If they are not in their classrooms, they are probably creating music. For students of Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), there are always new tunes to hum along and musical notes to explore. Livewire, an experimental fusion band, is the latest favourite among VIT students in the fusion genre. Like any other budding band on VIT campus, they started creating music in their dorms which is now a regular affair in the VIT jam room.
Saattwik Dikshit (Vocals and lyrics), Rohan Kelkar (Drums), Piyush Choudhari (Lead Guitar), Ashmit Bhandari (Keyboard) and Gaurav Kumar (Bass) by their own admission don’t play classical music per se but have a touch of western to it. “We only play original compositions. Last year, we did a mash up of Raag Bhairavi and Dgent Metal, it came out really well,” says Saatwik. Some of their other compositions include Tera saath, Paheli, Main hua dhua and Kaha gaye ho tum. The only cover they have played is Coke Studio’s Madari. “If I were to name the crowd favourite it would definitely be Kaha gaye ho tum which has a groovy and catchy tune, and also has elements of Blues in it,” he adds.
They have won at cultural festivals of various colleges like those of NIT Calicut, NIT Tiruchy, Christian Medical College, Vellore, and Government Vellore Medical College. Their latest win was at IIM Kozhikode’s cultural fest where they were placed first and won Rs 50,000 in the fusion category. Piyush draws inspiration from Zakir Hussain and American Progressive Rock band Dream Theatre’s drummer Mike Mangini while Saattwik draws influences from Hindustani Classical vocalists Ustad Rashid Khan and Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan.
suraksha@newindianexpress.com