Power Music

Bands Inc 2009,an initiative of a company called anEcho,is the first pan-India corporate band contest,and companies across the country are gearing up not for PowerPoint presentations,but a musical face-off. “There are a lot of rock competitions,all of which cater to college-going youngsters. Bands Inc seeks to reach out to the musical talent of those who have long been caught in the grind of the corporate world,” explains Viraj Sawant,co-founder of anEcho.

Musician-actor Luke Kenny will be the travelling judge in cities like Mumbai and Delhi while international judges include the President of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Terry Stewart and Vice-President of Warner Bros Records Seymour Stein,who will be present at the grand finale in Bangalore.

“It is a great idea as we’ll gauge where we stand in the Indian band scene,and have fun at the same time. The passion of music will also help us bond as a team,” says Jean Pierre Dangmann aka JP,founder of UV Studios and the vocalist-guitarist of Seven Degrees.

While Seven Degrees takes off for rehearsals everyday,outfits like the four-member rock act Khiladi,which represents a Mumbai-based software company,V2 Tech Solutions,is struggling to find time to practise. “Our meetings and deadlines come in the way of daily practice,but we make sure we meet once a week,” says Rohit Periera,a quality analyst during the day and a bassist and vocalist in the evenings. Along with fellow analyst and drummer Virendra Kaith and content executive and guitarist Nikhil Bhosle,he is busy revamping Aerosmith covers besides composing originals.

Though Periera and JP have been performing with their bands at places such as Hard Rock Cafe in Mumbai and Cafe Morrison in Delhi,there are others like Bhosle who will play in a band for the first time. Other newbies include drummer Althea Michael and keyboardist Karen Furtado from TBD,which represents Orange,a telecommunications company from Mumbai. “We formed the band specially for the competition and have already started preparing for a show for our company’s annual event,” says executive Sujit Kumar who is also a part of band called Kick Start Freeedom and got TBD together for Bands Inc.

Companies have encouraged the musical initiative,some even coughing up the Rs 5,000 registration fee. “Despite the economic slowdown,it is encouraging to see that our companies are pitching in,” says Periera. Around 21 teams have already enrolled and the organizers are getting enquiries from more bands everyday.

Kenny offers the winning tips: “Language is never a barrier in music. But bands must have an all-round approach to keep everything,from their arrangements to coordination,intact.” Winners will not only get a chance to perform at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Ohio at the end of the year,but will also take home an Epiphone Les Paul guitar,a TAMA drum kit and a Fender Squire Bass.

The registration for the competition is open till July 20. Contact: http://www.bandsinc.in

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