Vowels: Their time to ‘rock’

Vowels, the Hyderabad based rock band gives a glimpse of their jamming sessions and elements that make their music complete

May 06, 2016 04:42 pm | Updated October 18, 2016 12:41 pm IST - Hyderabad:

The Vowels team

The Vowels team

Three years of performing together, two years after forming a band, Vowels went live at Hard Rock Café recently, a few days after their performance at The Groove, Secunderabad. The four residents of Housing Board Colony were introduced to each other by mutual friends. The name Vowels, they say, is just a symbolic gesture for togetherness akin to the five letters of the English alphabet.

Performing in three languages — English, Telugu and Hindi — the group comes together for their jamming sessions during the weekends. The locations of these sessions keep changing time to time, from their team mate’s house at Bowenpally to different venues at Banjara Hills, Begumpet, etc. The themes of their numbers, they maintain, are meant to be socially relevant. Kishore and Sumanth are often the ‘go to’ people for lyrics, while Ajay and Praneeth give the music, a certain rhythm.

They admit it’s hard to find a common time to jam. Kishore, the ‘software’ guy and the guitarist (rhythm guitar) doesn’t complain at all. “The fact is that we are very interested in music and are going good together. It was only after we met at an event that I began strumming the guitar. I write lyrics and sing as well, initially it was to vent out my feelings after a bad relationship. So, the girls unearthed the lyricist in me,” he smiles.

Freelance musician Ajay, a little tired after his last gig, takes some time to come into his own element. Making music his career choice wasn’t difficult, he says, talking about finding the right opportunities in the market. He reveals that Vowels does a thorough background check on the venue they’re performing in. “This is where we adapt to different crowds and ensure variety in our performances.” They switch between alternative and progressive rock predominantly, besides dabbling with melodies and fusion numbers occasionally.

They were due for an album recently, but certain creative and financial constraints put the plan on hold. One of their compositions was on Youtube last year too. As we’re talking, Sumanth, a B.Com student joins us. Multi-faceted you could call him, for he plays the piano, is a rapper, writes and sings. A big fan of Linkin Park, he still has to do his bit of convincing to parents before he sets off for gigs and jamming sessions and arrive late nights. “They don’t want me to take much strain generally,” he says, talking of his plans for a film stint too.

Praneeth, a first year engineering student, the other guitarist, completes the musical arc. He’s blunt in saying education isn’t his priority, but pursuing his passion, music, is. “It makes me happy regardless of the financial dividends,” he signs off.

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