Stacy’s Penitence Plan To Release New Singles By Year End

Stacy’s Penitence

Mizoram quintet, Stacy’s Penitence, won’t spill the beans on the girl who the band is named after and they won’t talk about “Veronica” either, who pops up in the eponymous track that made them popular back home. They released the homespun video for “Veronica” in 2007. “We are as clueless about these stories as our fans. Only Corey, our vocalist, knows the real story, but he refuses to share it,” says the band’s guitarist, Bobo Renthlei.

Made up of Reuben Lalnunzira (drums), Corey Ralte (vocals) and Renthlei (guitar), Puia Hmar (guitar), Zama Ralte (bass), Stacy’s Penitence began getting their act together very early. “We started off as a punk band in 2001. We were in class 6 and it was a school band in Bangalore,” says Renthlei about his first band, Supersonic Jet Monkeys. Later, when the band members graduated, they relocated, found a new vocalist and started jamming in Aizawl as Stacey’s Penitence. 

Their first big gig was in 2007 at a Mizo music fest, ROAR (Rhythm Of A Revolution), where they opened for Aizawl rockers, Boomarang. They took a break again to study, but have been back on the gigging circuit since 2011. Most of their songs begin like “Veronica”, and are slow-paced and deceptively mellow. Stacey’s Penitence could be a soft-rock act, you think. But the sound shifts without warning as the band breaks into loud, angry screams backed by heavy riffs. “Our music is as melodic and hook-laden as it is dark and haunting,” says Renthlei. 

Among their most noticeable feats is being crowned the Scavenger Rock Idol 2012 in May this year. “It was a big thrill. The energy was amazing and we returned with a boost in confidence. If it wasn’t for this, we would have never thought of releasing an album, but we are working on one now,” says Renthlei. 

In the past, they have also managed to make a crowd of metalheads headbang to Lady Gaga. “We listen to all kinds of music”” from heavy metal to pop. The idea was to take a popular track like Gaga’s “Bad Romance” and change it to something heavier.” At local gigs, “Bad Romance” is a sure shot hit, but it was quite a task convincing metal fans to cheer for this pop idol. “We were performing in Kolkata at a high-energy metal gig. When we introduced our next track as a Lady Gaga cover, the crowd just stopped cheering. Thankfully, seconds into our version, people were back to headbanging, something they sure didn’t imagine,” says the guitarist.  

Influenced by bands like Iron Maiden, Dream Theater and Protest The Hero, Stacy’s Penitence’s sound is meant to surprise audiences. “We have three-four singles we are working on. Hopefully, they’ll be out by the end of this year,” says  Renthlei, adding, “Our songs talk about the ups and downs in one’s life, but they slowly build up to present a brighter side of life.”

Watch “Veronica” by Stacy’s Penitence here: