Horns up \m/

Wassup with the Horns Up?

I haven't laughed so hard in ages! What the hell is going on? After George Bush, Obama, Britney Spears, Avril Lavigne, Miley Cyrus, Salman Khan; it’s Justin Bieber, the most annoying kid around who’s up with the devil horns?!

What is it? A very cool “yo-yo” pose?  Half the people using it don’t even know what it means, simply cheapening and commercializing it. The HORNS is used to show your appreciation to Rock and Metal. It’s not the same symbol used by our beloved Spiderman, when he shoots his web. What was once a symbol of uniformity and rebellion exclusively for a community of metalheads, has now become a casual symbol, just to do with your hands in any photo.

First and foremost, the sign is not meant to show how “kewl” or awesome you are.

Second, it DOES NOT mean “Rock on”.

Third, nor it means “rocking”. Metal is NEVER rocking, nothing is rocking about metal.

Lastly, don’t put up pictures throwing up those horns, especially if you are doing it wrong. Hanging those thumbs out makes you look like crap.

The horns are a sign of recognition for fellow Rock/Metal lovers. It’s a sign of respect for musicians of the genre. After crying like a fool to the songs of Enrique, Taylor Swift, Adele, and tapping your foot to Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Pit Bull; you SHOULD NOT/ MUST NOT use the horns randomly to greet people or pose like a mentally retard for a Facebook Dp. The horns hold a very special place in every headbanger’s heart. If your head is neither banging nor thrashing, don’t use it or it will be an open invitation to throw you in the Pit/the Wall of Death by the metalheads.

Trust me on this, airheads. \m/

Not Yet Decided

Decided or Not Yet Decided?

It’s a merger of four music-enthusiasts from four different bands, of four different genres. Not Yet Decided (N.Y.D) is a crazy band consisting of Kabya (vocals), Sam (guitars), Kanad (bass), Sayan (drums). Formed in 2010 but individually they have been playing since a decade now and were recently caught at IIM Joka, Kolkata, where they won the  Armageddon Carpe diem 2012.

1.    Why Not Yet Decided?

Why not?
Initially we were unable to decide a name and now we don’t want to decide any and you can’t deny it’s a cool name!

2.  How would you describe the band and its genre best to someone who has not heard of the band?

Again the genre is not yet decided, because we are trying to make our own sound. NYD is a hyperactive/alternative/nu-age/modern metal band. The lyrics are personal; we don't talk about society, politics, etc. We express our lifestyle through music and we use a lot of puns and innuendos. We have catchy chorus lines, tight bass-drum groove and innovative guitar playing.

3.   What do you do apart from music?

Kabya - I am a student of literature, presently working as a copywriter with an ad agency

 Sam- I am an animation student, presently working under a 3D department in a company;

 Kanad- I am an automobile engineering student;

 Sayan- I am a full-time musician apart from that I am a drums instructor at an institute.

4.  Which are the bands that have influenced NYD's sound? Indian artists you admire?

Individually we all are inspired by a variety of musicians and styles of music. But specifically NYD's sound is somewhat influenced by Slipknot, S.O.A.D, Mudvayne, Korn, Seether, Disturbed, Trust Company, Pantera etc. Indian artists like Scribe, Pin Drop Violence, Undying Inc. are worth mentioning.

5.   Do you guys have a bunch of new songs now? Is there a compiled release as a part of 'future release'?

We have nine original compositions at present, out of which two OC's were featured in a compilation album named Groundead Volume I which was released in 2010; which means that we released originals just 6 months after we formed the band! And one in another compilation called Hellpad, released in 2011.

L-R: Sam, Kanad, Sayan, Kabya

6.   How has been your experience and expectations from the release of your debut compiled album?

The experience was really incredible; there was many new things to learn. You see, playing live onstage and recording in a studio is entirely a different ball game. Studio work is definitely tougher, on stage you are unable to hide your mistakes but in a Studio one has a scope to improvise.

Well we don't expect to run around the world with just a compilation album. We are greedy people, we obviously want a full length album and we are expecting some good gigs after the release of the album.

7.   Do you think reality shows are a good platform for non-mainstream music? Would you go for such a thing?

Yes, of course! We individually had been a part of reality shows earlier. Through reality shows, we can approach a bigger audience and gather a great response.

