SHREYA BOSE
INDIE
Mend (Tushar
Mathur): It is an
established fact
that indie music
has really taken
off (wouldn’t
be writing
this column
otherwise),
but Tushar Mathur still feels the sting of
struggle. His second single Mend has him
crooning a despondent self-reflexive dirge
that relates to the musician’s anguish.
Lyrically, he has gained impressive sophistication
in the span of one song. “I've been feelin' like I've got
nothing around/To star in your movie seems like
work all year round” is an all-too familiar lament in
artistic circles, for the star of success stays almost as
elusive as empty seats in a Virar local. The lines “I just
wanna be, what I saw in me/I just wanna know, when
I'm gonna be in control” are particularly interesting.
On one hand, it is admirable that Mathur seeks to
align with his own sense of creative excellence.
However, he seeks control which has its own pitfalls.
Such fleeting contradictions make for a human
song that exhibits unashamed vulnerability.
The emotional labor of being isolated by failure and
striving to stay afloat is also whispered upon. More
than anything else, Mend has the potential to become
an existential touchpoint for his fellow musicians.
Musically, low-fi chillhop sensibilities play around
with a luxurious measure of creamy saxophone to top
them off. The song is refreshingly uncomplicated yet
perfectly relevant. It is well-made and deserves all
the attention that Mathur laments he does not get.
22
The
Score Magazine
highonscore.com
Merna (Nivid):
It appears we
now stand at
the beginning
of an industrial
rock legacy in
India. Nivid, a
three-man unit
of pulsating
bitterness
and excellent
musical instincts
has released
a drone-laced,
darkly-drummed
debut album that is delightful and
depressing in perfectly equal measure.
The Nine Inch Nails influence is obvious, as would
be for anyone even dipping toes into the genre. It is
impressively replicated, and in Ascension|Yaga, it
is mingled with more familiar sounds - sacred bells
and frenetic drums often featured in yajnas. The
combination is disconcerting, which is it's entire point.
The album is a searing indictment of everything
we have been doing wrong on individual and social
levels. True to the music that inspires the band (NIN
and Deftones, among others), the songs offer biting
satire. The Hindu Awakens|Hai Yeh Hindustan and
Nationalism|Aagaya Hun Main reveal the mindset
of someone deranged with political and religious
radicalism. Aditya Virmani’s vocals are gritty,
ominous, almost demonic. However, they do lack the
derisive chuckle of Trent Reznor or Chino Moreno.
Nivid is still too serious about the evils of the world.
There’s More of Us | Nyay, Azadi, Barabari,
Biradari (Na Milegi Tujhko) is particularly
good, given the ferocity of it's condemnation.
Those that are different will be condemned,
oppressed, tormented. Equality is an illusion.
The mighty reign, and they don’t really care
two hoots about what the Constitution says.