In an age when Indian music is crossing borders and breaking barriers globally, Indian rock electronica band Midival Punditz are making waves with another feather in the hat in the virtual world of video gaming.
“Atomizer”, a rollicking, foot-stomping track from the Delhi-based band's third album “Hello Hello” is featuring in the official 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa video game. This licensing deal was brought about by their international record label Six Degrees in the USA.
Not a first
Midival Punditz, an alternative world-fusion electronica rock band comprises two of Delhi's finest music connoisseurs, Tapan Raj and Gaurav Raina. The duo blends a wide array of genres including bhangra, jungle, electronica, and Hindustani classical music among others. They use a range of instruments in their repertoire such as the dhol, tumbi, sarod, santoor, dholak, tanpura, tabla, surbahar, swarmandal, sarangi, sitar, and bansuri, and combine them with the synthesizer and drum machine.
Speaking over the phone, Tapan was jubilant over the achievement and being the only Indian group featuring in the soundtrack of the game. “It is fantastic to see our song go places like this. A platform like the World Cup is a great shot at moving up. Sports-based video games tend to garner a huge fan base.”
“‘Atomizer' is a groovy rock electronica pop track and makes splendid material for the dance club scene. The track has always been received with a great response from audiences each time we play it .” This is not the first time their music has been used in video games. Need for Speed – Cabon, Project Gotham Racing 3 and Ashes Cricket 2009 have also featured the Punditz's compositions. The version selected is Pathaan's remix of the original track. “The compilation includes big international names in the music field such as Basement Jaxxx, Sergio Mendes and Michael Franti and Spearhead.”
Playing with the greats
The pair have been playing together after their college years since 1997 and have come a long way from their humble beginning. Midival Punditz have already become an internationally-acclaimed band going across the globe and performing alongside legends such as Anoushka Shankar, Sting, Norah Jones among others.
Since releasing their first “Six Degrees” record in 2002, the Punditz have created a Bollywood film score, given tracks for a Hollywood film “Closer”, collaborated with some of the greatest classical musicians of India, and become the foremost ambassadors of India's rapidly growing alternative and electronic music scene around the world.
Incorporating a wide range of Indian classical instrumentation into their repertoire, they bring together international electronica, global pop, and Indian folk with modern day song-writing to create music that is unique.
“This kind of music came to us naturally. We found it sounded really good and the style of music was original so it stuck. We've had a lot of influences from the 60's rock acts and we've always tried to push ourselves with more assertive Indian and global music.”
Midival Punditz encourages upcoming musicians with: “Get out there and make your music. Do not stick to the norm, and never lose your originality.”
