Applying the Antidote

In 2009,when New Delhi-based grunge band,Half Step Down,released their debut album,Overtures in Outerspace,they spent a lot of time travelling around the country gigging and promoting it. “It’s something all indie bands have to do to get their music out there. Anyway it’s always fun,” says Dhaval Mudgal,vocalist for the band. They will have a similar itinerary for the end of this year,which is when the band hopes to release their second album,Notes From The Antidote.

“This time around we’re doing things a little differently. We’re writing material for a lot of songs and are going to get together and record a whole body of work. Once we’re done,we’ll decide which songs to put in the album and which songs to use for gigs and at promotions. The music is slightly rougher around the corners and edgier than our last album,” said Mudgal. A couple of songs will be about things happening around the country,a social commentary of sorts,he said.

Comprising Mudgal on vocals,Shiv Lumba on piano,Nikhil Malik and Bhaanu Mendiratta on guitar,Carl Abraham on bass and Srijan Mahajan drums,Half Step Down is influenced by bands and artistes as diverse as Led Zeppelin,Red Hot Chili Peppers and Django Reinhardt.