MIDIval Punditz say “our soul is still the same” as they return with Love and Machines

(L-R) Gaurav Raina and Tapan Raj. Pic/By Special Arrangement

A lot has happened in the lives of musicians Gaurav Raina and Tapan Raj, who form MIDIval Punditz, since their last album Nukhta nearly five years ago. That time and distance have influenced the creation of their latest album, Love and Machines. When we got on a call with the duo, Raina reflected, "Personally we moved into new phases in our family lives, travelled a lot, and were involved in various projects. So, by the time we felt the need to make a new body of work, we had a lot of experiences to draw from. On the music front, there has been a strong shift in terms of sound. We wanted to address all these aspects into the new sound."

Even as they incorporated new sounds into their vocabulary, MIDIval Punditz deepened their core with Love and Machines. Since their eponymous debut album in 2002, they have blended Indian elements with electronic music. "The essence of our sound is still about blending our Indian roots, club, and the electronic culture we come from," insisted Raj. "We try to capture a story in our music."

The 13-song album then becomes both, a mark of reinvention and continuation. Raina agreed, saying, "It's a bit of both. Our soul is still the same. However, it's exciting to reinvent ourselves and make something new for our listeners."

When they began their career, Indian electronica barely had a global presence. Now, the scene is crowded, international, and constantly changing. Yet, for Raj, "standing out" has never been the goal. "We are already different as musicians. The goal has always been to capture that identity and uniqueness in our music."

2002
When MIDIval Punditz burst on the scene with their eponymous album