Dream debut

When a band uses a megaphone to belt out classical ragas,you know it thinks differently.

With the launch of their debut album in the city,fusion band Advaita has made Mumbai sit up and take notice

When a band uses a megaphone to belt out classical ragas,you know it thinks differently. For Delhi-based band Advaita,its just part of what sets them apart from other indie fusion acts. With the launch of their album in Mumbai this month,the eight-member band has expanded beyond what was once an exclusively Delhi fan base the crowds that greeted the band at their recent gig in Mumbais Hard Rock Café is testament to that.

Advaitas debut album,Grounded in Space,combines all their trademark elements influences of classic rock and Indian classical music. Weve been working on the album since 2005, says lead guitarist Abhishek Mathur,we believe in writing our own music and thats why it took us this long to finally bring out the finished product. The band comprises,apart from Mathur,keyboardist Anindo Bose,lead vocalist (western) Chayan Adhikari,drummer Kumar,sarangi artiste Suhail Yusuf Khan,Hindustani vocalist Ujwal Nagar,tabla artiste Mohit Lal and bassist Gaurav Chintamani.

An eight-member band would be unwieldy,if it werent for the fact that having so many play different instruments gives the music a multi-layered texture. While the band is a part-time occupation with the members,theyre all fulltime musicians,whether as music teachers or as sound engineers. It isnt possible for the band to sustain us at this point and we chose to have alternative careers in music because that way it keeps us in touch. Having a conventional 9-to-5 job would be impossible,because then it wouldnt be possible to devote our time to music the way we do right now, says Mathur.

Mathur refers to Grounded in Space as their breakthrough act. Earlier we were well-known only in Delhi. But since we launched the album,weve been getting calls from all over the place like Mumbai and Kolkata. At the recent Mumbai gig,the band was greeted by a packed house,many of them being long-time fans. I guess we have fans in the city who told their friends about the album launch. It was really amazing to see the great turnout, Mathur says. Given the level of crowd involvement,it looked as though the band had also earned itself some converts.

The band will be taking off for its UK tour next month. The album they recorded with celebrated music producer John Leckie will also be out,after which Advaita is considering an India tour. What we really want to do is to go down south people in Hyderabad and Bangalore barely know us.

Pooja Pillai

Pooja Pillai is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, working with the National Editorial and Opinion section. Her work frequently explores the intersection of society, culture and technology. Editorial Focus & Expertise Pooja’s writing spans several key domains, often blending analytical commentary with cultural critique. Art & Culture: She writes extensively on cinema, books, and the evolving landscape of arts and entertainment. Technology & Society: Her work examines the human impact of the gig economy, the rise of AI in creative fields, and the cultural shifts driven by digital platforms. Food & Lifestyle: She often uses food as a lens to explore history and politics, covering everything from the origins of pantry essentials to the impact of nutrition policy. Politics: She closely tracks political developments in South and West India and provides commentary on international political transitions, including the shifting landscape of American politics. Multimedia & Podcasting Pooja is a prominent voice in the Indian Express’s digital ecosystem. She is the host of 'DeshKaal with Yogendra Yadav', weekly video podcast where she facilitates deep-dive conversations on Indian democracy, social movements, and current political affairs. Notable Recent Works Cinema & Identity: “SRK@60: Why Shah Rukh Khan is Bollywood's last, and only, superstar” – an analysis of stardom and the changing face of Indian identity Global Politics: Commentary on the Trump administration’s misguided “war on woke culture” via typography and analysis of the visual semiotics of Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s attire during successive visits to the White House. Art & AI: “An unequal music: AI is lowering barriers at the cost of music itself” – a critique of how technology is redefining artistic value. Professional Presence Pooja is active on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, where she shares her latest columns and editorial insights. Her full archive and latest updates can be found on her Indian Express Author Profile. ... Read More

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