Chennai Rock Band Vertigo to Release Debut EP

Chennai rock band Vertigo. Photo: Stan Rayan/Courtesy of the Band

For all the growing number of post-rock bands in India, Chennai-based Vertigo decided to switch from their ambient-led instrumental rock to more of an indie rock sound. Says vocalist-guitarist Antony Kevin Fernando, “We realized that people don’t come and dance to your music.”

Vertigo, who came together in September 2014, had a few lineup changes along the way which also pushed them to experiment with keyboards and electronica elements. Not to mention vocals and lyrics. Fernando and the band ”“ comprising guitarist Cletus Amalan, bassist Michael Timothy, drummer Radhika George and keyboardist Judah Joel ”“ discarded their existing catalog of songs to start anew. With a steadily growing following across Kochi, Bengaluru and Chennai ”“ and a win at IIT Madras’ band competition Decibels last year ”“ Vertigo began recording their five-track EP last year. Says Fernando, “When we played at IIT Madras, [Chennai electro-rock band] The F16s were judges and their keyboardist Harshan [Radhakrishnan] said he wanted to help us produce the EP.”

Recorded at Radhakrishnan’s home studio, the F16s producer’s inputs made Vertigo’s sound “more danceable”, Fernando explains. “It was more on the electro side of things.” The as-yet-unnamed EP will comprise songs that lean toward an animated, sunny guitar-led alt rock in the vein of bands such as early Coldplay and Keane. “My music is all about melodies and stories,” Fernando says about songs such as Brit rock-influenced “Colors”, which is about how people are colorblind to situations and “don’t see other things.” Then there’s the jumpy rock track “Firebird”, which is about a mythical creature that rescues a girl lost in a forest.

In addition to performing a 90-minute set at club venue BFlat in Bengaluru on April 9th, Vertigo will inaugurate weekly gig series Live 101 in Chennai, hosted by the well-known Unwind Center on April 15th. Meanwhile, the EP, which has been in the works for nearly a year now, will release in May.

Vertigo and Mad Shakthi Cherryworks perform at BFlat, Bengaluru on April 9th, 2016. Event details here.

Watch the band perform live at Papaya Cafe in Kochi