Indigo Children Informal Interview

When they came to the University of Westminster on May 12 and 13, Indigo Children gave an informal interview to a team of journalism students (Sapna Khan interviewing).

In this four minutes video, the boys explain how their band came together but also give the meaning of their songs “Irresistible” and “Sing to me”.

They reveal why they picked the name “Indigo Children” and talk about their adventure with the Soundpad Project and their recording at the Yash Raj Studios in Bombay. “When we first entered the studio, it was like an alien mother ship, it was crazy,” Rahul Sainani says.

More videos of the bands coming soon…

DAY 1 in Brighton

 

Soundpad is at the Great Escape Festival in Brighton

 

After spending two days in the capital, Advaita, Indigo Children, Medusa, Swarathma and all the team of Soundpad headed South towards Brighton, in their “amazing” tour buses yesterday.

“The trip was good. The bus is amazing. Mark and Pete, the tour managers, are amazing” says Vasu (Swarathma).

The bands finally got the chance to taste the national fish and chips. Indigo Children said Brighton beach was alot cleaner that the one in Bombay!!  

The weather is cloudy at the Great Escape festival but the music is great! The bands went to some concerts and enjoyed their first time at the festival.

The main event of the day was the India Focus debate headed up by Sally Gross, director Music Programme from the University of Westminster with representatives from Sony India, the Big Chill, Rough trade retail and of course John Leckie. 

“India is one of the world’s most rapidly changing and dynamic 21st Century economies, with its cultural industries making an increasingly global impact. This exciting panel looks at the challenges it faces,” says the Great Escape website.

 

India Focus: An open discussion produced by University of Westminster's Faculty Music, in association with British Council Soundpad (Credit: Alison Baskerville)

 

Tasneem Vahanvaty, representing the British Council in India at today's India Focus discussion (Credit: Alison Baskerville)

 

 

Swarathma and Advaita are now playing their first gig of the tour. Advaita’s gig started  at 7:15pm at the Concorde 2 while Swarathma will get up on stage at 7:30pm at the Arc. More news about these two concerts coming up later…

SOUNDPAD TOUR DATES

 

The bands arrived in Brighton last night to start their UK Tour

John Leckie at the University of Westminster

By Andrew Otto

Producer John Leckie took questions from University of Westminster
students Wednesday morning.

Leckie has produced UK legends Pink Floyd, George Harrison and, more
recently, along with Dan Austin produced the Soundpad project.

Leckie and Austin’s work resulted in the 8-son album which features
two songs each from Indian alternative rock bands, Medusa, Swarathma,
Advaita and Indigo Children.

Wednesday’s session was a chance for students to see into the process
between Leckie and the musicians he produces.

Soundpad Begins at Westminster

By Andrew Otto

Technicians made final preparations to the University of
Westminster’s studio one Tuesday morning getting it ready
for the sounds of four of Indian alternative rock bands.

The bands, Advaita, Medusa, Indigo Children and Swarathma
were expected to arrive around 10 a.m.

Soundpad at the University of Westminster

Four of the more exciting new bands in India tour the UK this May

by Andrew Otto and Marianne Bouchart

Soundpad, a project featuring the music of Indian alternative
rock bands Medusa, Swarathma, Advaita and Indigo Children,
came to the University of Westminster on May 12th and 13th.

The British Council sponsored this project, which aims to highlight
a growing alternative rock scene in India.

Soundpad involved producers John Leckie and Dan Austin who
recorded sessions with the bands at Yash Raj studios in Mumbai
to create an 8-song album.

Westminster’s Faculty Music Media, a student operated record
label, released the Soundpad album digitally on iTunes on May 12th.

University of Westminster Involvement

Students from the University took the Soundpad’s two day stop as a great opportunity.

They produced a show featuring the music of the Soundpad bands and an interview with
John Leckie done by Keith Harris. They were granted a Q&A session with John Leckie on Wednesday where they asked the well-known producer questions about his career and advices on music producing.

University lecturers Rob Benfield and Katie Thiebaud
fulfilled the role of executive producer for this event.

The four bands had never been in the UK before. Westminster was their first stop on a mini-tour that will take them
to London, Manchester, Liverpool, Cardiff, Oxford and 
The Great Escape Festival in Brighton.

Indian Music

Music Week has reported that Westminster is developing ties
to the music industry in Mumbai and is talking to Bengal music
company Sa Re Ga Ma about helping to create a training college.

Faculty Music Media wrote that John Leckie has always had an
interest in Indian music after working with Shiv Kumar Sharma,
Harisprasad and Gopal Shankar.

Thiebaud hopes the day was a chance for music students to share
music skills across cultures.

Soundpad’s time at Westminster was also covered by live twitter
feeds from India_Soundpad as well as the India Soundpad wordpress blog.