INTERVIEW: Rock Idol "Girish Pradhan"
When we talk about North East, one fantasizes hills drowned in mist and dew, colorful birds making their way through the clouds when the dawn breaks, varieties of flora and fauna, calm rivers, appealing springs, eye catching glaciers, steaming hot momo’s and delicious smoked pork (yum). North East abounds in charm. It borders the edge of Tibetan plateau on its North and Nepal on its East. Besides diverse ethnic mix of people with rich cultural tradition, N.E is a hub for rock music. And when we talk about the rock music, Girish Pradhan is what on everybody's mind. He has harvested success in his home country and overseas as well. In his teens he formed a band called "Girish and the Chronicles" and introduced it to a younger audience shortly. Recently in "Yamaha Asian Beats 2011" held at the Kyra, Bangalore, he earned the title of best vocalist to emerge from India in rock genre and has achieved widespread recognition. Presently in Hong Kong, we managed to catch him on Metal Wani today.
1. Hello Girish! We cordially welcome you. Kasto cha (how are you)?
Girish: Hello! Ma thikaichu (I’m doing good). My Hi and regards to your team!
2. You have been in Hong Kong for quite a long time. How do you get along with Korean’s? Are there any Indian music followers?
Girish: Well if you’re talking about Bollywood music, I don’t think so. However, they had asked me to sing something in Hindi while I was on stage, like a sample, representing Indian music. I sang a few lines of the song “VandeMataram” by A.R Rahman and they seemed pretty amazed. Haha. It was a new experience for me too.
3. You belong to a Nepali family rich in music. How did music find your way? Your mother is a Nepali folk singer.
Girish: It’s a long story. It’ll occupy many pages. I guess Music just didn’t let me escape it. I think it really hit me when our cousin brother would drop in at times and strum some riffs in the guitar. Me and Yogesh would be amazed. He taught us the first chords. Infact, I was totally a sports guy in my early teens. It was younger brother who learnt to play the guitars and sing. I kinda started observing in the coming days and weeks and it was just inevitable. It was like I couldn’t get out of it. I simply got addicted and obsessed about it. Well I come from a multi talented family, my mom, Mrs. Bimla Pradhan, being a legendary singer herself. She was one of the most celebrated singers in the nepali film playback singing back in the '80s and here I am in Hong Kong today, hearing tales about how popular her songs used to be. Its really a small world! There always have been times when I would be listening to a slayer or a Megadeth track and my mom would suddenly come to my room and tell me under which raags the song would fall into. I guess there are too many factors.
4. In class 7, you gave your 1st solo stage performance. Do you feel nostalgic when you look back to pages of old chapters?
Girish: Well, yeah. Those were the factors that got me used to the stage. It makes me understand and feel where I come from and where I am going to, rather than nostalgic.
5. When you were on 16, 'Number of the Beast' was the first metal song you heard. What was the first thing that hit your mind?
Girish: I think I was fourteen when I heard that song. Yup. I think and the first Metal song I heard was… Hmmm I don’t remember. However some of the first Metal songs I heard were songs like Gypsy queen, Rock Bottom, Iron Man, Highway Star, Paranoid, songs by Iron Maiden, Memory Remains.
6. In class 9, Anarchy was the 1st metal band you formed which was managed by your father Shri Shyam Pradhan. What did you guys play?
Girish: Yeah! I still miss those days. We were a heavy metal band. We used to play both originals and covers. We were getting better and better with time, but it had to end in the end due to college issues and stuff like that. Our favorite covers were songs by Iron maiden, Black Sabbath, Megadeth. I remember playing Symptom of the universe and Pantera. Anyway, we were just kids and tried to do the best we could coming out of that town. They were probably the first ever proper marketed and advertised Rock events in Sikkim. There was nothing like that before. Well, all thanks to dad I guess.
7. You also served as a music instructor in a music school in Gurgaon, Delhi. What vocal exercises you taught them?
Girish: Well, The age group was crazy. Some of them would even be 4 to 6 years old and some would be teenagers. I did not stay much. However, what I tried is to get the children interested in music and the elder ones to widen up their vocal range. I used to train them to slightly increase their pitch in both Lower and Higher register with simple exercises on the piano and to maintain notes with respect to the keys. However most of the time I would be listening to them and observe rather than showing them shortcuts. I believe supporting is more necessary than imposing when it comes to teaching.
8. On your return to Gangtok from Delhi, you formed GNC. Tell us the story :)
1. Hello Girish! We cordially welcome you. Kasto cha (how are you)?
Girish: Hello! Ma thikaichu (I’m doing good). My Hi and regards to your team!
2. You have been in Hong Kong for quite a long time. How do you get along with Korean’s? Are there any Indian music followers?
Girish: Well if you’re talking about Bollywood music, I don’t think so. However, they had asked me to sing something in Hindi while I was on stage, like a sample, representing Indian music. I sang a few lines of the song “VandeMataram” by A.R Rahman and they seemed pretty amazed. Haha. It was a new experience for me too.
