JANET CATHERINA
PINEAPPLE EXPRESS
releases second EP,
DEJA VU
From winning
competitions to
playing at the
nation's biggest
music festivals and
collaborating with
popular playback
singer Benny Dayal,
Carnatic-fusion
progressive-rock
band Pineapple
Express has done it
all. And now, they've
just released their
second EP, Deja Vu.
Deja Vu is a balanced
blend of genres, concepts, and elements—exciting enough
for existing fans, but welcoming enough for new listeners as
well. The EP starts out with high-energy track 'The Light,'
which serves as a succinct introduction to the band. Next
comes 'Colour,' a pleasant surprise to any listener with its
Rajasthani Hindi lyrics and distinct folk vibe. While the
first two songs are fun and interesting to listen to, 'Find
You' hits all the sweet spots with just the right amount of
nostalgia, culminating in a poignant outro. The EP ends on a
memorable note with 'Phir Chale,' which is perhaps the most
Pineapple Express-sounding track, with its signature rap
verses, uplifting lyrics, and captivating solos.
36
The
Score Magazine
highonscore.com
Perhaps what instantly sets Pineapple Express apart from
most other bands, including international ones, is the
fact that they have three members handling lead vocals—
Karthik Chennoji Rao, Jimmy Francis John, and Yogeendra
Hariprasad, the mastermind behind the band. While having
multiple lead vocalists was prevalent in the era of classic
rock with bands like The Beatles and Pink Floyd, the trend
has since died down. When asked about whether it was a
conscious decision to have more than one lead vocalist,
Yogeendra says, "It was a conscious decision, but it was also
one that came naturally to fulfill the demand of the music.
With our current line-up, we can pull off most things that we
can imagine. That allows me the freedom to be versatile in my
songwriting, so I don’t have to hold back."
When it comes to writing and arranging the songs, Yogeendra
handles most of the process before sitting down with Ritwik
Bhattacharya to track guitars, which is when the songs start
taking shape. Then, flautist Arjun MPN, guitarist Bhargav
Sarma, drummer Gopi Shravan, and the two lead vocalists
bring their own elements and flavours into the songs.
As for what comes next, fans are in for a treat: in no
particular order, music videos for two songs from the new EP,
a series of covers, electronic music done Pineapple Express-
style, and a full-length album to bring back the sound of their
debut EP, Uplift.