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Listen: Alt Rockers February 31st’s Debut EP ‘Of Dusk and Dawn’

Mumbai-based composer and guitarist Lakshman Parsuram has roped in members from experimental rock band The Circus and post-rock band A Mutual Question for his new project

Nov 18, 2014
February 31st - (top left) Abhishek Bhatia, Namrata Juneja (bottom left), (center) Lakshman Parsuram  and (right) Karan and Aviraj Kumar. Photos: Dhruv Kalra (Bhatia); Aarushi Srivastava (Juneja); Natesh Nathan (Parsuram); Aabhishek Mikael Gunaratnam (Karan and Aviraj)

February 31st – (top left) Abhishek Bhatia, Namrata Juneja (bottom left), (center) Lakshman Parsuram and (right) Karan and Aviraj Kumar. Photos: Dhruv Kalra (Bhatia); Aarushi Srivastava (Juneja); Natesh Nathan (Parsuram); Aabhishek Mikael Gunaratnam (Karan and Aviraj)

What happens when an upcoming composer, an A cappella singer, a drummer and a bassist from a post rock band and an experimental rock band’s lead vocalist get together? The answer is in Mumbai guitarist-composer Lakshman Parsuram’s new alt rock project, February 31st, for which he rounded up friends such as bassist Karan Kumar, drummer Aviraj Kumar [from Pune post-rock band A Mutual Question], Delhi-based singer Namrata Juneja and Delhi experimental rock band The Circus’s frontman Abhishek Bhatia aka Curtain Blue.

Parsuram, a sound engineer who was originally based in Delhi, moved to Mumbai in 2012. While he had already written a few songs in Delhi, he teamed up with childhood friends Karan and Aviraj after coming to Mumbai. February 31st is now all set to release their debut EP, Of Dusk and Dawn. Says Parsuram, “I started building scratch tracks along with Namrata and Abhishek. Initially, I laid down the bass parts myself and decided to go ahead with programmed drums. But then I ended up moving to Bombay. I’ve known Karan and Aviraj since we were kids and Karan and I always shared a similar musical sensibility. So when the move to Bombay happened I asked them to come on board.” With both vocalists based in Delhi, Parsuram said he was quick enough to record Bhatia and Juneja’s vocal takes when he was in Delhi in 2012. The EP took shape over the course of two years. Says Parsuram, “I laid the final touches to mix and mastered the album this September.”

The guitarist says his grunge influences, specifically Alice in Chains, will stand out in his work. While Of Dusk and Dawn is, for the most part, a mellow album, there are heavier songs like “Dark Side.” Says Parsuram, “The idea was to have songs built around an acoustic guitar.”

Although there aren’t any concrete plans to take February 31st live yet, mostly owing to the fact that the members of the bands live in different cities. But Parsuram says he wouldn’t play the EP live without his guest vocalists. Says the guitarist, “We’re definitely open to the idea of playing live, though.”

Listen to Of Dusk and Dawn by February 31st. Buy the EP here.

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