Making E-Waves

Radio 79 features an assortment of dance music – ranging from techno,psytrance,glitch and electro,apart from psychedelic rock and ambient chill. And thanks to it,Bakshi’s music,an electro-rock style that jumps various genres,has finally found a fan following,and a slew of gigs abroad.

Nikhel Mahajan,who started Radio 79 with friend Joey Mathews,says,“We set up this online radio station to create awareness for alternative music and provide Indian musicians a platform.”

“Although the shows are free of cost,the artists are paid for their music. The market for non-Bollywood music is really small. So,this is more like a platform for the Indian bands to slot themselves in order to be heard and get more gigs,” says Mahajan.

Although American channels such as Grooveshark and Live 365 have been popular,online Indian channels that do not spew out the usual Hindi-rap-bhangra groove and populist fare,is a concept that is catching on only now. Moreover,with the backing of satellite radio broadcaster Worldspace and music company Saregama,Indian online radio seems to be finding some foothold.

“It is a lot about accessibility,” says Bangalore-based Carlton Breganza,who started Myopusradio.com last year. Breganza has 20 channels that are devoted to separate genres. “I think India has needed something like this for a long time. It is a charming space for musicians and music lovers. The airtime is lucrative for Indian artistes,as they are able to earn fans all over the world,” says Breganza,whose channel plays music from bands like Swarathma,Parikrama and Demonic Resurrection.

In the world of commoditised FM channels,another online radio channel that is trying to break through is NH7.com’s Radio Play,that began streaming last month. “We relay a range of music at the click of a button. We have also been able to rope in some sponsors and this is helping us be more robust,” says Arjun Ravi of NH7.com. What makes NH7 different is the inclusion of folk artistes. “Folk is not Bollywood. Anything not Bollywood finds a place here,” says Ravi.

Gaurav Vaz,bass player with The Raghu Dixit Project,who has started Radio Verve,says: “The musicians are not looking for a ‘big record deal’. They are belting out music on their own to get an audience,and that they get through the online radio.” Vaz,who shut the project because of website renovation,is bringing back the channel next month. “The aim is to be a central location where independent musicians in little pockets all over the country are heard by the world. With 3G making its way and iPhone and iPad applications,one doesn’t even have to sit in front of a computer for this,” says Vaz .

Tara Muzik channel has also launched Tara radio,an online channel for Bengali music enthusiasts. It will relay a range of music,from Rabindra Sangeet to Nazrul Geeti and Atul Prasad’s songs.

We are surely tuning in.