MUMBAI: Quite often, bands promoting experimental or unique sounds shut shops before the ideation for second album or EP even begins. In that aspect, Tritha Electric’s evolving journey as a three-piece act that conjuncts two forms of music with varying popularity across the land provides enough hope for emerging musicians with similar intentions.
Some call the trio ideal ambassadors for ‘ethno-punk’, some have described it as ‘Asha Bhosle meets Sonic Youth’, while Paul Schneiter (the drummer of the band) simply defines the act’s sound as “psychedelic music with Indian classical elements.” But, for now, Schneiter would not mind any tag as long as the trio is true to its sound. “It’s been three and a half years since the band’s inception,” informs the drummer, who joined songwriter Tritha Sinha and Mathias Durand to devise the projects that followed. The band is maturing, and so is Sinha’s songwriting. The trio’s upcoming studio effort will be a full-fledged studio album (yet to be titled) with at least eight or nine songs, the essence of which will entirely incline towards environmental issues and related vital issues. With an album ‘Pagli’ (released in June 2014) to its credit, the band has taken progressively vital steps for the execution of the second album. Tritha Electric has signed a deal with an Indian independent record label, finding a ‘new wave’ to its rhythm. The band could not reveal the name of the label yet, however, Schneiter did inform the tradition of letting two separate entities handle the band’s Indian and European activities will continue. For an act that spends six months in Europe and the remaining period in India, Tritha Electric’s functioning beyond the music seems to be positively organised.
Listen to ‘Fish Market’ live in Paris:
Related Post
For Sinha, the voice of Tritha Electric, the ecosystem welcoming more and more female musician led acts has given her enough reasons to smile. “I think it has really been great in the last couple of years. Women need to express themselves. I had to express myself, so I used music as a tool,” said Sinha, who also added that Schneiter helped the vocalist to upload her unreleased stuff. “I started as a contemporary musician. And although the early stages were good, I wanted to be known for ‘more than just a nice voice,’” added Sinha, who listed two things as her priorities as a songwriter – “One, I want Indian classical music to be remembered and celebrated once again. Two, the vital issues that affect us, in general, needs to be raised.”
The ethno-punk image of Tritha Electric makes New Wave Asia – one of the most consistent punk rock promoting initiatives – an ideal fit for the band. However, that would not be the end for Tritha Electric’s live shows in 2016. The band will perform at Dolce Vita Festival in the capital on 23 December, followed by a performance at the desert and ecological initiative – Lurm Festival 2016.
Upon asked the elements that the band takes into consideration to choose or deny a gig, Schneiter concluded, “The essence of the festival and the value they are promoting. In New Wave Asia’s case, apart from those elements, it was also Rishu Singh.”
Tritha Electric will perform in the New Wave Asia’s third edition at antiSocial Delhi on 18 December.
