it always been a collaborative
venture?
(It's fun to speak of me in the third person)
Well Neel had his songs for a while...
and he had travelled many a mile.
His new band mates gave him a vibe
that was difficult to describe.
But he chose not put a finger on it
cuz the vibe and the songs really fit.
recorder are of paramount importance. So things are
captured closest to the moment of inspiration.
As a band with an instantly recognizable
sound, do you feel under pressure to be
constantly redefining yourself?
Nope. Why?
Being recognised by your sound is a great thing. But
it's not the end motive. I believe we're all making a
picture by putting our stuff out there. That picture
should emerge organically. So yeah, we shift vibes
with the shifts in our lives as a band… not because we
have any pressure to show the audience how inventive
or clever we are.
Do you think Kolkata affords adequate
opportunities for indie bands to be heard
and flourish?
No place in India does if the words are in English. We
have an audience and we have relevant material as a
scene. The mechanism to support it is being built. This
interview is part of that mechanism. And ur questions,
proof of the evolution in that mechanism.
Talk to us a bit about your latest release
'Rewind'. What does it offer listeners?
It offers 9 songs. One video. And a pretty album cover.
More videos coming up. Btw.. it plays well in a car.
Does the indie scene appear promising to
you? What would you say are its flaws in
India?
Your sound has been defined with a
variety of terms. But how do you define
it? Thematically, what does it convey? Well, yes. Miti Adhikari has moved to Kolkata from
London to work the scene here. He was working with
the biggest bands in the world in the UK... surely that's
evidence of promise.
The life of an urban Indian guy who is searching
for his individuality in an overpopulated noisy
space. Flaws are plenty. Limos with swimming pools are not
there. It's a hard life.
As for the sound, I choose not to define it in
absolute terms. Common syndrome with artists.
But the sound fits into Indian rock, folk rock,
singer songwriter, indie rock acoustic rock, rock
n roll… genres close to each other.
How does the song-writing process
work for you? How do you resolve
creative conflict, if any?
Creative conflict is resolved through jamming or
by dropping the song I've proposed to the band.
The song-writing process is a lifestyle. A lifestyle
which has enough room for things to grow naturally
without an academic approach. A notepad and a
Is it possible to succeed musically without
attaching yourself to Bollywood in India?
That depends on your definition of success.
By my definition, yes. If you can build a life playing
this music no matter what else you do, then one can
attain more happiness than those who have 10 films to
music direct in two months. A clever balance between
the earning of money and playing of music has to be
arrived at.
Success is happiness… whatever rocks your boat.
What would you say to aspiring musicians?
Follow your heart. Have attitude. But don't let the
attitude affect your sincerity and your vision.
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