Journalism of Courage
With a month-long set of gigs in Edinburgh,plus a new album and their own studio,Something Relevant is ready to hit the big time
If the invitation to perform at the worlds largest arts festival is a recognition of excellence,then Something Relevant (STR) has officially arrived. Of course,the Mumbai-based band didnt need the invitation to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe to show the world that their music demands to be heard. The evidence is already there in their acclaimed debut album Feel Goods 2B Live and the crowds that hoot and cheer for them whenever they play a gig. But that said,an invite from the Fringe is still a big deal and Something Relevant is suitably excited.
It was our trombone player Arneet Panesar who planted the idea in our head. Hes lived there all his life and he knows what a big deal the festival is. He was insistent that we send in a sample of our music to the organisers, explains Stuart DCosta,the bands bassist. It was the international feel of their music that got them selected. Thats a great compliment. Were definitely an Indian band,but we would love to reach out to other countries as well, acknowledges DCosta.
Theres no denying that they have already connected with people beyond Indias borders. STRs funky mix of rock,jazz,blueswhat they refer to as urban fusionseems to have found listeners everywhere. Tanmay Bhattacharya,guitarist,recalls their successful concerts in South Korea and Indonesia last year. No one in the audience spoke a word of English,but they loved our music. You could see that language is really not a barrier if you play good music.
At Edinburgh,where the seven piece band is sent to play 25 gigs from August 5-29,they hope to make further inroads into the global music scene. Its not just an opportunity to find new audiences, explains Bhattacharya. They are also hoping to collaborate with as many people as possible and will be performing tracks from Feels Good 2 B Live and will also a include a whole new set of songs,which will find their way into STRs second album,which is ready to be recorded.
Apart from,networking and performing,STR will try and produce a live album of the tour and shoot a music video. Also in the works is their very own studio. Complaining about high rates in rented studios,DCosta says,It would be cheaper if we have our own space for recording. At the moment,weve only finalized the location. Well call in architects to build something along the lines of Blue Frogs state-of-the-art studio. Bhattacharya also indicates that the band will be opening its own teaching academy in the future. Its something weve long wanted to do. There are only a few popular instruments that are taught in this city. For instance,not many people teach the saxophone. Thats a gap wed like to fill.
These are,of course,big plans. Seeing how theyre making their way to a global stage,the dreams might just come true.
