Deepa Natarajan Lobo
They already have music lined up for 2027 and 2028 and are even planning releases for 2029.
Neenillade took a year and a half to complete and is a “real labour of love,” says the duo. “The time allowed us to grow as musicians and push the song to its full potential,” notes Ashwin. “We want Kannada indie music to become the biggest indie scene in India and the world, and we aim to be the pioneers of that rise — building a live culture where Kannada indie can headline big stages,” they conclude.
For the two musicians, the song’s defining moment is its opening. “The intro came out naturally during a jam session and sounded like a void, like absence itself. The rest of the song was built around this very feeling and it’s definitely a song built to stay in your head,” points out Vivek. With influences ranging from KK, Charan Raj, Raghu Dixit and Bengaluru band Pineapple Express to Coldplay, Periphery and Slash, the duo hopes to create music that makes an impact both on record and on stage. But their larger ambition is to take Kannada indie music to bigger stages and festivals around the world while helping build a stronger live music culture at home.