Here's how a band usually goes about the process of crafting a song — one of the members writes lyrics or composes a tune, and using that as the foundation, the rest add layers till it has a complete melodic structure. But that's not how Aankh Micholi operates. Instead, the city-based Hindi folk rock act's modus operandi involves simply jamming in a room together till a song starts revealing itself from the midst of all the impromptu music. "We are equal partners all along," vocalist Osho Jain tells us, revealing a sort of democratic approach that even political parties can learn from.

There is a simple reason behind it, though. All five members come from different places and musical backgrounds. Bassist Hansel Dias is a Mumbaikar fed on a diet of jazz. Keyboardist Akshay Dabhadkar, a Punekar, leans more towards orchestral music. Guitarist Pankaj Pathe has Lavani influences since he hails from Nagpur. And while drummer Bharat Chandore and Jain are both from Indore, the former picked up percussion instruments like the mandal since he played with adivasi groups. The latter — having spent years with his mother's family in Rajasthan — imbibes folk influences from the state when writing lyrics.