The band Gorillas in Groove depends solely on music for a living. They are from Chennai and have performed across the country. The Indie music scene in the South still needs a lot of support, says Pravir, the drummer. “The audience here is still very reserved. Whereas the crowd in New Delhi jump on tables and go mad listening to our music.”
And, that is the response they want, says Avi, the vocalist. “We want the audience to hum along with us and have a good time. We are a fun gang. And we are not fake on stage. Our music reflects who we are.”
How difficult is it to stay authentic when everything, right from music and lyrics to style statements, are just a click away? “I think people should stop saying a band is plagiarising, unless they are copying songs word by word. Our songs keep evolving. I began with making punk versions of nursery rhymes,”says Avi. He adds that at the end of the day, everything is an adaptation of originals.
However, they are not ready to compromise on their quality of music for the sake of popularity. “Singing songs in regional languages and making a quick buck is also not our thing,” says Pravir. “That is not us. We need to play our music. We are not here to win people.”
None of them has any financial backing from their parents. “Some gigs are good, some are not. We know it will take time. It is different from Europe, where the indie music industry is booming. There is more priority for DJ music here. It has become like cricket,” laughs Avi.
Getting a manager is expensive, says Pravir, who takes care of marketing. “When your living depends on it, you hustle for gigs. We don’t get paid for our performances. Most of the times, all our money is spent on travel, accommodation and food.
And, in Chennai, jamming itself is a costly affair. You need to scavenge for money to rent jam pads. ”
It is not easy to be a part of a counter-cultural movement like indie music in India. “Most of them see us as outsiders. I want to be part of India. We are from different places. Sajin (sound) is from Kerala, Pravir is from New Delhi and MP (the guitarist) is from Mizoram. How much more Indian can we be?”
As musicians, one has to develop a thick skin, says Avi. “Every time we walk past someone, with a guitar, they think we are a bunch of high-school drop outs. It’s a stereotypical thing in India. You are being judged every moment of your life.”
