‘Not a musician, you also have to be a content creator’

(L-R) Subir Malik, Gaurav Balani, Srijan Mahajan, Nitin Malik, Saurabh Chaudhary, and Abhishek Mittal. Pic/By Special Arrangement

Mention Parikrama to a millennial, and they will instantly be transported to their college days. The Delhi-based band was the sound of college festivals, hostel jam sessions, and the golden era of India's independent rock movement. Today, as the band clocks 35 years since its formation, synthesiser Subir Malik talks to mid-day about India's evolving rock scene and the pressures of the digital era.

Excerpts from the interview.

India's rock scene has evolved from the college circuit to streaming platforms. How do you view the change?
India is huge and there is enough space for everyone to co-exist. Parikrama has always done its own thing and now, as we complete 35 years, we're still at it. Rock bands were massive on the college circuit once. While things changed around 2012, we adapted with corporate shows and festivals. What makes me happy is that rock is returning to colleges. We recently played at Jadavpur University, and have more college gigs.

Why did you all choose the route of live concerts over studio releases?
In the mid-1990s, recording albums as independent musicians was expensive and distribution wasn't easy. We realised that if we spent all our money recording eight songs, only to sell a few thousand CDs, we'd be limiting ourselves. So, we decided to give our music away for free. If people liked it, we'd grow through live shows instead.

You were offering free downloads long before streaming became common.
Streaming is basically free music too, unless you buy a premium subscription. Today, the upside is that it's easier for younger artistes to release their music. The downside is oversaturation. Thousands of songs are uploaded every day and it becomes difficult for listeners to find what truly connects with them.

Has the definition of success for rock bands changed in the digital era?
Absolutely. Today, being a musician isn't enough; you also have to be a content creator. Social media and engagement matter a lot. We're learning to adapt to that. For us though, Parikrama will always be pure rock and roll.

What has helped Parikrama sustain itself for over three decades?
An important decision we took early on was never to let success go to our heads and never to depend entirely on Parikrama as our only source of income. That removed financial pressure from our music.

More in store

The band has indicated that it will perform many of the unreleased songs at its upcoming gigs

This writer's favourite Parikrama songs

‘Open Skies'
‘But It Rained'
‘Am I Dreaming'
‘Vaporise'
‘Whiskey Blues'