British heritage fashion brand Fred Perry launches in India with its first store in Delhi. We celebrate the brand’s longstanding relationship with music and street culture as we talk music, fashion and life in Delhi with five creatives from the city.
Name: Daniyal (@dannnykhan)
Profession: Model
Best independent venue for watching live music?
Daniyal: Auro Kitchen and Bar, have seen some of my favorite live acts there including Khraungbin, Buttering Trio and Lifafa to name a few.
Best place to go after-dark and why?
Daniyal: Khan Market, since it has mostly everything to offer from kebab joints, fine dining restaurants, bars to bakeries and even shopping.
Delhi’s best-kept secret?
Daniyal: PSRS rocks in JNU is a cool hangout spot from my college days, also known as the highest point of Delhi. Entry is restricted though.
Best place to hang out in Delhi to listen to good independent/local/non-commercial music/live music artists?
Daniyal: I think Summer house for @boxoutwednesdays, they usually showcase a nice mix of local and international artists.
If you had to recommend a local artist from Delhi to listen to, who would it be?
Daniyal: Tanmaya Bhatnagar (@tanmayab) is a super-talented singer-songwriter and recently gave a spellbinding performance at Sofar Sounds.
Favourite place to hang out in Delhi?
Daniyal: Nizamuddin, theres so much to explore and do there amidst all its cultural richness.
Whose playlist would you want to listen to? Name one person.
Daniyal: Playboi Carti (@playboicarti). There must be something that inspires his unreal adlibs on a daily basis.” Define your style in three words?
Grunge heavy and fresh.
A musician that defines the teenage you?
Daniyal: Fred Durst (@freddurst)
Top 5 songs on your playlist?
1. Nont for Sale by Sudan Archives
2. Leap Of Faith by Mr Jukes
3. Whitsand Bay by Metronomy
4. No Romance by Tirzah & Micachu
5. Black Truck by Mereba
Any new music recommendation?
Daniyal: That new Jamie Isaac single with Nosaj Thing! Pure bliss. Also, the new record by Georgia, called Seeking Thrills.
The track you played on repeat recently?
Fake Names by Freddie Gibbs and Madlib been on repeat for a while now.
What role does music play in your life?
Daniyal: It plays a very important role, apart from scoring some of the most pivotal and usual moments of my life, it also helps me get through tough times. Sometimes it’s all that my soul needs, good music.
Name: Shyamli (@Shyamli)
Profession: Tattoo Artist
Best independent venue for watching live music?
Shyamli: Oddbird Theatre.
Best place to go after-dark and why?
Shyamli: Home. To be with my cats.
Delhi’s best-kept secret?
Shyamli: Feroz Shah Kotla for soaking in the sun and Saqi bar for cheap drinks in a dimly lit ancient dive bar.
Best place to hang out in Delhi to listen to good independent/local/non-commercial music/live music artists?
Shyamli: Oddbird/Auro/Summerhouse.
If you had to recommend a local artist from Delhi to listen to, who would it be? Why?
Shyamli: Lush Lata (@_lushlata_), because boss lady’s got some lush tunes.
Whose playlist would you want to listen to? Name one person.
Shyamli: Girl’s Night Out/ Vijayant.
Favourite place to hang out in Delhi?
Shyamli: Gung The Palace, Korean food and soju all day every day.
Define your style in three words?
Shyamli: Erratic, Moody, Low maintenance.
A musician that defines the teenage you?
Nine Inch Nails (lol)
Any new music recommendation?
Shyamli: I’m not entirely wowed by a lot of the new music coming out but I like The Game’s most recent album “Born 2 Rap” – I don’t think it’s earth shatteringly good but listenable.
The track you played on repeat recently?
Shyamli: The entire album by Lykke Li- So Sad So Sexy.
What role does music play in your life?
Shyamli: It can define how I feel the whole day- on days that I’m especially sensitive I’d rather not listen to any music than listen to something that doesn’t sit right in my body- if the tattoo studio’s got the Top 40’s playing through the day then I’ll for sure be miserable and drained.
Top 5 songs on your playlist?
1. Supenature by Cerrone
2. Gwadloup DJ Oil Remix
3. Stef Chura by Slow Motion,
4. Eau D’ Bedroom Dancing by Le Tigre
5. Bennington by John Maus
Name: Tsemola (@tsemola)
Profession: Musician (Vocalist) and Art Director
Best independent venue for watching live music?
Tsemola: Intimate sessions like Sofar, Living Room, House Concert, there are more. Where people come only to listen to the artist.
Best place to go after-dark and why?
Tsemola: Bandmates places or Jam rooms. Cause that’s when all the music is made.
Delhi’s best-kept secret?
Tsemola: Still looking for one.
Best place to hang out in Delhi to listen to good independent/local/non-commercial music/live music artists?
Tsemola: Go for any intimate music sessions. You discover a lot of indie artists.
If you had to recommend a local artist from Delhi to listen to, who would it be? Why?
Tsemola: Mangoeshuman, they have some beautiful vibe in their sound. You can listen to Our band (@theravenmusic) too haha. We make some dark and sad music.
Whose playlist would you want to listen to?
Tsemola: Steven Wilson (@stevenwilsonhq).
Favorite place to hang out in Delhi?
Tsemola: My Room. I don’t like going out much.
Define your style in three words?
Tsemola: Yami Kawaii stoner.
A musician that defines the teenage you?
Tsemola: Avril Lavigne.
Any new music recommendation?
Listening to a lot of The 1975 right now. The lyrics are something.
The track you played on repeat recently?
Tsemola: Last Orders (Nothing But Thieves).
What role does music play in your life?
Tsemola: The things I can never express become my lyrics and singing them is my expression. Whatever felt inside is out while I’m performing.
