Low Level Flight is here and they mean serious business. The Canadian band is touring India having performed in Mumbai and Pune,they will perform in Turquoise in Delhi on April 5 and in Bangalores Hard Rock Cafe on April 9. Theyre hoping to reach out to Asian audiences,because as lead singer and former Canadian Idol Ryan Malcolms says,Canada is a small country not physically,but in terms of the number of people you can reach out to.
Nevertheless,the band owes one important thing to their country their name. Canada is a country where you have to take small planes to cover short distances. It came to the point when we were travelling so much that wed say,Oh no,not again,when we had to use the small planes again. So we ended up calling ourselves Low Level Flight, says Malcolm.
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The band comprises of Malcolm on the vocals and acoustic guitar,bassist Shaun Noronha,James Rooke on the rhythm guitar,lead guitarist Dave Carter and drummer Brandon Merenick. Theyre known for their firm grasp on songwriting,which perfectly compliments their hook-laden,alternative sound which is influenced by many artistsfrom Coldplay to The Killers to Kings of Leon. The first album Urgency debuted in Canada in 2007 and their single Change for Me topped music video charts.
But that doesnt mean it was easy. Being Canadian Idol was a double-edged sword,when it came to this band, Malcolm says,We wanted to be taken seriously as rock musicians,but in North America,the whole Pop Idol concept is a bit of a joke. Which is why Asia is going to be an exciting experience. Nobody knows us here and we have to start building our reputation from scratch.
There were other reasons why the band so eagerly accepted the invitation from Jim Beam and Bombay Rock Association. We have a massive Indian community in our hometown Ontario which has some great restaurants. Were hoping to try out more Indian food when were in the country.
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
