When a band booms

Formed seven years ago, Boom Shankar comprises two students and two graduates of the SP Jain Institute of Management. Jigna Padhiar talks to them...

Formed seven years ago, Boom Shankar comprises two students and two graduates of the SP Jain Institute of Management.

Sameer Walzade, lead vocalist and bass guitarist, says that the band goes for cover versions but has its own riffs and interpretations.

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Aniruddha Kundu, lead guitarist, adds that the band merges Indian music with international songs, alth-ough it does not play any Indian instruments.

Playing covers
The 30 songs that the band usually performs include five originals, and covers of rock classics by Pink Floyd, Deep Purple, and The Cranberries.

The band also covers songs by Parikrama and Agni. How come? To that, Walzade says,“Why not? Indian bands do fantastic music. We’d like to play more Hindi songs.. but most of the places we play in Mumbai, don’t want that.” Drummer Yudhistir Rana says that the band prefers clean music over loud grungy blasts.

Gig by gig
About the name Boom Shankar, Walzade explains, “A friend suggested it. It sounds like fun and has a ring to it that suggests sound.”

Even though the fourth member Nitin Sharma, rhythm guitarist and vocalist, is in Chennai, they have remained a four-member band. “We have connected in different cities for performances.We have also made new songs by mailing recordings to each other,” says Rana.