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Journalism of Courage
Delhi-based pop-rock band,The Local Train,is all set to launch their debut album
It was in the year 2009 that a video floating around on YouTube with four young boys playing a simple love ballad,Chhoo lo,became a rage over the Internet. It also became one of the most covered independent artist track on YouTube with 13 covers in tribute to it. The song instantly took you back in the golden era of 8217;70s and 8217;80s,when soft and soothing rock ballads were a rage. Composed by vocalist Raman Negi,drummer Sahil Sarin,bassist Ramit Mehra and Paras Thakur on lead guitars,four musicians from the Delhi-based band The Local Train,the song also received an award from director Nagesh Kukunoor.
The band8217;s new album can be well-noted for it8217;s music,lyrics and vocals. The album opens with Choo lo and is followed by Kaise jiyun,a classic rock ballad and Ye zindagi hai a satire that talks about materialism and comes with a set of interesting guitar riffs.
A self-financed project,the band says that they have put in all their money into this,but a good record deal with a great label can8217;t be ignored and the band is still on a lookout.
The Local Train was formed when Negi visited Chandigarh looking to record a few demo tracks and get something going. That8217;s where he ran into Mehra at a local studio. What started out as session work turned into a friendship and that8217;s when they decided to take things a bit more seriously. Sarin and Mehra go long back8211; they used to jam together in college. So the next obvious choice was to rope him in for the rhythm section. The band struggled a bit to find a permanent member on lead guitar before they finally got in touch with the talented and just-dropped-out-of-college Paras Thakur. The band couldn8217;t have asked for more. The way he fits in with the sensibilities of the band was uncanny, says Negi. With the team ready,the band hit its creative peak in the months of jamming that followed.
8220;The creative process is the best part. While working on a particular track,everyone puts forward their ideas and everyone has their vision about that track,so we jam and jam and the song slowly takes shape, says Mehra,who adds that the band is inspired by mundane life. The passion for music is evident from the minute they hit the stage. With multiple shows across the country the band boasts of a stage presence that is always a hit with the crowd.
Having disconnected themselves from the pub rock circuit,the band members say that their focus was always to reach out to a bigger audience,either through videos on Youtube or through college/corporate shows. If a song is good and people will like it they8217;ll listen to it. And that8217;s the aim with our band8217;s music as well says Negi.
Enjoy the ride of this train to get a taste of life as it should be.
