Bengaluru is known world over for the immense amount of music that stems out of the city’s soundscapes. Hence, it comes as no surprise that the Ministry of Culture of the Government of India chose a band from the music capital to represent India for a global event.
Selected to perform in a series of concerts organised by the High Commission of India in Wellington and Auckland, New Zealand, as part of the Independence Day celebrations, Bengaluru-based Hindustani popular band Dwi is returning to the city after making headlines overseas.
The trio, comprising Puneet Joshi, Saumya Shanker and Malvika Niranjan, is known for putting together powerful vocals rooted in semi-classical styles in a minimal acoustic set-up with a guitar and percussions. Catching up with MetroPlus, Saumya and Malvika talk about what makes their music stand out from the rest.
Thrilled at the opportunity, the duo choruses that in terms of foreign exposure, this is really their biggest venture. Saumya elaborates “This really takes the cake, because we’re representing India. There’s a ring to it that can’t be replaced by anything else.”
On the setlist, they say that since these were concerts that celebrate India’s independence, they had kept the selection focussed on not just patriotic or nationalistic songs. “We also performed some motivational songs that celebrate the human spirit through trials and tribulations,” says Saumya.
The biggest asset of their music on stage, Malvika says, is their chemistry and the way they involve the audience in their songs. “What people remember most about us is that we are very voice-prominent since it’s an acoustic set-up. We are very minimalistic on instruments and heavy on voices. That is something people enjoy a lot.” Soumya pitches in: “Our music is energetic with a foot-tapping vibe. We produce music that is happy overall. We love to say we are peppy without being noisy.”
The band is ecstatic on representing India and Bengaluru. Saumya says even ‘Cloud Nine’ is an understatement. “This is the first time the Ministry has gone about the selection and chosen a band from the city. Bengaluru is a melting pot of talent. But the fact that they’ve chosen a band is almost a breath of fresh air since it’s usually a dance or folk troupe that is chosen. It’s a welcome change and conveys a lot to the audience on the direction we’re headed.”
On the name, they say Dwi means ‘two’. Malvika says: “Each one of us have our own interpretations. Music is primarily sur and taal. And the two elements complete the whole idea of music for us.” Soumya adds that they just liked the sound of it. “Dwi as a word – not just for the philosophy, but also the way you say it – it tinkles somewhere in the head and is musical that way.”
At the heart of their music, Saumya says, is the variety the three of them bring to the band. “All of us come from very different backgrounds and the USP of the band is the fact that the sound is very pure. These are melodies purely backed by guitar. Our vocals are themselves another instrument on stage.” Malvika adds: “The live music shows are also engaging enough for people to come up and sing with us since we sing with our hearts.”
Formed in 2010, the duo says their journey so far has been a roller-coaster ride. Saumya elaborates: “We started with a different sound and evolved with time. We like to look at ourselves as a multi-hued entity. We do stage shows, compose music, release material on YouTube, and have a loyal group of supporters.” The future prospects are bright for DWI, he points out. “DWI has formed some sort of niche and we are looking forward to performing a lot of originals and alternate music. We are looking at more live performances.
Appreciating the space for DWI in Bengaluru, Saumya affirms there’s a place for every kind of music in the city. “And across the country, the genre we play –Hindustani popular – is steadily growing and coming to the fore with stages opening up to our music.” Malvika adds that the band loves to takepopular songs and create a different sound. Saumya sums up with an appeal: “We are a live band. That is something we want everyone to appreciate. This is the real music and it needs as much support as possible.”
(Visit www.dwitheband.com or catch them on Facebook and YouTube)
