Interview with 'DARK PROJECT'
Dark Project , the Calcutta based alternative rock band is scheduled to release their second full length album titled LIBERTY & ENTROPY today ! (i.e 29-05-09) . Dark Project as a band holds some special memories for me. My memory goes back to 2007 when i first stumbled on Dark Project’s ‘Strange liberation‘ from the Chaos Sessions album, that’s how my search for Indian Rock “MP3’s” began ( and the blog there after) . I had a chance to meet up with this amazing band . Let’s hear from them .
Dark Project , What’s the Origin of the name ? How you guys came up with it?
Dark Project started off as Project to form a band when Sauvik and Sudipto went back in School together 7 years back. Eventually when the whole band became functional, we decided to carry on with the name because we thought that the word “dark” suited our lyrical themes. Also in the process we had garnered some amount of word-of-mouth and people started relating us with that name.
Please introduce the band members
The band consists of 5 people:
Sudipto Biswas aka DJ – Vocals, Acoustic Guitars.
Ugyal Tshering Lama aka Lama – Guitars, Keyboards, Harmonica.
Sauvik Biswas aka Geek v3.14 – Guitars, Programming, Sequencing & Sampling.
Nachiketa Roy Chaudhary aka Mr. Sharp – Bass Guitars.
Korak Sarkar aka Pom – Drums.
What genre of music do you consider your work to be? Who are your major influences?
Genre classification is more with the audience than with the band. People call us Alt Prog but we are evolving. We would like to add a bit more progressive and ambient element into our music. Our influences vary from person to person and is more diverse to be listed here. Like for vocals, Sudipto is highly inspired by Brandon Boyd of Incubus. The rest of the band mates dig on songs by Opeth, Porcupine Tree, A Perfect Circle. We draw a lot of inspiration from these bands.
You guys are scheduled to release your second album ‘Liberty & Entropy’ on May 29th, how different it is from your début album ’Chaos Sessions‘
Quite a lot. Liberty & Entropy is way too bigger as far as a package compared to Chaos Sessions. This album also leaves the impression about our constant evolving sound. Sonically this is way ahead compared to our last album and also we have tracked live drums for the album, which is a bit rare since most Indian albums have programmed drums. What still remains the same is our DIY approach.
Is it a concept album ? What is the lyrical theme of ‘Dark Project’ , does it change with albums ?
It is definitely not a rock opera. The “concept” word can be applied loosely though. The album is intended to make the listener appreciate a sense of freedom and liberation even in the bleakest of circumstances while encountering love, hate, dreams, death regret and epiphany.
Talking about the lyrical theme of Dark Project, we prefer to write songs about various philosophies in life. Kind of like finding a small ray of light in dark circumstances.
Please tell our readers how they can buy ‘ Liberty & Entropy‘
Physical CDs of Liberty & Entropy are currently available via pay-on-delivery (VPP) scheme at our official store for residents of India only. The album is available for download at major digital retailers like iTunes, Amazon MP3, Amie Street and our very own bandcamp powered store. The digital version from our own store has a “name your price scheme” with a floor price.
We have run out of physical copies of Chaos Sessions ,a big thanks to our fans. The digital version is available from Amie Street and our own bandcamp powered store. A 128kbps mp3 version of Chaos Sessions can be downloaded for free, audiophile standard versions need to be paid for.
Tell us about Dark Project live shows, do you play covers? What is your set list?
We consciously try to avoid covers. However, we do throw in a couple of them at every show. Currently our setlist has Cover Up, Drenched 2.0 and Metamorphosis (Caterpillar+Butterfly) from Chaos Sessions, Streak of Coldness, Covah, One Song For Dystopia and Fly from L&E. We always conclude our shows with a reworked version of Walking Again, a song that is originally from our 2005 EP (when DP was still a project).
Tell us about the challenges faced by the band, I hear you guys were disappointed the way ‘Chaos Sessions’ was distributed, what are the current challenges facing the band, are you able to overcome them?
There are technical challenges and there is the marketing challenge. Through indigenous ways and a few unimaginable ones, we have tried our level best to overcome the these challenges. We aren’t exactly disappointed with the way Chaos Sessions was distributed. It could have been definitely better, but we don’t complain. Every hurdle is a learning experience for us.
For Liberty & Entropy we are taking a much structured approach and setting realistic goals. We have a clear vision as to what can be achieved and what to expect. Hope things will go well.
Tell us about the Calcutta Underground Scene in general, has it evolved in these last few years?
Oh yes definitely. Not just in Calcutta but it has been so in the entire country. The telecom boom and web 2.0 has broken geographical barriers. People are exposed to more diverse forms of music and infectious trends.
What we really need is a paradigm shift in the outlook of the mass. We all need good venues to play live shows and people to appreciate good original music. We are probably speaking this on behalf of the entire independent, underground and DIY community. “Please support the independent by buying their CDs, merchandise and tickets. The things they come up with are not corporate gimmickry but outcomes of labour of love.”
What is the ultimate direction for Dark Project? What are the goals ahead?
The truth is, there is no ultimate direction in the greater sense. We want to evolve each passing day as artists, as human beings, learn new things and appreciate those that are. Everything is reflected back in the lyrics, the music and the visual art.
As a band the goal is to spread the music. We can only hope that people will embrace us for our honesty and connect with the art we create.
Any advice for young ones who want to start a band?
Be original. Play original.
Is there some one you want to thank for ‘being there’, financially or emotionally?
First and foremost we have our ever supportive families. Then there are our friends. Chux (Arunava Chakraborty), Digvijay Ghosh and Abhishek Kant Ghising – these guys have been amazing and form the core of DP team. They have been supporting us in more ways than one. We cannot forget the fans who have always been with us and believed in us.
Message for your fans
‘Rudyard Kipling’ wrote these amazing lines -
“If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And – which is more – you’ll be a Man my son!”
Thanks you to all and please keep supporting us. We’ll try our best to fill those unforgiving minutes with sixty seconds worth of distance run.
Peace, Love & Harmony
Dark Project
