The Clones are here to stay

In band universe, 15 years is a long time, especially with several line-up changes and the passing away of a crucial member. But Them Clones has continued to grow stronger.

Earlier this month, the band held a gig at the Hard Rock Cafe in Gurgaon to mark their 15th anniversary. Performing songs that have shaped their identity over the years along with friends and contemporaries, the quartet comprising Surojit Dev, Prithwish Dev, Joseph Lalmachhuana and Akshay Raheja commanded a turnout that could put any indie champion to shame. Advaita's Suhail Yusuf Khan, Jitter's Jayant, Parikrama's Nitin Malik and Sonam Sherpa, The Superfuzz's Nikhil Yusuf Raj, Vasundhara Vidalur of Adil and Vasundhara, and Soul'd Out's Abhay Sharma performed alongside them to a packed audience.

"It's been a great journey and for the most part has been really enjoyable. But there are frustrations too," says drummer Surojit Dev, the sole member left from the original lineup. "In India, we still need a day job to continue," Surojit, who works at an advertising agency, says.

Despite that, things are looking great for Them Clones. Guitarist Joseph Lalmachhuana just got married, and the band is working on new material for an upcoming album. The group is also in talks with legendary sound recordist Miti Adhikari, who returned to India last year after decades of work with the likes of Nirvana, Foo Fighters and Pearl Jam, for their new album.

"Once Joseph is back, we'll restart work on the album. We have some songs, but we need to write some more. We like to pick and choose," says Surojit.

Them Clones, with its edgy, alternative sound and soulful guitar riffs, started somewhere in 2000. "Prithwish was still in school and Joseph was his junior. My then vocalist and guitarist had just left and these guys, who were taking part in competitions, asked me if I would play for them," says Surojit. The band, which went through several line-up changes over the years, took shape with the current members somewhere around 2003. At that time, they had Surojit on drums, Prithwish on vocals, Joseph and Gucci Singh on guitars, and Clarence Gonsalves on the bass.

With hits like Zephyretta, My Life, and In The Name of Love, Them Clones has been immensely popular in the circuit. It has picked up several awards, including the Best Band award two years in a row in 2006 and 2007, the Best Song, Best Vocalist and Best Drummer awards in 2009 at the Jack Daniel's Annual Rock Awards and the Best Band in the 2005 Channel [V] Launchpad competition. The group released their first album Love. Hate. Heroes in 2009.

Tragically, bassist Clarence passed away in 2012 after battling a blood disorder called ITP for years. The band continued without a bassist for a while after. "We were on an all time low, with emotions and everything else. We kept on doing something or the other so that we did not lose pace. We kept on playing gigs and hiring people to fill his space. Nikhil (Rufus Raj) did a lot of shows for us, so did Gaurav Balani," says Surojit. Around the time, the band came up with the Clonefest Soundfest series, where it curated acts like Peter Cat Recording Co and Parikrama in various venues across Delhi. "We felt that if stopped, we'll never bounce back."

Soon after guitarist Gucci Singh left the band in 2012, and in 2013 they roped in Akshay Raheja, Faridkot's former member to complete the current line-up.

The band does not like to define its music within a certain genre, and vocalist Prithwish says that genres only limit a band. "We would rather that our listeners decide our music. We were never too sold to specific genres. Our catalogue of material is living proof of that. Because if we did, a majority of our songs would sound a particular way. And they don't. This has happened across line-ups, and has been our most consistent factor," he says.

While his influences are as diverse as church, gospel, acapella, Bollywood, classic rock, alternative grunge and Rabindra Sangeet, it is the love for pop that binds the band, Prithwish says.

Akshay remembers that his first influence was Pink Floyd's Pulse, a two-cassette collection that his father got home. "Then I was exposed to my brother's love for electronica, dance and pop. In school, I discovered metal, and my greatest influences are the U2-era modern rock and EDM."

For Surojit, apart from cable TV and MTV, his neighbour's collection of music was his first big exposure. "He has a huge grunge and alternative 90s music; Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Seattle grunge bands like Smashing Pumpkins, Ugly Kid Joe. I am also a big fan of Michael Jackson and electronic music," he says. He adds that currently he's listening to London Grammar and Royal Blood, and looks furtively towards his bandmates before he drops the bomb, "And, at the gym, I listen to Punjabi music."

Of course, the band does not spare him. Also, perhaps, it is safe to say that apart from pop, Them Clones is bound by its love for Bollywood. And they do not do much to hide that. In 2011, band members Gucci and Clarence appeared alongside Ranbir Kapoor in Imtiaz Ali's Rockstar. "Even I auditioned. But they did not select me because I look too much like Ranbir Kapoor," says Akshay. The band, also had a small role in Sudhir Mishra's 2005 cult movie, Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi. "We played a band called The Animals," says Surojit.

They fondly remember Farhan Akhtar's Rock On for Humanity concert, mostly because of Mehr Jesia and the vanity vans the organisers gave them. "We'd never seen a vanity van before," says Prithwish. "And, we timed our performance of Zephyretta in a way that it coincided with the entry of Mehr Jesia into the concert, despite knowing that her husband Arjun Rampal was the organiser."

Apart from the upcoming album, also in the works is a documentary on the band's journey so far. And from what it appears, there's a lot to tell.