Goldspot, a Los Angeles- based band led by India-bor n Siddhartha Khosla were in Bangalore recently, as a part of the Vh1 Global Music Xpress fourcity tour.
The indie rock and pop band swayed the audience with their numbers like .
The audience joined along as they crooned their classic pop hit Friday and the Hindi version of the same. They took the audience by surprise when the lead vocalist crooned the old Hindi number Ae mere pyare watan and Bangaloreans just loved the desi tadka.
The band was formally formed when songwriter and lead singer Siddhartha, along with drummer Ramy Antoun, signed a record deal in 2005. But long before that in 2003, Kal Penn’s character made a reference to the band in the movie Where’s the Party Yaar? So when did Goldspot actually happen? “We actually started in London in 1999 and then moved to California,” says Siddhartha.
Besides, producer Jeff Peters and the lead singer, the other musicians accompanying them keeps changing depending wherethey are touring. Says the singer, “On this tour we have Mr Ben, Morgan King, James Gabbie and Jackie Owen.” The band, whose debut album Tally of the Yes Men earned them critical acclaim, has also done the soundtrack for motion picture The President is Coming and Run Fatboy Run. Their songs have also featured on tele shows like The O.C. and- Gossip Girls. “It’s all about making music. If you know this is your kind of music then it’s great to work anywhere,” he says.
Siddhartha’s roots are here in India, and this shows in the music of Goldspot which has traces of 1960’s Hindi film music. He says that he admires Indian music legends like Mohammed Rafi and Kishore Kumar as much as he does the Beatles and REM.
What about the current Bollywood music? “The Bhangra sorts are quite popular in the UK but that’s not my kind of music,” he says.
However, he loves the music of the present Indian music baron AR Rahman. “It was a great experience to work with Rahman’s Chennai Orchestra under Srinivas Murthy.
But we did not get to meet Rahman. Hopefully we will work together at some point of time,” says the singer in an optimistic note.
The Bangalore leg ended the India tour and the band had an unbelievable experience in India, Siddhartha claims. “We are amazed by the response here. It is heartening to see that they know our lyrics,” he adds.