Playing it Right

Following the announcement of nominees for the 2013 edition of the JD Rock Awards earlier this year,Indus Creed emerged as the favourite with seven nominations,but only by a small margin. Bangalore-based alt-rock act Thermal And A Quarter and Mumbai alternative band Split had six nominations each.

By the end of the award night on Friday in Mumbai,however,there was no clear favourite. Although Indus Creed did win Best Band,the award for the Best Album went to Delhi-based fusion band Advaita for The Silent Sea. The Best Song award was given to Assamese musician Angaraag Mahanta,better known as Papon. He also picked up the Best Male Vocalist trophy for Boitha maro re. Best Female Vocalist award went to Vivienne Pocha for her solo Vivienne while Blek took home the Best Emerging Artiste of the Year award.

There was a new award category this year — for Best Metal Band. The nominees for this were Mumbai-based metal act Providence,Dark Helm from Pune,1833 AD from Delhi and Skyharbor,the solo project of Delhi-based guitarist Keshav Dhar. The award

went to Skyharbor and deservedly so,for Dhar’s one-time bedroom project has now developed into a hugely inventive act.