ওয়াশিংটন বাংলা রেডিও Washington Bangla Radio USA

Prachir is an alternative Bangla Rock Band from Kolkata. We asked the members of Prachir to tell us about themselves. Read the exclusive interview of members of Prachir below. Indro of PRACHIR has also written a little article about PRACHIR exclusively for WBRi Kolkata Bangla Radio which you can also read below.

1) Where and around when were you born ? (You do not have to give out your exact age if you don't want to !)
In kolkata around 1988

2) Tell us about your family you grew up with ... your father, mother, brothers, sisters .... anyone else who influenced you early on
 I grew up with my parents n they really encouraged me when I started my music.

3) Music you were influenced by ?
Dream Theater, Pain of Salvation, Zakir Hussain, A.R.Rahman.

4) Who were your tutors ?
mah ears.

5) Advice for younger and upcoming Bands ?
listen to good music, try to play good music n keep rockin..

1)    Where and around when were you born ? (You do not have to give out your exact age if you don't want to !)
                                         8/11/8, Kolkata

2) Tell us about your family you grew up with ... your father, mother, brothers, sisters .... anyone else who influenced you early on
My dad is my forever inspiration of my life. My mom is always there when I’m broken. My younger brother is the best gift I’ve got from life since I’ve survived ...

3) Music you were influenced by ?
Firstly its hindi film music n  indi-pop … then college days were rocking like music … metallica, g’n’r, the doors … moved on to alternative n new age recently … papa roach, nickelback, linkin park, are the top choices……..

4) Who were your tutors?
life itself.

5) Advice for younger and upcoming Bands ?
Do and be the best combination of passion n hard- work.

1) Where and around when were you born ? (You do not have to give out your exact age if you don't want to !)
13th of August 1977

2) Tell us about your family you grew up with ... your father, mother, brothers, sisters .... anyone else who influenced you early on
Grown up with my parents in calcutta . I started listening to music when i was in class 3 . I was watching a movie , and i saw a video of AC/DC (blown up your video) that  sound actually hit me and I got freaked out. Thats how i got in music . After that incident I started listening and collecting music . early influences - AC/DC, Jimi Hendrix, Ten years after - Alvin Lee, Beatles, Mountain, Who, Led Zepplin, Black Sabbath. Later also in fluenced by Judas Prist, Iron Maiden, Van Halen , Steve Vai in his Divid Lee Roth , and Frank Zappa days , Joe Satriani, Nuno Bittencourt (Extrem) , Reb Beach. Later Rock music has also influenced me to listen other form of music like blues and jazz . Some which I listen to: Robert Jonson, Jonny Winter, Larry Carlton, Allen Holdsworth.

3) Who were your tutors ?
Started Learning from a friend Gablu then learn from Amyt Dutta .

4) Advice for younger and upcoming Bands ?
Listening to lots of music . To know what u want to do .

1) Where and around when were you born ? (You do not have to give out your exact age if you don't want to !)
In kolkata 24th April 1987

2) Tell us about your family you grew up with ... your father, mother, brothers, sisters .... anyone else who influenced you early on
I grew up with my parents n family …. they always encouraged me …

3) Music you were influenced by ?
Dream Theater, Pain of Salvation, A.R.Rahman, Metallica, g’n’r, the doors … moved on to alternative n new age recently…papa roach, nickelback , linkin park, are the top choices……..

4) Who were your tutors ?
Started Learning from a friend Sourav da  then learn from Indro da.

5) Advice for younger and upcoming Bands ?
Listening to lots of music . Do and be the best combination of passion n hard-work……..

1) Where and around when were you born ? (You do not have to give out your exact age if you don't want to !)
In kolkata around 29th april 1987.

2) Tell us about your family you grew up with ... your father, mother, brothers, sisters .... anyone else who influenced you early on
I grew up with my parents n family and they really encouraged and support me for my music.

3) Music you influenced by ?
Metallica.
Maiden.
Korn.
R.A.T.M.
RHCP.
TOTO
and many more

4) Who were your tutors ?
Self taught.

5) Advice for younger and upcoming Bands ?
Listen to good music and always try to be together with your band mates n keep rocking..

Prachir writes about their biography and experience on Channel [V] Launchpad, 2009

PRACHIR - what we have named ourselves as a band and specializes in the Modern Age Alternative Music.

