Coshish and Skyharbor Nominated For UK’s Prog Music Awards 2014

Hindi prog/alt rock band Coshish. Photo: Bharath Chandrasekar

Prog metallers Skyharbor have been making waves on the international circuit all of last year, including a nomination at the prestigious Metal Hammer’s Golden Gods awards in the Global Metal category. This year, it’s time for Mumbai prog rock band Coshish, who released their debut full-length album Firdous in 2013, to grab attention globally.

Both Coshish and Skyharbor are nominated for UK magazine Prog’s annual Progressive Music Awards 2014, in three categories. While Skyharbor are nominated in the Breakthrough category, Coshish are nominated in the Anthem category for their song “Raastey” and in the Limelight category, the latter of which also includes alt rock act White Moth/Black Butterfly, comprising Skyharbor’s guitarist Keshav Dhar and vocalist Dan Tompkins. Says Coshish drummer Hamza Kazi, “It’s quite surreal to be nominated. When our album released, I came across the Prog page and sent the editors the teaser video and each one of them wrote back saying they wanted the CD.” Kazi, who won the Best Drummer award at the Ninth Jack Daniel’s Annual Rock Awards earlier this year, believes some of the international attention Coshish has garnered comes from singing in Hindi. Kazi adds, “It’s probably a bit exotic for them.”

The nomination comes a week ahead of Coshish’s gig in Mumbai, where they will play new material. Kazi says the song, currently under the working title of “Revolving Sevens” was written more than three years ago, but hasn’t been performed since. The drummer says, “We’ve polished and reworked it and now it’s in the more tech-prog space. I hope it’s well-received, because it’s the sound we’re heading towards.”

Vote for Coshish and Skyharbor to win at the Progressive Music Awards here.

Coshish and Sparsh perform at Hard Rock Café Andheri, Mumbai on July 3rd, 2014. Entry: Rs 500 (including Rs. 250 cover). Event details here.