‘Kwak’ a doodle doo!

It’s a corny name – Kwak. Even Google had a little difficulty defining it. It recognises quack,and a kayak,but what on earth is Kwak? “The sound of a wrong note – kwak,” guitarist and vocalist Julien Joubert almost makes it sound like ka-ching. Busy going through a sound check at the Sector 17 Plaza,he and his buddies,all members of the French rock band ‘Kwak’ are on an India tour,and currently in Chandigarh courtesy the Alliance Francaise in collaboration with The Indian Express. While lead vocalist Damien Tartamella checks the mike and his harmonica,Xavier Hamon beats the drums and Guillaume Le Nost preps the bass guitar and flute. “Our music is French rock,a very special mix between rock music and the French tradition of Chanson (song),” Julien drops in every couple of minutes to fill in the conversation. On their second trip to India,the band has already done rounds down south,and are discovering the north. And it goes without saying that the only Indian influences they have back home are that of Pandit Ravi Shankar and Trilok Gurtu. “But the latest to add the list is AR Rahman,” says Julien adding how their music is a melange of influences from all over. “Nothing is specific now for every musician is exposed to different kinds of genres which he/she incorporate in their music,” while Julien loves the mix,Damien feels it’s the multi-culturism of France that’s allowed African,Arabian,Celtic and other forms of music to seep in. “Unlike the US and the UK,where Europe has a diverse and rich history and culture,and it translates through the music,” he points to a distinct bubbling melting pot of influences. And unlike others,these French rockers like to lay a lot of stress on the lyrics. “Sometimes,it’s the words that take the centrestage,” Julien talks about their latest number,‘Party’s Over’,which is a reflection on recession and how the government is doing away with welfare and social schemes. “It’s time to stop laughing,and react,” Julien says the Internet has helped them reach far and wide. “The opening band for tonight’s concert,The Carrot Fish,from Chandigarh,have already heard us on MySpace,” he smiles,happy with their virtual global discovery of music. “But it does it overcrowded,and you tend to get lost if you don’t know what you’re looking for,” he cautions.

Since the eight years of their formation,the Kwak rockers have travelled far; from hanging around and playing for fun to jotting down issues,taking the world seriously and using their music as the medium,the voice of people. “And now that it’s mandatory for French radio to devote 40 per cent of their air space for French music,we’re getting heard,” he shouts out loud.