Top 5 songs on your playlist?
- The Final Thing On My Mind by The Pineapple Thief
- 405 by Vancouver Sleep Clinic
- All We Do by Oh Wonder
- I Always Want To Die (Sometimes) by The 1975
- North Star by Blackstartblues
Name: @mc_soopy aka Siddhant Rai
Profession: DJ/MC/Radio Host
Best independent venue for watching live music?
Siddhanth: Summer House Cafe and Auro for DJ’s, Piano Man and Odd Bird for everything else. But tbh the real parties happen outside of clubs and bars. There’s a growing DIY scene where artists and creators are making the best of what’s available to them and really helping the underground thrive.
Best place to go after-dark?
Siddhanth: Usually hit up Humayunpur for dinner then head out to wherever things are happening. Could be house parties, bars, bigger events or anything in between.
Delhi’s best-kept secret?
Siddhanth: More of a Gurgaon thing; but honestly Gurgaon has the best Korean BBQ in NCR. Hit me up and I’ll take you. Other than that there’s lots of after hour spots in Delhi but you gotta know to know.
Best place to hang out in Delhi to listen to good independent/local artists?
Siddhanth: That’s a tough one. I feel like we don’t have enough spaces for live independent acts, most of the initiative is being taken by individuals who are setting up small gigs either in their homes or farmhouses etc. But do check Basement Takeover in Gurgaon. It’s run by a close friend and is really picking up steam with more and more people at every edition.
If you had to recommend a local artist from Delhi to listen to, who would it be?
Siddhanth: So there’s a lot of people I would recommend. I can’t lie, all my friends are dope. But there’s one band that I have to give major props to and that’s Bleac(h)ead (@_bleachead_) 3 piece hardcore and punk energy but still super cute and fun as hell. They definitely need a larger audience.
Whose playlist would you want to listen to?
Siddhanth: My homie ‘Girls Night Out’ (@girlsnightout.dj) aka Vijayant Singh (one of my favourite DJs in the country right now).
Favourite place to hang out in Delhi?
The homies cribs and also GK-2 M block because I’m usually around there and I love Yeti.
Define your style in three words?
Siddhanth: Relaxed, Quality > Everything, NON Hype. I know that’s cheating but i can’t think of just 3 words.
A musician that defines the teenage you?
Siddhanth: So many, but if I had to pick one it would be Zach de la Rocha.
Any new music recommendation?
Griselda – WWCD
Liturgy – H.A.Q.Q
Matana Roberts – Coin Coin Chapter 4: Memphis
JPEGMAFIA – All my Heroes Are Cornballs
Billy Woods – Hiding Places
Charli XCX – Charli
The Caretaker – Everywhere at the end of time part 6
Quelle Chris – Guns
The track you played on repeat recently?
Siddhanth: Kara Lis Coverdale – Grafts (literally played it from front to back 6 times on a flight recently)
What role does music play in your life?
Siddhanth: It’s everything. It’s how I’ve made my best friends, it’s how I celebrate, it’s how I deal with problems, it’s how I think about the world and it’s how I make my money too. Nothing beats the excitement of making a new beat, finding a new song/artist, DJing on stage or watching your friends perform. Life really does revolve around it more or less.
Top 5 songs on your playlist?
1. Did it Again by Playboi Carti
2. Piru by Playboi Carti
3. DR BIRDS by Griselda
4. Out West by Jackboys ft. Young Thug
5. Little Bit (Sydlandsmix) by Erika De Casier
Name: Moses Koul
Profession: Musician/Producer/Artist/Model
Best independent venue for watching live music?
Moses: The decent ones got shut down. I’m on the lookout for the next best one myself.
Best place to go after dark?
Moses: Home. Delhi is the city of breakfast options. Awful for crepuscular beings. It would thrive if it decides to implement the new Bombay nightlife model.
Delhi’s best-kept secret?
Moses: You can find the best bits of Tokyo, London, Paris, Seoul, Turkey, LA so on and so forth, in Delhi. But not the other way round.
Best place to hang out in Delhi to listen to good independent/local artists live?
Moses: There are a couple for electronic music, but acoustic music forms have found it progressively difficult to play live. The DIY culture of organizing house concerts and renting out venues has come back. This is heartbreaking because we shouldn’t have to start from square one every 5 years but unless the musicians start creating a solid infrastructure and network – there will be no progress. For the sake of an answer – I want to say HKV but then I don’t want the reader to go and have their finger bitten off at some dilapidated pub.
If you had to recommend a local artist from Delhi to listen to, who would it be?
Moses: The Circus. Because they unsettle me.
Name one person whose playlist would you want to listen to?
Moses: Timbaland. Easy.
Favourite place to hang out in Delhi?
Moses: Lutyen’s Delhi, Mughal Monuments and Gardens. #KhanMarketGang
Define your style in three words?
Moses: Fluid, Moody, Gender Agnostic.
A musician that defines the teenage you?
Moses: Kurt Cobain, perhaps. Or Alexi Laiho. Depends on which part of my teenage you decide to focus on.
Any new music recommendation?
Jiwoo – Sapphire Blue
The track you played on repeat recently?
Moses: The Dragon Ball Z Theme Track. Been going Super Saiyan on my art lately.
What role does music play in your life?
Moses: Absolutely unsure about this one. I can be metaphorical about it like – It colours my life the same way punctuations embellish a sentence, but that’s as clear a picture I can paint for you or myself.
Top 5 songs on your playlist?
Keeps changing, of late it’s been:
1. Like Someone In Love by Bill Evans
2. Swanton Bomb by Keith Ape
3. Intestinal Incubation by Necrophagist
4. Haze by Hiromi Uehara
5. Purpose (Album) by Justin Bieber
