From the remix boom to the item song craze, classic songs have been reinterpreted, often with disastrous outcomes. When the music label Saregama approached the new outfit Superbia, which means pride in Latin, the band members knew they didn’t want to add to the existing clutter. The trio — singer Shaan, guitarist Gourav Dasgupta and producer Roshan Balu — with songstress Gwen, has composed the seven-track album Satrangi, employing a unique method. Using only a short phrase or lyric from a classic, the team then builds on it. “We produced a pilot song, and when we got the heads at Saregama to hear it, they loved what we had done. The track became a blueprint for Satrangi,” says Shaan. The album tries to toe the difficult line between indie and commercial, but it does an able job. The heavily-produced album has elements of electro rock and bass heavy music, presented with a pop sensibility. For example, in Babuji, Shaan and Gwen sing the instantly-recognisable phrase, Babuji dheere chalna from Aar-Paa (1954). But the dubstep breakdown in the track is a far cry from the lilting melody of the original, the lyrics have been changed and so has the vocal arrangement of the track. The album, says Dasgupta, is part of a larger plan for Superbia. Not content with just producing music for movies and ads, the trio also wants to tour and cut albums. The group will have their debut performance at Hard Rock Cafe, Lower Parel, on November 7. A talented guitarist, Dasgupta has been working with Balu on background scores and ad films for the past eight years. The two had a chance meeting with Shaan at a recording. “We had great chemistry and started working together. Shaan listens to all kinds of music and is down to earth,” says Dasgupta. Gwen is the final but essential ingredient in the mix for this album. Dasgupta says, “It’s Gwen’s album, we are just producing it.” The Mumbai-based singer, who has been a part of the church choir since her early years, was a percussionist trying to make it in the music industry. Dasgupta bumped into her in the elevator of the building he lives in. A few jam sessions later, Dasgupta convinced Gwen to take up singing. Textured and heavy on the low notes, Gwen’s voice complements Shaan, hitting the high notes well. The upcoming performance will be interesting as the four of them try and translate the heavily-produced album into a live gig. With eight film projects in the pipeline, a new album, and another solo by Dasgupta, Superbia is going full steam ahead. kevin.lobo@expressindia.com
