At the previous edition of artiste and event management company REProduce’s Listening Room in the city – held at Koramangala Social in March – drummer-producer Shoumik Biswas remembers how the night closed with a hell-raising jam that resonated throughout the venue. He recalls, “Everyone was jamming, anything was happening. It was actually very weird to see the crowd at Social tripping on it.”
He says the gig series usually plants left-field artistes and experimental music producers in unlikely spaces such as working studios, art galleries, bakeries and restaurants across the country. For example, on July 30, REProduce Listening Room returns to Upbeat Restaurant in Banaswadi, which played host to the first ever Bengaluru edition last year. Featured artistes include alt rock band Stoned Seahorse, live electronic act Parks Di Antoni, experimental performer Rogue Atari, The Indian Sonic Research Organisation (ISRO), producer Masta Justy and Hemant SK, who is the showrunner of this edition.
Hemant, who has just shifted to Bengaluru says, “I have not had any exposure to anything outside Delhi -- so it is a first time for me too... I am looking forward to ISRO, who are the veterans of the experimental music scene here in Bangalore.”
Started in early 2016 by REProduce founder Rana Ghose, Listening Room shows have given a platform for some of the most experimental minds at the fringe of Indian alternative music. The economics of it involves charging an entry fee that goes towards covering equipment and production costs, followed by splitting the revenue evenly with all performers. Hemant adds, “The performers are encouraged to bring in their friends as audience so that we retain a community feeling - we have not ever done any solid promotion and just keep it organic.”
Shoumik, who is performing alongside Naquash and Joe Panicker (from electronic/hip-hop duo Aerate Sound) as Parks Di Antoni, has performed at three different editions of Listening Room, in Mumbai, Bengaluru and New Delhi. He says the experience has been distinct each time “Bombay was different because it was in a studio apartment, so it had a house party vibe. In Delhi, we moved to this huge house in Sainik Farm, it was almost like a proper gig.”
A producer under the moniker Disco Puppet, Shoumik is teaming up with Aerate Sound for a new project that just started out formally a month ago. He says, “We’ve been thinking about it for a while. Joe set up a studio that is just two minutes from our home, so we’re always heading over there to spend time. Rana (Ghose) had called to ask if we’d all like to jam at the gig he was putting together.”
The three musicians are going to alternate with their controllers and electronic equipment as well as live drums (which Shoumik and Joe both play), but say it’s too short a time to say they’ve found sonic direction in their set. But the formation of Parks Di Antoni – brought about for the show – has been educational for Shoumik. He adds, “I’ve learned a lot about sampling. We’re trying to figure out how to make this work.”
(REProduce Listening Room takes place at Upbeat Restaurant, Dodda Banaswadi Main Road, on July 30. Entry: Rs 300 at the door.)
