The Backyard Shrooms Release Debut EP ‘Solitary Mind’
The Gurugram band attempt everything from alt rock to psychedelic blues on their four-track release
The Backyard Shrooms. Photo: Courtesy of the artist
Last year, Gurugram-based alternative electronica outfit The Backyard Shrooms released their funky debut single, “Groovin,” which was an exploration across genres, picking from funk, blues and psychedelic rock. Since then, bassist Aditya Vashisht tells us that the group have been performing extensively and also perfecting their songs. He says, “[We’ve been] working rigorously every day.” All that hard work has paid off, evident on their recently released debut four-track EP, Solitary Mind.
‘Solitary Mind’ artwork
The quartet comprises Vashisht, guitarist-vocalist Rankeerat Singh, guitarist-keyboardist Sarvejeet Singh and drummer Rahul Yadav, and for a debut record, the musicians have covered quite a sonic canvas. Solitary Mind is a melting pot of blues, rock, electronica and soul. The record opens with the melancholic, church organ-meets-glitzy guitar offering “Waiting,” which according to the bassist, is a song about “the struggles and confusion to find lost love.” Their single “Groovin” is second on the tracklist followed by “What’s In A Name,” a ballad heavy on both gloom and groove (the band sure love their wah pedal!). The EP closes with the introspective, downtempo title track. “This song is about collecting oneself and picking up the pieces left behind about being alone and fighting it out.”
Solitary Mind was recorded at Vashisht’s home studio and the musician mixed and mastered it himself. The band are currently planning to release a couple of music videos as well as footage from their studio sessions to promote the record. Vashisht says the parallel agenda is to keep playing shows and working on fresh material. “We’re discovering new sounds.”
Listen to ”˜Solitary Mind’ below:
