PART III : Impact of Cyberspace, Musicality, Fashion and Maby Baking!

You have been quite active on the web with your site and other social networking platforms like Facebook, Orkut and Myspace. Has it really made any difference?

Ganguly – We’ve not done too well on Myspace, but things are better now.

Chordia – We use Facebook and Orkut to put the word across the community.

Ganguly – Facebook has been great because they actually have an event creation option.

Sen – But anyway, I wouldn’t say that these sites have made us but they’ve definitely helped us build on what we’ve started. Several big magazines have featured us on their pages so people do know about us from there. That will only get better once the album is out. But until then, this gives people the opportunity to hear us even if they haven’t been to our gigs. But now that we’re entering the national scene, we’ll need all the help we can get.

Ganguly – Yeah. You can also check out our official website – www.thesupersonics.net

What kind of sound would you never ever want to produce?

Ganguly – Death Metal!

Sen – Melodic Death Metal!

Mani – Symphonic Orchestra Metal! Death Active Melodic Jazz Metal!

Ganguly – Then again, if it sounds good and people bug us badly we might. [Chuckles]

Sen – If it sounds alright, its okay!

So who will be singing the Death Metal song?

[Everyone points at Sen]

Sen – Which is why we’re never going to be playing Death Metal. I guarantee it.

Mani – No. No. We might not even need a vocalist. I’m told some bands are all about the frequency. I haven’t reached the stage where I can really appreciate it!

[To Ganguly] But then, we’ll need hair as well. [Winks]

Ganguly – [Laughing] That’s alright. We’ll do Bald Metal – Rammstein types!

If you do plan on influencing fashion trends, what would be the step forward?

[Everyone bursts out laughing]

Sen – You’re asking us the wrong question!

Ganguly – Everyone went to buy clothes today. He [Mani] came back with coffee. And he[Sen] and I ended up eating lunch and coming here.

Sen – Well, I almost bought a frock. I was very tempted!

Chordia – I didn’t get my size. [Grins sheepishly]

Sen – Then again, we could just go up in underwear. It would be great! [Smiling from ear to ear]

Ganguly – As you can see, we’re really low on the glam part. We’re fashionably unfashionable, although, I do like suits.

Mani – I’d wear a white sweat band with a white Kylie.

Sen – I used to have this raincoat that I used to think was an overcoat as a kid. It was grey. It gave me the false impression that it was trench coat but it was actually a Duckback raincoat. I was really small. I didn’t know any better. [Makes a sad face]

You have just completed recording your debut album, Maby Baking. What was the recording experience like? How much extra preparation goes into making an album?

Ganguly – We had previously recorded songs at home, but not in a studio. That was a whole new ball game!

Chordia – We were lucky to work with two industry legends in Neel and Miti Adhikari. Miti, of course, has previously worked on records by Nirvana, Manic Street Preachers and The White Stripes so we knew we were in good hands from the beginning. [Beams]

Mani – Yes. Both Miti and Neel [Adhikari] are fantastic producers and great professionals. Things just began clicking together ever since HMV [Saregama] signed us on.

Sen – I think we’re all happy with it [the album] so we hope you’ll love it too!

Ganguly – Yes, a good one. Not something substandard or half baked. [Grins]

Only a handful of Indian English rock acts have so far managed to convince a label to sign them up for an album. Do you see that trend changing in the near future?

Sen – See, India’s a very Bollywood centric – specifically in terms of music.

Chordia – For the record companies, the sure shot return would be from a Bollywood soundtrack. You can predetermine your profits. On the other hand, a band has a very small market which cannot generate enough alone. That is why most record labels cringe while spending the extra money on promotion, marketing and distribution. But I’m not trying to judge them, its just the way they operate.

Ganguly – True. How much money is made from CD sales anyway? How many people actually buy CDs? Not many. But don’t use that as an excuse for not buying our album! [Laughing] It will be out in mid 2009 so make sure you grab a copy!

Do you have any advice for people starting their own bands?

Sen – In a place like India, if you’re dedicated to your music you will reap the benefits. I’ve noticed that every band that has been around for a considerable amount of time, whether good or bad, has achieved something. Remember that it’s like a mind game. You have to tell yourself that everything is fine although it may not be fine.

Mani – Every time you play, you must give 110%. One day someone could be watching you even if you’re playing at a small place. It doesn’t matter if you’re playing in Mumbai or Delhi as long as you’re putting in that little extra.

Ganguly – You have to be personally convinced that this is what you want to do. You have to keep trying. If you’re not you’re only looking for excuses. And be yourself.

Sen – It’s great if you want to write your own music but don’t start a band to do two or three originals. You should want to make your own music. That comes first and foremost.

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