Love Music? The Best Rock Bands from India

Check out these cool Indian rock bands

Rock music is definitely not one of the things that come to mind when you think of India. The country, however, does have a vibrant indie music scene. Be it blues or metal or electronic or folk, there are some established acts in the country who have been making some great music for years together. Here, we present five such bands who have created a niche for themselves.

Indian Ocean

One of the earliest fusion rock bands in India, Indian Ocean was formed in 1990 when a bunch of talented musicians met in Delhi. Known for their signature sound – a blend of folk, rock and jazz with a deep spiritual undertone – the band have managed to stay relevant and retain their core music sensibilities despite some setbacks and changes in their lineup. The band have about seven albums to their credit and have even made music for some offbeat Bollywood films.

Songs to listen to: Kandisa, Bandeh, Ma Rewa

Soulmate

The northeastern part of the country has some of the most talented musicians. Case in point is Soulmate, a blues band from Shillong, music central and the capital of the northeastern state of Meghalaya. The band is composed of Rudy Wallang, widely acknowledged as one the best blues musicians in the country and Tipriti Kharbangar, one of the best female vocalists and guitarists. Formed in 2003, the duo has teamed up with several blues and jazz musicians and performed across the world.

Songs to listen to: Set Me Free, Voodoo Woman

Avial

Avial from the southern state of Kerala is named after a South Indian dish, a mish-mash of vegetables and coconut (also called Avial). The band, which was formed in Thiruvananthapuram in 2003, sings primarily in Malayalam, the local language. Yet this alternative rock band has a huge fan following across the country, proving once again that language is no barrier to great music. Avial has performed across the country and besides a studio album, they have composed for films and collaborated with various musicians, notably with Italian band A67.

Songs to listen to: Chekele, Nada Nada, Karukara

Parikrama

One of the oldest rock and roll bands in India, Parikrama was formed in 1991 in Delhi and they continue to perform to packed venues across the country. This maverick band does not believe in the concept of albums and they have always given out their songs for free. In their over 30-year-long career, they have not released a single album. They are known for their energy, their original compositions and the clever use of Indian classical instruments on stage.

Songs to listen to: But It Rained, Am I Dreaming, Till I’m No One Again

Junkyard Groove

Formed in Chennai, the capital of the southern state of Tamil Nadu, in 2005, Junkyard Groove (JYG) is easily one of the best bands in the country. The band started off by performing at college culturals and smaller venues before winning major national-level music competitions and headlining key music festivals. With a string of successful albums and EPs to their credit, the band have a chilled out vibe and a refreshing sound with great guitars and catchy hooks. The lineup has changed completely with the only constant member being Ameeth Thomas, one of the founders.

Songs to listen to: It’s OK, Folk You, Let You Go

Maybe it’s time to stack up your new Satara Hi-Fi unit with these amazing music albums from India!

Image Sources:

Indian Ocean - By Moghesiddharth (Picasa) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Parikrama - By BITS Pilani Hyderabad campus (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Soulmate - By Jim Ankan Deka (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Avial - By t3rmin4t0r (Gopal Vijayaraghavan) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons