Battling the strains of acquiring visa, work permits, sponsorship and equipment isn’t easy but local bands won’t give up
Consider meeting an internet acquaintance for the first time, except you’re taking a long-haul flight and paying a few lakhs to go and see them and hope they make good on their promise of giving you a string of shows and everything else they’ve promised. Mumbai death metal band Gutslit’s bassist Gurdip Singh Narang, who has plotted out a two-week tour of Asia in September, says, “The amount of research one has to do is at par with the amount of research Indian parents put in when it comes to an arranged marriage.”
Uddipan Sarmah, the entrepreneurial front man of post - rock band Aswekeepsearching, says the toughest part is “to make people believe in us.” After two years of establishing friendly contacts with Swedish instrumental act Pg.Lost and American prog band Tides of Man and more in Europe, there’s a 15-date tour coming up in May. “It’s a completely different business model [compared to touring in India],” Sarmah says.
Getting there
The Mumbai-based band have saved up from shows and merchandise sales to put it into a tour. With the tour dates confirmed, the next step involves getting an invitation letter from the hosts—in the case of Aswekeepsearching, it’s Dunk! Festival and their supporting bands— that mentions each traveling members’ names, passport numbers and dates of visiting. While filing for a visa in Europe as well as in the States, artists are also required to send in proof of confirmed accommodation, bank statements to prove regular income and for Europe, even confirmed flight tickets.
This story is from the May 2018 edition of RollingStone India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the May 2018 edition of RollingStone India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
anumitanadesan
The singer-songwriter talks about her first Malayalam film song, her upcoming debut abum and working across genres and languages
amrit ramneath
Understanding the interplay between abiding by tradition and progress is no new feat for this 25-year-old composer
yashraj
With chart-topping collaborations with seasoned veterans, this rapper has consistently been in the conversations of industry observers
dǝbzee
The 'Malabari Banger' hitmaker shares exclusive insights on his upcoming projects, life, and his vision for the future of music in India
taba chake
The Arunachal Pradesh-based singer-song-writer discusses how his latest song \"Kahani\" reflects the power of love songs.
ranj x clifr
The Bengaluru singer-composer and producer duo may not be done with hip-hop, but they are venturing into pop, R&B and Tamil songs next
RESHAPING THE FUTURE OF MUSIC
How digital collectibles, especially for live events, have a tremendous potential
Evnne On 'Un: Seen,' Their 'Seen,' And 'Unseen' Sides
The Band Discusses How A Setback Early In Their Career Spurred Them On And How They Fused Those Experiences With Their Sound In Their Second Mini Album, ‘Un: Seen
kayan
Between fandoms and aesthetic-setting live shows, artist Ambika Nayak talks about wanting to put out an album
anoushka maskey
Taking her “self-organized” Sunny Side Tour across the country, the Sikkim-origin artist is prioritizing consistent releases and exploring bossa nova next