Sourjyo Sinha and Rohit Ganesh are Dindun, a Kolkata-based duo who carry out in Sylheti, Assamese, Bengali and English. The band can be at two venues in Bengaluru this month — at The Raft with Alva Kuuto on September 20, and with Sounds from the Library at Bangalore Worldwide Centre on September 25.
Speaking to The Hindu over cellphone from Kolkata, Sourjya Sinha shares how Dindun formed up and credit their followers and well-wishers for his or her progress:
Good vibrations
A self-confessed “bed room musician”, Sourjyo says, “I’ve been writing songs since 2013 and importing them on SoundCloud, not too many individuals have been conscious of it as a result of it took time to construct my confidence.”
He provides, “In 2016, a buddy of mine who knew I wrote songs, was organising the Sofar occasion in Kolkata and invited me to carry out — that was my first gig ever.”
That present propelled Sourjyo to type a band shortly after, known as Whale within the Pond. “We recorded an EP and put it out, however for probably the most half, band members have been busy with particular person initiatives. Nevertheless, one in every of them launched me to Rohit.”
That assembly proved to be a musical match made in heaven, as each Rohit and Sourjyo introduced complementing property to the desk. “Rohit has all the time been into producing, mixing and the technical elements of song-making. I deliver songs of their skeletal type, after writing the lyrics and tunes. That’s how we work.”
Rohit Ganesh (left) and Sourjyo Sinha of Dindun
| Photograph Credit score:
Particular Association
The duo collaborated on a tune titled ‘Your Love Makes Me Dance’, which they launched in 2018, on YouTube as a standalone video underneath their very own names. “On the time, I used to be nonetheless churning out music, and our collaboration strengthened with ‘Your Love Makes Me Dance’. Rohit fills these gaps in manufacturing that I can’t ideate in a tune. It’s a fruitful partnership we share.”
They went on to document 4 extra songs in 2018, and known as themselves Dindun. “That’s what I used to name my grandmother as a baby. The phrase itself has a bell-like, musical high quality to it,” says Sourjyo.
Boys to males
Sourjyo admits that within the preliminary years, each he and Rohit thought-about Dindun a studio challenge. Rohit was understanding of Mumbai and Sourjyo was in Kolkata, each pursuing particular person skilled paths. “We might get collectively once we needed to take a break from work; we’d make music for 2 months, launch it and keep on. Our purpose was to maintain it easy and never overthink our musical inclinations.”
With this uncomplicated method, they launched two EPs — Dindun Quantity 1 in 2018, adopted by Dindun Quantity 2 in 2022. Nevertheless, issues modified after they gained the Bengaluru-based Toto Music Award in 2023. Across the similar time, a well-liked YouTube channel in Bangladesh coated their songs.
“Until then, we had by no means actively promoted our work or adopted a sustained social media marketing campaign — our reputation was spreading by way of phrase of mouth. It dawned on us then, that this could be a bit extra severe than we have been giving it credit score for.”
DinDun Vol 3 cowl
| Photograph Credit score:
Ruth Dhanaraj
“In the identical 12 months, we obtained invited to play at a music pageant in Kolkata. We noticed that with out asking for something, our music was giving one thing again to us. So we determined to deal with it with extra seriousness and integrity than we had until that time.”
The outcomes are clear to see in Dindun Quantity 3. This EP was crowdfunded and is full with visuals and movies, and its recording and manufacturing high quality present a marked departure from their earlier releases.
Sourjyo says Bengaluru will see the efforts of a five-member staff — supervisor Adrijaa Mridul Majumder, Sourish Mustafi who designs their cowl artwork and social media, and Adrija Samal who handles their videography and pictures.
“That is the primary time we’ve put out our music in a sustained, deliberate method. It has been eight months of exhausting work with everybody pitching in; no quantity of crowdfunding cash might compensate for that. Everybody did it as a result of they believed in it.”
“This was our method of giving again, of exhibiting the individuals who supported us once we weren’t giving it as a lot significance that we might be higher, and do higher,” says Sourjyo.
Adrijaa Mridul Majumder
| Photograph Credit score:
Particular Association
Thus, Dindun collaborated with Kolkata-based drummer Gaurab Chatterjee for ‘Chorali’, the primary quantity of their newest EP. They have been additionally in session with Neon Tradition, a Bengaluru-based music consultancy firm which helped them plan the album cycle and extra.
“Since we have been studio centric initially, we by no means needed our work to be efficiency heavy; we by no means thought-about performing dwell. Hopefully, in time we will incorporate a bassist and one other musician who can play a number of devices,” says Sourjyo.
Greater than phrases
Dindun Quantity 3 is solely in Sylheti, a language spoken primarily in Assam, North Jap India and Bangladesh, whereas the primary two sported a mixture of Assamese and Bengali as properly. For his or her Bengaluru present, Dindun will carry out in all the above, in addition to in English.
“I sing in Sylheti which is spoken within the southern districts of Assam the place I grew up. There’s not quite a lot of literature, music or movies in Sylheti which is a spoken language and never a written one,” explains Sourjyo.
He goes on so as to add, “Singing in Sylheti is a method for me to claim declare over my id. I really feel I belong and I do know the place the phrases come from. Sadly, Bengali has consumed the native languages and people who converse Sylheti are thought-about gruff,” he says, ruing how main languages take over native dialects and languages.
Sourish Mustafi
| Photograph Credit score:
Particular Association
Which is why Sourjyo felt a join with Bengaluru band Alva Kuuto with whom they’ll be enjoying. “I associated to what Praveen, founding father of Alva Kuuto does on stage. They sing in Tulu, one other spoken language which is being edged out, to claim their id.”
Sourjyo says their one-hour slot, will see them carry out in Sylheti, Assamese, Bengali and English. Their first ever India tour will see them cease at Mumbai and Delhi earlier than concluding in Kolkata.
Adrija Samal
| Photograph Credit score:
Particular Association
Dindun will play at The Raft on September 20, tickets on Skillbox. With Sounds from the Library at Bangalore Worldwide Centre on September 25. Entry free, however RSVP on web site required.
Printed – September 19, 2024 01:09 pm IST
