In Nina Simone’s documentary, What happened Miss Simone? , the Blues legend is seen talking to a reporter off screen, in an insistent — if slightly exasperated — tone: “How can you be an artist and not reflect the times we live in?” As the Civil Rights Movement progressed, Simone’s music became increasingly political, much to the dismay of her husband and manager. But she remained adamant.
In conversation with Bruce Lee Mani, frontman of Bengaluru-based Thermal and a Quarter, a similar discontent with the political and social atmosphere echoes. “When every day there’s news of hatred and violence being spread, a human being can’t help but be affected by it. As an artist, if you don’t express yourself about what’s happening, you’re not even relevant,” he says. Songs from the band’s upcoming album, ‘A World Gone Mad’, do just that. TAAQ, along with Chennai-based Grey Shack, will be playing their songs to an intimate audience at Slate on Friday.
The normally funky band has taken a more serious turn for this album, dealing with topics including communal politics and fake news. “In ‘Leaders of Men’, whose video we recently shot, we discuss how political leaders across the world seem to be of questionable character and dubious achievement. There’s also ‘Believe it all’, that talks about the information overload from all sorts of media, and not knowing which one to trust. And then there’s a song about the stuff that keeps you sane in the midst of all this madness: your family and the people you care about,” says Bruce. There won’t be any direct insinuations at specific personalities, but “the lyrics should make it clear who we’re referring to”.
Even Grey Shack got more introspective for their second album ‘Alchemy’, whose songs they will be playing. As the name suggests, songs on this album talk about transformation. “We have seen a complete change in the way we write songs. We had a very rock-and-roll kind of a vibe with hummable songs. Now, you will still be able to go back with the song in your head, but the music is a lot more complex than before,” says lead guitarist Vikram Vivekanand.
In another major change, neither of the bands have sponsors backing this performance. “There’s no equipment like the amps coming from outside, it’s all been funded for by us,” says Vivek. “Both of us (Grey Shack and TAAQ) wanted to play but did not want to wait for a gig that brought us together,” he adds. Grey Shack’s Vikram, bassist Conrad Simmons and drummer Ramkumar Kanakarajan had been TAAQ’s fans since their college days, going to their shows every time they performed in the city. Eventually, after they became a band of their own, they first played together in 2009 when they opened for the Bengaluru band.
Bruce points out a second reason, “If you get sponsors, you have to make a lot of compromises, you don’t have complete creative control.” This is the second time they are doing a DIY gig in the city, the first having been in 2003. “Big sponsors are not interested in small gigs, they want at least 1,000 people attending, and hold it in a pub or a restaurant where the focus is not solely on the music. Plus, they’ll want peppy songs people can bop to,” he says. The songs from ‘A World Gone Mad’, on the other hand, are mostly dark and reflective, the music fitting the mood of the lyrics, with slow tempo, less guitar riffs, and ambient big soundscapes. “With songs like these, it’s better if you can look your audience in the eye, interact with them about the inspiration behind the song,” he says.
After their tours to Ireland, Germany, and the UK last year, the band will be doing another world tour next summer, once this album has been released.
TAAQ and Grey Shack will be performing at the Slate, Lady Andal Mini Auditorium, Chetpet, on August 24, from 7 pm to 10 pm.
