With their debut album The Iceberg set to release on November 2, Pune-based rock outfit Nemophilis are ready to break out of their cover band image
The band performs on stage at an earlier event
Their long hairdos and raging appearances reflect the stereotype of an archetypal grunge rock group. The trio of Kshitij Choudhary, Saurabh Lodha and Akarsh Singh revel in that description. Their first album, The Iceberg, which will release on November 2, features songs that dive into their hard rock influences and a deep love for lyrical expression.
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“Nemophilis started with Choudhary back in 2013 as his night cover gig during college in Bhilai. I teamed up with him and we made drum and guitar covers of bands such as Queen, Guns n’ Roses and others,” reveals 30-year-old Singh, drummer and back-up vocalist for the band. When the trio met in Mumbai in 2016 they decided to explore it further.
Saurabh Lodhe and Akarsh Singh
“The album is a culmination of our evolution”, says bassist Lodha. The Pune-resident shares, “We have been releasing singles since 2019, but we needed a different approach. As a band, we needed to build around our repertoire and incorporate other elements.” With nine songs, there is enough of the repertoire to pick from. Songs like Breathe, Stronger and One last time capture manic rock energy through head-banging guitar chords. What I’ve done shifts into a melodic narrative arc, while Paralyzed is a rock ballad that shifts between melodic and powerful chord arrangements.
“We all belong to a metal background, although Kshitij [Choudhary] listens to a lot of jazz and pop,” admits Singh, adding, “We wanted to share songs like the ones we love such as from Bad Omens and Ghost while staying mainstream.” Lodha explains, “Most of the lyrics speak about the struggle of existentialism. We are all fans of Linkin Park, and their cause [the battle for mental health] is something we took away from their work.” Singh points out, “The track You, for instance, has a bridge with growling vocals which we have never used before. Another instance is the use of verses in Breathe as a solo. We eschewed a traditional guitar solo and replaced it with a verse solo, almost like a rap.”
The band worked on the songs for over a year and half while performing covers for Linkin Park and Metallica on tour. “The covers paid for our recording sessions, equipment costs and everything else. So, we do not look down on it,” laughs Singh. They are also an extension of the band’s identity.
Now, the band has their eyes set on the next stage. “We want to now focus on our originals. We cannot keep returning to covers,” Singh says. With the album out next month, they are keen to release an extended version with re-produced singles, too. With a performance to follow at the Global Indie Festival in the city, it seems Nemophilis is here to stay.
Releases on November 2
Log on to: Nemophilis on Spotify; SoundCloud
On: (Live gigs) November 4 and 5; 3.30 pm onwards
At: Dublin Square, Phoenix Marketcity, Kurla West.
Tickets: in.bookmyshow.com
Cost: Rs 499 onwards
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