Advaita: 10 years and still rocking

A decade is a long time to subsist in the ever-changing universe of Indian indie music. But the Delhi-based eight member outfit Advaita has done that -- and much more.

Many call them a fusion band, one that infuses contemporary electronic music and traditional Indian instruments to produce a sound that is not only original but also wins over purists who will otherwise want to have nothing to do with 'fusion' music. It was on the evening of September 21, 2004, that the band came together to perform before an eager crowd at Delhi's Venkateshwara College. There has been no looking back since.

The ensemble – comprising Abhishek Mathur (guitars), Aman Singh (drums), Anindo Bose (keyboards), Chayan Adhikari (Western vocals and guitar), Gaurav Chintamani (bass), Mohit Lal (tabla), Suhail Yusuf Khan (sarangi and vocals) and Ujwal Nagar (Hindustani vocals) -- have come a long way since that debut performance.

Their first album, Grounded in Space (2009), met with both critical and commercial success for their fresh, neo-fusion sound. It also landed them a gig with famous producer John Leckie, who has worked with the likes of John Lennon, Pink Floyd, Radiohead and Muse, for the a project with the British Council where they recorded two songs – Just enough and Colourful -- for a globally released compilation.

Their second album, The Silent Sea (2012), too, brought them accolades. It bagged the best album at the Global Indian Music Awards and the Jack Daniel Rock Awards.

It is time for a break during an Advaita jamming session, and everyone gathers to talk about the incredible decade-long journey. The Advaita sound is one that cannot be tied down to a particular genre. There are off-kilter jazz elements, dreamy electronica punctuated by lulling Hindustani vocals and the distinct notes of the sarangi. The creative process, making music out of the 'mess', must not be easy.
"We have so many elements, and yet we gel very well. None of us are stubborn and stuck on one idea or one style. We discuss and agree on what to do," says drummer Aman.

The creative process, and the line-up, too, has seen changes over the years. "In the initial years, only two-three of us would do the song-writing and the arrangement, and bring it to the studio. They rest would listen, play and improvise. And that's why live sessions sound so different from the recorded songs," says keyboardist Anindo.

"In the last five-six years, from the second album onward, it's been a collective effort. The line-up has been the same since 2007. And so, the songs in the first album, and a few from the second album, sound quite different from how we sound today. Now the band vibe is stronger," be adds.

A band as big as theirs would come with its own trouble in terms of managing stuff like time schedules and space? "Thank god for Google calendar," says bassist Gaurav. "If you're on it, you're booked for that day. It's not easy, and so we don't expect everyone to be present at all meetings and jamming sessions. But we try and make the most of it… when all of us are available we have a jamming session, like today."

Space was also one of the reasons that led to a recording at the coveted Yash Raj Studios at Mumbai for their second album. They were one of the first few Indian bands to do so, and being a relatively younger band, that seemed a bit brave. "We were not consciously being brave; we just wanted to make an album sound as great as it is supposed to be," says Aman.

Vocalist Ujwal treasures the memory of being in the studio for the first time. "A couple of us had the idea in the mind, a clear vision of how to sound, and Yash Raj was the best studio to do that. Many of us had never been inside it, but when we entered, it looked like a stadium! It was so huge."

"I think the best way to play for an eight-piece band like our's is when the rhythm section plays together. Yash Raj was also the only place that gave us the space that a big band like us could have had," says guitarist Abhishek.

In the last 10 years, the 'scene' has undergone many changes. For Advaita, most of those changes are welcome. "Back in the day, there were few promoters and platforms where music could be heard, and it was those people who decided what was good or bad. Now, with the internet, everybody can find their own fan base. People with just a guitar, too, have so many followers. Us going to Yash Raj was also pushing the envelope to do something better," says Abhishek, adding that songwriting benefited the most with that. "People are now taking more chances with songwriting, and not sticking to easy formats."

The way ahead for the band is a new EP, which will be out next month. The EP will have some old, unreleased songs and some new ones. Advaita also plans to tweak their live setup in the coming days to rev up things a bit. Coming full circle, the band performs today at Zorba in Gurgaon, reliving their decade-long journey. Expect old hits, and some new songs from the upcoming EP.

To all the fans who made it possible, Advaita has a small message: "This is for those who have supported us -- thanks. Without you guys, none of this would have been possible."