They describe themselves as a Bangalore Rock band and pioneers of the genre. Their music and reach however, has gone global. Reiterating their own credo of ‘adding some masala in your chai and some chainese in your chow mein’, get set for a full meal of Bangalore Rock by Thermal And A Quarter in their latest album The Scene . And they promise not to charge more than ‘meter mele one-and-half!’
When asked what’s The Scene, frontman Bruce says: “It’s our new album. The Scene is our take on being in the independent scene for so long, people we’ve met and situations we’ve been in. It’s based very much on reality. The album is snarky, sarcastic, even vicious at some points. But it’s also positive. It’s not gloomy or angry, rather it’s a cheerful and happy album. It pokes fun, it lampoons and it satirises.”
The sixth studio offering from the three-member band, The Scene is the first album featuring bass player Leslie Charles who teams up with founder members – Bruce Lee Mani (guitar, vocals) and drummer Rajeev Rajagopal – to produce the tongue-in-cheek commentary on the Indian indie scene. With songs such as ‘Like Me’ which satires Facebook likes, ‘My Funny Turpentine’, MEDS (Medicated Electronic Dance)’ that spoofs EDM, ‘Going To Abroad’ and ‘The Sponsors Backed Out’, the 10 track album comes as a fresh breath of music. The album was recorded at the band’s Taaqademy studios in Koramangala.
When compared to the earlier albums, Bruce says the sound is new in The Scene . “I’m using a guitar synth so there are a lot more layers in the instrumentation of the album. It’s also the next concept album since Jupiter Café . Of course, there are similar kinds of satires in all the albums. From way back in 2000 when we made fun of cable TV to the previous album which trolls autos, there has always being a veil of sarcasm. We didn’t sit down with this idea. It just fell into place. In terms of song writing, The Scene is a continuation of our existing sound and very much in the Bangalore Rock soundscape.”
How much of Bengaluru is in The Scene ? Bruce says, “The album is very upbeat, cheerful and laidback. It’s a very Bangalorean way of life with nuances of the intellectual side and taking it’s time to settle in for the ride. The sarcasm is also double edged since we poke fun at ourselves. It’s layered, sophisticated, chilled out and vibrant – very much the way Bangalore is.”
With statement photos like a quirky take on Facebook ‘likes’ and Leslie’s absolutely hilarious version of Kim Kardashian’s Break The Internet, TAAQ stands bold in their commentary – be it in their songs, their lyrics or their photos. “For us this is what makes sense. We’ve always tried to be relevant to things around us. It’s not the only way a band has to be. But it makes it interesting for us to chronicle, comment and satire the things going on around us and making sure, at the same time, that none of it is taken too seriously. Music is supposed to be enjoyed. Our ideals are a new perspective on life. That’s our joke.”
The Scene sums up what TAAQ is all about, he points out. “If you are any kind of young person living in any city around the world, you can relate to us. The songs reflect the reality we live in and will connect with you.” Visit >www.thermalandaquarter.com or >www.thescene.in for more.