3. You belong to a Nepali family rich in music. How did music find your way? Your mother is a Nepali folk singer.
Girish: It’s a long story. It’ll occupy many pages. I guess Music just didn’t let me escape it. I think it really hit me when our cousin brother would drop in at times and strum some riffs in the guitar. Me and Yogesh would be amazed. He taught us the first chords. Infact, I was totally a sports guy in my early teens. It was younger brother who learnt to play the guitars and sing. I kinda started observing in the coming days and weeks and it was just inevitable. It was like I couldn’t get out of it. I simply got addicted and obsessed about it. Well I come from a multi talented family, my mom, Mrs. Bimla Pradhan, being a legendary singer herself. She was one of the most celebrated singers in the nepali film playback singing back in the '80s and here I am in Hong Kong today, hearing tales about how popular her songs used to be. Its really a small world! There always have been times when I would be listening to a slayer or a Megadeth track and my mom would suddenly come to my room and tell me under which raags the song would fall into. I guess there are too many factors.
Girish: Well, yeah. Those were the factors that got me used to the stage. It makes me understand and feel where I come from and where I am going to, rather than nostalgic.
5. When you were on 16, 'Number of the Beast' was the first metal song you heard. What was the first thing that hit your mind?
Girish: I think I was fourteen when I heard that song. Yup. I think and the first Metal song I heard was… Hmmm I don’t remember. However some of the first Metal songs I heard were songs like Gypsy queen, Rock Bottom, Iron Man, Highway Star, Paranoid, songs by Iron Maiden, Memory Remains.
6. In class 9, Anarchy was the 1st metal band you formed which was managed by your father Shri Shyam Pradhan. What did you guys play?
Girish: Yeah! I still miss those days. We were a heavy metal band. We used to play both originals and covers. We were getting better and better with time, but it had to end in the end due to college issues and stuff like that. Our favorite covers were songs by Iron maiden, Black Sabbath, Megadeth. I remember playing Symptom of the universe and Pantera. Anyway, we were just kids and tried to do the best we could coming out of that town. They were probably the first ever proper marketed and advertised Rock events in Sikkim. There was nothing like that before. Well, all thanks to dad I guess.
7. You also served as a music instructor in a music school in Gurgaon, Delhi. What vocal exercises you taught them?
8. On your return to Gangtok from Delhi, you formed GNC. Tell us the story :)
Girish: After Gurgaon, it was Delhi, then Kathmandu and again back to Gangtok, where Yogesh had come for a vacation and proposed of recording a demo single. We recorded “Angel”. We were doing regular acoustic gigs in Café live and loud under the name “Girish – Live Unplugged”. Some of the videos are still there in youtube. Those were the first days when the band did not exist. I was in a process of recording a solo album. Then Yogesh had to leave for Mumbai and I met up with Noel and Nagen – The first members who proposed that we form a band. We all started it the next day. The poster said “Girish – Live unplugged” I added “And the Chronicles” between it. Then of the best friends I have suggested that I send my demo to GER II, TNT magazine. I did not know what the outcome would be. I had sent it before I formed the band. I got news that it got selected for featuring in G E R and that my name would be there in the mag. I was very happy and grateful to both my friend and the magazine. It is actually still one of the best and happiest moments of my life. I had already formed the band by then. We got a call from Rock o Phonix asking that if we were interested to participate. I was positive about it. We sent “Angel” to them and it was selected too. Well, the rest is history I guess.
9. GNC also won an award in 2010 summer music fest at Montenegro, Europe and was the only Indian band to take part in this international fest. How had your reactions been to it?
Girish: Well, it was an award function and it was a matter of great honor that we had an award in hand. However, the thing I enjoyed the most is my first time travel to a far away land.
Girish: It was the Wacken Metal fest audition and The band needed a front man and I accepted it.
11. What kind of mind set do you put yourself in to write the lyrics?
Girish: Well, it depends. I haven’t recorded much of my writings. The first ones were mostly collaborations with my ideas. I love writing about struggles and triumphs. I don’t write unless I feel it.
12. What problems came your way through out your musical career?
Girish: Financial, lack of market in rock music, only a handful of promoters etc. Well, that’s also exactly why I just love doing it.
13. What are your future plans? What are you currently working on?
Girish: Well, I don't plan on anything in particular. I just have a total focus on my goals in life, which I will reveal one day. 2. Presently I am working on a 2nd E.P and at the same time we are performing in different venues out here in Hong Kong and we also do regular gigs. It more like an experience trip. I am building a good network towards the rest of the world out here.
14. Any upcoming album/E.P with Silver tears or GNC?
Girish: GnC. I am planning to return back soon. There are a lot of plans on the table, including a proper album release, more production and touring. It will happen. We are just waiting for the right moment to come back to India. Of course once I am back, I have a lot of pending work with ST too.
Girish: Well, I certainly missed a lot of shows in India during the last six months. However, I am sure that this time I spent out here will not go wasted. I am happy that the whole band could shift out here. We are sorry to our fans to have kept them waited, but we assure that we'll give you all a great time and records.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart, for supporting me.
Official Silver Tears Facebook Page Here
Official Girish And The Chronicles Facebook Page Here
--
Interviewed By,
Pallawi Sharma
