BENGALURU: From being a studio project of the late 2000's global prog-metal surge to massing accolades from current and former members of Lamb Of God and Megadeth, Skyharbor has definitely cemented its places as one of the leading progressive bands of India.
It is also one of the rarest few Indian progressive bands in the country that has toured in the US and Europe. The band includes Keshav Dhar, Eric Emery, Devesh Dayal, Krishna Jhaveri and Aditya Ashok. City Express catches up with the Keshav to break down the economics that revolves around an Indian band touring abroad.
What are a few problems you face as an Indian prog-metal band while convincing international venues and promoters to give you a slot?
I don't think nationality really comes into it. The word 'international' means literally the world at large. The problem isn't so much with having to convince a booker or a promoter to put us on a tour package or get us a festival slot - for them it's just a matter of looking up our popularity or album sales in a particular territory and accordingly making us an offer.
The problem is at our end, when we're hitting a new territory where there isn't much awareness about us to begin with, agents/promoters will naturally not offer us much of a fee because they can only pay us what they expect to recoup in ticket sales, so that means the cost of us getting out there - flights, visas and work permits, vehicle hire, gear hire, etc which all comes out of our pocket - is a much heavier burden to bear. But to answer your question, convincing them is never a problem. Convincing ourselves to take a risky financial hit in order to break into a new territory is much more of a problem!
How do you economise for international tours? Do sponsors come in easy? How profitable is it?
We don't have sponsors - at least not as of yet. The fact of the matter is that we don't particularly play the most accessible music in the world, so we can't exactly expect people to pour money into what is kind of an unknown quantity when we're talking about the big picture.
Honestly, we just suck it up and minimise expenses where we can. Obviously there are things we can't compromise on - the show production, for example - we need our light show and our own sound and light engineers in order to put on the best possible show we can - but we skimp on a lot of creature comforts in order to save money. We travel in the cheapest possible vehicles, often sleep in the rental vans, eat as much out of catering as possible and avoid spending on luxurious meals, small things like that which can add up to quite a lot when you're talking about month long tours.
Is it getting better for Indian bands touring abroad? How so?
There is a lot more awareness about Indian bands abroad nowadays, and the opportunities are almost the same that are available to any band from any other country. The biggest problem is that we earn in rupees from our day jobs and have to spend in dollars or euros. And when you’re starting out, the fees that you get paid for your shows is practically nothing, because no one knows you and promoters aren’t going to risk going into losses and spend a lot of money on you. The financial hit is something that not everyone can afford to take, especially when people have families to support and rent to pay.
What would be your advice on an Indian band looking to tour US or Europe?
Just be true to what you’re doing and don’t have any undue expectations. Do what you love and love what you do.
Please tell us about your upcoming gig.
We’re playing on October 29 with Textures and it’s going to be great. Textures is a band that I have looked up to for so many years and have drawn so much inspiration from when writing music. It is really sad that they have decided to bring down the curtain, but I guess when you know in your gut that the time is right to move on, you should do just that.
Catch Indian/American progressive metal band Skyharbor live in the city along with a special performance by a soon-to-break up Textures. The concert is being presented by The Humming Tree and Bacardi NH7 Weekender.
Where: The Indiranagar Club
When: October 29, 7pm.