Tell us about your band? (When it was formed, place of origin, background story, etc.)
Venky S (Bassist & Backing Vocalist of Band SANAM)- Samar and I were classmates in ISM. Samar and Sanam are brothers. So the 3 of us go back a long way. We formed our first band together in school. I met Keshav in our college days, through the music scene down south (Chennai/Bangalore). We formed a short-lived band called “The Previous Band”. Ironically that has become our “previous band”. When Keshav moved to Mumbai (from Chennai), Samar and Sanam had also just moved there (from Delhi). They were looking for a drummer and Keshav was looking for musicians in Mumbai to jam with. I introduced them and they hit it off in Keshav’s garage. They connected really easily both musically and as friends. The first public performance they did together as a band was at the Times Music Supastars contest, where over 1200 bands/artist pan India took part. I joined them in the finals, which we eventually won and we have been together ever since. Being young impressionable, we had a totally different image of what signing with a music label could do for us. We were convinced that we had somewhat made it. However, slowly we realised the reality of this industry and how things actually work. It was after we met our business manager Ben Thomas (post our 3-year contract with Times Music), that we all decided to work hard towards building and bringing back the independent music scene and band culture back into India. We knew it would be a slow and hard route. But our goal collectively as a band was clear. We haven’t looked back ever since.

Who are your biggest music influences?
Samar Puri (Lead Guitarist of the Band SANAM) - I listen to a lot of different styles of music. I love to browse through new artists and listen to new songs that are making waves around the world. From bands like U2 and Cold Play, to Arabic music, also artists like Kendrick Lamar, my list can go on. Each of us have completely different musical influences. This works to our advantage. Also, we make sure that all 4 of us are happy with every song before we release it.
As far as personal influences go, everyone in my life is an influence and someone I can learn from. My mom and dad, to my brother Sanam, to brothers from other mothers (Venky S, Keshav Dhanraj and Ben Thomas) and of course all my friends. We are forever changing and moulding into new phases of life. It’s important to grow, learn and experience life as much as we.