There are not a lot of bands that can claim to strike the perfect balance between Western and Indian classical music like city-based Agam can. The genre–defining Carnatic progressive rock act has been steadily crossing milestones after the success of their debut album in 2012 and making a mark across the Middle East, Southeast Asia and India. The band is playing a sold out show this weekend at JP Nagar.
Derived from the translation of an ancient Tamil word which means ‘the inner self’, Agam comprises Harish on lead vocals and violin, Swamy on keyboards, Praveen and Jagadish on guitars, Kasyap on bass, Ganesh on drums and Shiva on percussions.
Pointing out that they are playing after a break of three–four months, Praveen Kumar says the reason for the hiatus was because “We were in the studio wrapping up our second album which is almost done. We’re quite kicked about playing in Bengaluru this weekend, also because it’s home turf. But honestly we didn’t expect the response we got with entry passes getting sold out. It is mind-boggling. We know we have fans in Bengaluru, but this kind of support within an hour of announcing the gig is just unimaginable. We’re very excited to give everyone a good show.”
With the run–up to the album launch in November, the guitarist says their set–list for this show will include their usual popular songs from the first album. “We will also play a few never-before-heard numbers from our upcoming album. We are keeping it a surprise so that our audience discovers a live experience like never before.”
Crediting their musical evolution over the years to a change in the line-up, Praveen says: “The influences from the new guys definitely show up in our song–writing. The songs you will hear in the second album are very different from our first one. Our sound has become more progressive and metal-based with experiments in Hindustani and Carnatic melodies. It’s a good mélange of influences.”
What’s the biggest takeaway for their audience? Praveen asserts: “What normally happens is that people do not understand the richness of our Indian heritage. Most of our songs are based heavily on Indian classical music. We are progressive, but we believe Western music is a subset of classical music. We represent the classical art in a contemporary set-up that appeals to people across ages. The experience of how evolved the classical sound is and how it can be explored – that is something we at Agam want people to take with them.”
It is also their responsibility to shoulder their heritage, he adds. “We have such a rich tradition in music that is often overlooked. The fact that there are bands in the city doing the same that we are doing goes a long way in keeping it alive. Classical music can be represented in any way since it is open to interpretation.” Praveen points out that striking a balance between the Western and Indian styles is not a conscious decision. “We definitely do not want to distort the traditional connotation. Our arrangements are very thoughtful and melody-based. We write every note and try to make it sound rich and different in every song.”
Commenting on the scene, Praveen says the band is definitely in a much better space as compared to 2007, when they started and venues were less. “There were even lesser venues that allowed Indian music to be played. Cities and people have moved on and people want to explore outside the mainstream arena. Independent regional bands are finding their space now. The sell out shows, like ours, are a testament and speak for itself. The city is showing support like never before. I see a near future when independent music becomes mainstream as well. Things are heading in the right direction and we’re very happy to be part of the journey.”
Catch Agam Live at MLR Convention Centre, JP Nagar, on July 15 from 7 pm onwards.
