Gold Rush

Very flattering. It makes coming to India all the more special...

As their India tour kicks off,Los Angeles-based band Goldspots frontman Siddhartha Khosla fields our questions

How does it feel to be voted one of Indias favourite bands?
Very flattering. It makes coming to India all the more special.

Why did you name the band after a soft drink?
Goldspot the drink reminds me of my childhood. I would visit my family in India every summer,and the drink conjures up images of me playing cricket and flying kites with my cousins.

Whats special about performing in India?
My earliest musical influences were Kishore Kumar,Mohammad Rafi and Mukesh. Since then it has always been my dream to become a professional singer and perform in India. Playing in India reminds me that Im living my dream.

Are you planning to meet or have you already met any Indian musicians you really like?
Ive worked with the wonderful team at AM Studios,AR Rahmans studio. I havent yet met the great AR Rahman,and I hope that I have the honour of working with him one day.

You also worked on the soundtrack of The President is Coming. How was that experience?
Very easy. Rohan Sippy (producer),Anuvab Pal (writer),and Kunaal Roy Kapur (director) were a blast to work with. We shared a lot in common,and it made the process that much more enjoyable.

Can you give us a brief history of Goldspot?
I started the band in London with my friend Sanjay about 10 years ago; then I moved to Los Angeles to record my first album; Sanjay left,and then I met different musicians and recorded a couple more albums; and finally things started really happening for us a couple years ago. A lot of hard work (including playing for shows with no people in the audience),patience,and guts have gone into the past several years,and its rewarding to see that hard work pay off.

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What does the name of your debut album,The Tally of the Yes Men,mean?
We recorded Tally independently and virtually without any budget. At that time,I had a day job working for AT&T Wireless. Everyone around me seemed to be yes men,not really speaking their minds,and there was one particular guy who yes-ed our managers all the time. One meeting I sat and tallied the number of times he said yes which was almost 50 times in one hour. Hence the inspiration for the album title Tally of the Yes Men.

Goldspot will perform at Hard Rock Café,Parel,on February 18

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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