The year is 1998 and The Offspring has just released its fifth album Americana. A 10 year old kid runs to the neighbourhood music store with a piggy bank clutched tightly under his arm not knowing how much money he had. Desperation had wound itself into a tight coil in the boy’s mind with each passing glance of the album poster that had hung in front of the store. This was his day of reckoning and he was feeling lucky. A hammer was brought forward and the blow was struck. Shattering coins and folded notes were sent in utter and complete disarray. His heart ran at a mile a minute as the shopkeeper counted and then… he spoke. “You’re short… by 18 rupees”.

This was not the first time that he was denied something because what he had wasn’t good enough or simply because he was not good enough. Throughout his life the boy had been ridiculed and called stupid, dumb, useless, a good for nothing, a bum. Of all these names, one stayed and this name was Lun.  This is his story and the journey which a band called Pip of the Fourth Mother took to turn him into reality, in their first EP named after him. Lun literally translated in the Khasi language is a tadpole, a derogatory term associated with someone who is all of the above but only lesser. Now I know what you’re thinking… Oh no!!! Not another sob story! Do not be disheartened fair dudes and lady dudes for there is hope yet. The story continues…

His heart sank. As he gathered the coins and crumbled pieces of paper, a silent chord was struck. The hardened merchant grew himself a heart and granted this boy in turn, his heart’s desire.  What followed, were several hours of electrifying playback in a suburban living room that introduced the boy to the subtle arts of Punk Rock.

Pip of the Fourth Mother or POT-FM as fans have come to know them, is a pop-metal trio from Shillong, Meghalaya. Their influences predominantly include 90’s mainstream rock and alternative rock bands like Papa Roach, The Offspring, Blink 182 and punk rock bands like NOFX (spelt No Effects). Their sound is a unique blend of catchy riffs and raw aggression that can be described as The Offspring meets Guns n Roses.

POTFM’s journey goes hand in hand with its front man Jason Manner’s musical career. He joined his first band in junior college but it was only till he got into engineering college that things got a little serious with a band called “The Lost Dogs”. His weapon of choice, were the drums. They played Nu age rock and Metal and they went as far as winning one competition. This new found rise however did not last long and the band soon broke up because of misunderstandings. It was then that he thought he should start a band with music that he was comfortable with – 90’s alternative mainstream and that was when he picked up the guitar. When asked why the guitar, he said “because I thought I would define the band more with the guitar. I didn’t know how to play it but I didn’t care “. What was this band called I asked…” It was called Pip of the Fourth Mother”. Initially however the band was called E-Diot but that lasted as long as a short fuse. In November 2008, the demo single “Sweetest Thing” was reviewed on Rolling Stone Magazine. The song was in its raw, true to self form, with just guitar, drums and vocals. Perhaps it was the humble sound that the youth identified with or the razor blade, bratish sound that the band is now known for, whatever it was, we were hooked.

POTFM, has gone through its fair share of changes in its line up. What started as a solo project has now turned into a powerful trio with Jason Manners on Guitars and Vocals, Dauni Laloo on Bass Guitars and Ben Daniel Ryngksai on Drums.  “We are a band now, it’s a family. It’s like we’re on the same page”.

The creative process behind popular songs like “I thought I was a Protégé” and “Hit Me” is a product of a spontaneous jam of ideas. The lyrics are borne out of individual and collective experiences and it is out of these experiences that the idea of Lun was formed. Being a “young” band in a relative sea of veteran musicians, they are branded as idiots, albeit jokingly, both musically and otherwise.  It is this constant struggle of being told that you are not good enough that is the main driving force between the band and their EP Lun. The EP is an indie home production and has a track list that features old favourites like “I thought I was a protégé” ,”Shillong” and “Hit me” and new songs which includes the title track, “Lun” and “Shooting Stars”. “Shooting Stars is a song that’s dedicated to a friend who relies on wishful thinking to live a better life”. The title track is about a guy named Lun who is dying in the arms of time and who would give it all for a second chance at life, anything to start again. What better way to start again, than with an EP.

S: Music defines and redefines itself with each new artist and their compositions. What is music to you? What is it all about?

Jason: “To me it’s when I’m on stage. No matter what the type of crowd. If I can make the crowd feel what I’m feeling, then my performance is a success. If 1000 people are attending the show, it doesn’t matter how many but even one or two real listeners are much appreciated because then I’ll know that I’ve sent the band’s message across”. “All it takes is one eh?” ”Yes, because if the message is real for that person, you know that you have a loyal fan”.

S: What about the social status, the coolness of it all?

POTFM: “People will think we’re cool and all that but they won’t give a hoot when were selling CDs or playing a gig on a rainy day.” So it’s cool so long as it’s convenient. “Yes”.

S: How do you think people view music in general and how do you want your fans to see you?

POTFM: “People treat music superficially but we can project to them our inner attitudes, in the form of music videos or scrap videos. They will have a feeling like they “know us”. When you know someone, you like them. You listen to what they listen to because you inherit that feeling that you’re with them and it doesn’t matter what genre he or she likes. We’re not cribbing here… that’s just my two pennies. People who crib about genres have issues with their own identities. That being said, everyone has their roots and that is where they base their musical knowledge. What Digital Suicide played today at the Moshpit 2010 concert, was really meaningful. I understood and saw that they loved their roots and experimentation.”

S: Where do you see your band five years from now?

Jason: “I see people listening to the music not for the music we present on our EPs/LPs but for the people we are onstage and offstage. It does not matter how many people listen to us but there will be a few.”

The band is currently in Delhi promoting the EP at the Double Decker on the 3^rd, DLF Mall Rooftop on the 4^th, DLF Mall Food court on the 05^th of December and back in Shillong on the 11^th for a show at the Platinum, Hotel Polo Towers.

BY : SAMUEL SAWIAN.