CHENNAI: What happens when you accidentally book two guitarists for the same gig? Usually things get messy. But when it happened to this bunch two weeks ago – they decided ‘what the heck, let’s all do it.’ And so goes the story behind the city’s newest trio – Under A Rest. With Shilpa Natarajan on vocals (you’ve heard her sing in the film Marina) and Berty Ashley and Joslin Julius on guitars and keys, the group is all set to make its stage debut at Savera Hotel’s Bay 146 tonight.
Twenty-six-year-old Shilpa, who quit her corporate job to pursue music full time, tells us that music enthusiasts can look forward to quite an eclectic range of covers at the show. “We’re doing everybody from the Doobie Brothers to Miley Cyrus,” she reveals. Oh and watch out for mashups of past and contemporary favourites like With or Without You (U2) and Without You (David Guetta). “Also lined up is a couple of original compositions,” lets on the singer. “I’ve got a pretty sneaky jazz number called Dirty Little Secret that I’ve perform quite often, but it’ll be a first with this band,” she adds.
Apart from this show, Shilpa has sung for films that are due to come soon – Hi Da (with music by Vishal Chandrashekar) and a Hindi thriller in the making. Also she tells us, “I’m working on my debut album which is going to be bilingual.” Apparently Shilpa will head to the UK later this year to work with a friend there on some experimental Brit-Tamil pop! “Hopefully, I should be ready to release the album by December,” she tells us. For now, check out Under A Rest. Considering the band name, we had to ask – is there Police song on the set list? “Yes,” Shilpa responds with a laugh. “Message in a Bottle.”
Under A Rest will be performing at Bay 146, Savera Hotel, RK Salai at 9 pm tonight.