Bangalore-based band Sulk Station here to stay

Their sounds are unusual, hypnotic and mesmerising; their talent, quite untapped, but Tanvi Rao and Rahul Giri of Sulk Station, a Bangalore-based down tempo/trip-hop duo band say their music is here to stay.

No inspiration really…
We liked the songs that came out from a jam session at a friend’s place and saw some kind of potential. Through emails (Tanvi was in Chennai), we managed to create some songs and in early 2009, we collaborated for the opening act for Mouse On Mars, a German band. That was when we decided to pursue our sound seriously. There was no inspiration really, it was natural. It had to be done.

Why Sulk?
We did have some inspiration for our band name though. We named the band after Tanvi. She sulks a lot!

Mellow? Dramatic? ‘Mellowdramatic’
Our sound is new. We like to call it mellowdramatic pop. Our sounds have been shaped by influences like Burial, Radiohead, Sigur-ros, Arvo Part, Martina-topley Bird, James Blake and Portishead but also maintain a strong essence of Hindustani music. In simple terms, we would categorise it as downtempo electronica with influences of Hindustani music.

What is the music?
Our vocals, by Tanvi, have a sultry feel to it and are accompanied by my minimalist beats. The music is sullen, moody and hypnotic, all with the Indian twist through the vocals. This classical touch, we think adds to the melancholy, and when sung in English lyrics  that are quite cryptic, it surprisingly make for the perfect combination.

Looking back…
After our first collaborative opening, we have performed at a number of venues across Bangalore like Bflat bar, Xtreme Sports bar, Bacchus, Kyra theatre, Goethe Institut, Unwind and Counterculture among others.

What we are quite proud of is that we have been gigging regularly and have played alongside more established bands like Lounge Piranha, The Bicycle Days and Drones from the Turbine in Bangalore and with Offshore in Germany.

On the cards
Sulk is looking to release an album with our sound. We have been working on it and hope to release it this month.