8.    What are your views on piracy in the global scene?

Piracy is of course an enemy of the music business. The amount of effort, time, money devoted on making and creating music is wasted because of piracy. Piracy is a huge business and cannot be stopped easily. So, we request to the listeners to buy the original CD to support the band after previewing it for free online. Having said that piracy also helps the indie scene thrive, so yeah, it’s a necessary evil.

9.   Where do you find yourself in the present music scenario of Kolkata?

We have done our bit in the competition circuit and have created our own following by not just winnings, but with our songs, stage-presence etc. We have been invited to play at many indie gigs in Calcutta and have headlined a few as well. So right now, we are planning to release an EP within three months and tour as much as we can.

10.               Any last words?

Kabya- Stay ‘ECCENTRICK’ :)

Sam- Will keep making noise.

Kanad- N.Y.D forever !

Sayan- The insane-most is yet to come.


N.Y.D performing @ Someplace Else, Kolkata

Check 'em out!

FACEBOOK:  http://www.facebook.com/notyetdecidedindia

REVERBNATION: http://www.reverbnation.com/notyetdecidedcalcutta

MYSPACE: http://www.myspace.com/notyetdecidedcalcutta

Women on Rock!

Women on Rock!

They say –“Drums are a man’s musical instrument”. Really? Why girls cannot be drummers? Why can’t people give them the equal respect that they give it to any male drummer? Take a look around. The music scene is no more an all-boys club. Female drummers often represent feminism, rebellion and individuality. They play almost every genre of music, from rock, metal and alternative and have been present in the music industry from the time to classic rock to today. Meg White, Karen Carpenter, Sheila E, Maureen ‘Moe’ Tucker are idols for any aspiring female drummer and India is nowhere behind the scene!

Yasmin Claire Kazi, surprisingly a Briton residing in India and  playing for an Indian extreme metal band Myndsnare (Bangalore). She graduated  from The Musicians Institute, Los Angeles in the Drum Performance program and has started playing drums since 2000. She has been a singer all throughout before taking up drums. Her key inspirations has been Gavin Harrison, Sean Reinhert, Ray Luzier, Gary Novak and Serotura's drummer and good friend Nathan Carter. Yasmin plays mostly metal and progressive rock. Yasmin, has been featured in quite a few magazines in India, such as the Rock Street Journal, RAVE, Business Standard, a couple of daily newspapers etc., and also had an appearance on national TV (Star World). She has won the title of Best Drummer in a number of Band competitions. Presently,  Yasmin is working part-time as a tutor at a school and a full-time manager of her band Serotura (LA).

Priyanka Roy who hails from Kolkata has worked as a drummer  in a number of bands Ragaaz, Deja vu, Glass Onion, Shiva, Sweet Agitation, The Ee Teez. Priyanka has also been a copywriter, journalist, vocal and drums instructor (at a music school), video jockey, radio jockey and presently, she teaches at a school.  Although she was  trained in classical dance & singing she always had a fascination towards tabla but never had the courage to disclose that to her family. Then a strange incident in her high school pushed her to take up drums and she says, “good for me, secretly I knew I really wanted to do this!” For her, drums is a direct, impartial and a spontaneous expression.  Initially, Priyanka  had to deal with a good many raised eyebrows but then she felt good when people stopped saying “she plays well for a girl”, and said instead “she plays well.”

Titash Choudhury who is a drummer of a Kolkata based band Mud Soda Spark is playing drums since her 9^th grade. Due to her comfortable college schedule, she manages her studies, friends, jams, gigs well. Inspired by Dennis Chamber, Gavin Harrison, Steve Smith, Travis Barker, Will Champion and Chad Smith, Titash mainly plays alternative, hip-hop, country & rock. Previously, her family did not take her seriously when she decided to go for drums. Titash says, “they were little hesitant for drums being a masculine instrument.. but now they are cool!” Titash adds, “if one plays according to nature’s rule then she would not sound anything less stronger than a man.”

As a female drummer one really goes under a hard scrutiny. Female drummers in particular, trespassing a male dominated territory, often experiences a sneering attitude. Once a girl chooses this instrument, she has to constantly thrive to criticism. Drumming is very demanding. It requires strength, which women don’t inherently possess. You have  to be tough and stylish as well.  If drumming is your passion, it will certainly require preservance – never give up!

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