An opening gig at Lollapalooza adds to the launch of city-based band Long Distances debut EP with its evocative themes and pop-synth motifs
Apart from the trio (above), the band now includes musicians Gouri Ranjit, Karun Kannampily and Adil Kurwa
Any track that makes this writer forget the perils of the commute is worthy of an automatic addition to our playlist. Switching on to Delicate surrender from the city-based trio of Long Distances was proof of this experience. The song, a part of the five-track EP How the mighty will fall, captures the smooth production and stylish synthpop landscape in which the band exists.
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Led by Zubin Pastakia, Aarifah Rebello and Apurv Agrawal, the debut EP is a culmination of songs that were being worked on and created since the pandemic. “It was just about getting to a place where we were happy. I think we gave it enough time to let the music grow,” shares Agrawal, also the lead guitarist for the band alongside Pastakia. Ask them about the familiar vibe of the 1980s pop-synth, and both quip that it was natural. “We are just playing music we love. I think I am an ’80s kid, while Apurv is a ’90s baby. We both know the classic records from the period have influenced us a lot. If I like the more poppy, guitar-stuff, he brings home the more angular, grunge stuff. Sometimes, it happens the other way around,” says Pastakia. The trio are just coming off a gig at the Road to Lollapalooza on the opening day of the festival last weekend. While it was cut short, the experience was definitely worth it, says Agrawal. “We had fun. I hope we get to do a longer set the next time around,” he says.
(From left) Apurv Agrawal, Aarifah Rebello and Zubin Pastakia
For Pastakia, the festival concluded with a sight of his favourite musician Sting in performance. “You had to have heard The police if you were born in the ’80s. In fact, Andy Summers [guitarist of The police] was one of my favourites, and his chords and style influenced a lot of my work. It was great. I hate to sound like an uncle, but when you create music you love, others will relate to it,” he says with a laugh.
The release of the EP — on January 19 — was also planned to coincide with their gig at Lollapalooza. Aside from the deeper emotional resonance of the lyrics, the songs have powerful guitar chords, captivating melodic arrangements and vocals by Rebello. Love song for an apocalypse and Empire bring on a brilliant combination of guitars, melody and a catchy groove. The former also has the addition of Sanaya Ardeshir AKA Sandunes on synth and Jai Row Kavi on drums.
Pastakia explains that the idea was never for the album to be a solo project. “Love Song and Delicate surrender were among the first demos written. I had shared with Sandunes [Sanaya Ardeshir] back then. They introduced us to Jai, who was familiar with the vibe of the song. The collaborations just happened organically,” he shared.
The songs also share an emotional undercurrent. The band calls it an ‘emotional journey of loss, longing, disappointment and grief’, and it is hard to disagree. Skin to sea, for instance, has a complex structure, and an even more moving story.
Pastakia reveals, “It was the first song written after the passing of my father. Lyrically and musically, it is among the most interesting songs on track. Apurv’s guitar lifts the emotional resonance of the track, while Aarifah adds her vocal melodies. It is also not a traditional song with a verse, chorus and outro form. It mirrors the journey of my grief in some way.”
With their debut EP out, the band is already working their way to new singles. “We are planning to release a couple of singles this year. The effort is to be honest with yourself. In a landscape, where songs and albums are often designed according trends and reels, it feels more important,” says Pastakia.
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