Music band Euphoria in a no-holds-barred talkathon on India’s music scene and burning issues; soon to be chronicled in a rock book
They are synonymous with Hindi rock. After their first album’s success in 1998, independent music band Euphoria never looked back. Though, they take their own sweet time to release albums. Euphoria just released their latest offering, Item, after five years.
Frontman Palash Sen is unapologetic: “This was the right time. Just listen to the courage of Euphoria.” Band member Ashwani Verma adds, “You say things when you have something to say. We don’t have to churn out 100 songs, we’re not bound by deadlines. We make music when we’re happy. The timing was right now.”
The album features nine songs representing navras of modern India, dealing with contemporary topics like religion, terrorism and current issues. Palash says, “Each issue, each person we’re talking about, whether it’s a politician, a terrorist... each one of them is an ‘item’. Katrina Kaif is an item too, but according to me, Manmohan Singh is the best ‘item’ in the country! He doesn’t talk when he needs to, so we have a song called 'Gumsum' dedicated to him."
The title, he says, is inspired by the everyday women in India. “Hardworking, educated and career-oriented women in India are the true ‘items’. It’s not Malaika Arora-Khan and definitely not Rakhi Sawant! For the sake of the women, let’s stop accepting the fact that they are treated like objects. Stop. My wife is a scientist, my mother is a doctor, my sister is a corporate lawyer... why aren’t such people celebrated?” he argues.
Bass artist Debajyoti Bhaduri opines, “Every four letter word is not a bad word. ‘Item’ is a very good four letter word. We’re going to change the meaning.” Palash is openly critical of the Bollywood music scene. “How can a man make 100 songs a year?
Obviously one resorts to copying then. I also want to see a Pritam or a Shaan as superstars, not Shah Rukh Khan or Salman Khan who’re lip syncing to their songs!" Tell him, he’s launched many actors including Vidya Balan and he laughs, “Woh kahan pohuch gaye, aur hum wohi ke wohi reh gaye!” As of now, the band is eagerly awaiting a rock book chronicling their 20-year old journey.
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