The band had its genesis in 2006 when Indro (keyboards) met Bikram (Drums). They started jamming together and those valuable sessions resulted in a few concerts. The band underwent line-up changes quite a number of times till 2007 December. Uma (bass) quit to pursue his own dreams. Debankan replaced him but was soon shown the door for his below par performance. Even with this unstable line-up the band did many gigs throughout West Bengal.

A stable line-up of Prachir finally took shape in 2007 November which comprised of Soumyo on Vocals, Bua on Guitars, Indro on keyboard, Ashu on bass & Bikram on Drums. The band performed at several college-fests and corporate events thus achieving recognition in the Kolkata rock circuit. Unfortunately, Bikram left the band in the middle of 2007. Ayan, a young college student and a talented drummer joined the band. After that they never looked back.

This was the most hectic and struggling time span for the band, surviving strongly on corporate as well as road shows and college fests. Slowly but steadily PRACHIR became a rage throughout West Bengal from Siliguri to Digha.

A series of consistent and successful live performances encouraged them to take their music a step forward and they started working on there debut album.

Prachir is a band with a conscience. Listen to its originals Parichay, Bharotborsho — the first one speaks against substance abuse, while the latter addresses the youth about changing the society for the betterment. The other tracks in the album like Hotash Prithibi, Shrinkhol, Sadhinota, Uttorer Bhire, Tsunami are related on social topics like obstacles and taboos or fighting against odds in different parts of our life.

The band released their first ever self titled and self produced album from Asha Audio on 26th sep. 2008. They did face a lot of hindrance due to shortage of funds. Nevertheless, it was the most defining moment for the band. On the day of release, a rocking live performance of the band captivated the audience with awe, which also featured RUPAM ISLAM of FOSSILS & GOURAV (GABU) of LAKKHICHHARA.

In 2009, Channel V Launch pad III was responsible for bringing Prachir to the attention of the national audience. They created an emphatic buzz and made their presence felt nationwide. It was for the first time that Bengali Rock Music came into prominence on a national platform.

Channel [V] Launch pad left immense positive vibes in each member’s life. Specially the support from Bobby Talwar and Vishal Dadlani really helped them in doing there music coz music is there “Bread and Butter”.

“Launch pad & Mumbai was totally a new world for us where we had to stay and share everything together and made each other our own better-half“ that’s what the band has to say.

However, one of the significant and disheartening incidents of their journey in Launchpad was the desertion of Ashu, after making it to the top 7.

The band members of PRACHIR were in dark as they had no clue why he wanted to leave from such a prestigious platform as being the first Bengali band to get selected for Channel [V] Launch pad. So they had a point to prove to other rock bands in the competition.

Well believe it or not , Ashu claimed that he had cracked CAT and got through IIM JOKA to pursue PhD on some (unknown)………… subject. They pleaded with the organizers of the production house to let him go back to Kolkata as the date of his admission was 31st Jan 2009. He was granted permission and he promised that he would return the next day. The organizers even told that they would provide conveyance facility for him from the airport to the House of Rock. It was a crucial stage as the competition was becoming tougher after each elimination round.

Unfortunately, Ashu did not bother to return. Moreover, they found that he had lied to them and the organizers, regarding his admission in IIM JOKA. Prachir verified through reliable sources that he was bluffing totally.

So they had to compete in the next round without Ashu. Exhibiting their flair and determination they got to the next round. They proved to the judges that PRACHIR can survive without Ashu. The judges were overwhelmed with their spirited performance.

Well, their journey in Channel [V] Launch Pad came to an end on a sad note because they could not sustain the momentum of their performance without a bassist any longer. But they did gain a good exposure at the national level and being one of the top 6 Indian Rock Bands.

The band has a wide variety of seemingly unrelated influences which some say forms the basis of the uniqueness of their sound. Influences include Dream Theater, Creed, Nickelback, Incubus, and many more.

PRACHIR has also done Music direction and Background score for ...

1. “RU-OOR HAA-JU” (it means- coming back), which was selected for the NANDAN film festival 2008, and was screened during the FESTIVAL.

- Written by Indranil Bhattacharjee of Prachir for Washington Bangla Radio. Indro can be contacted at +91 98305 24736.

Prachir: Listen to Songs Online via Exclusive Videos from Prachir's Official Youtube channel:

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