Electro-Alternative Group Killer Fan To Play Their Debut Show In Mumbai This Week

Itek Bhutani from Killer Fan.

You know how complicated it is to take an electronica project to stage when you need a flowchart to explain your live set up. Alternative electronica project Killer Fan, started by Mumbai composer Itek Bhutani in 2011, are using guitars, MIDI controllers and a couple of laptops for their first gig this week.

Killer Fan comprises Bhutani on guitars and samples, vocalist Ramya Iyer and bassist Anjo John, but the frontman says they didn’t intend to take it live when they started off three years ago. Says Bhutani, “Some songs like ”˜Kicked’ have six guitars on them. The album is not defined by the instruments.” Killer Fan’s debut album, Hello Sin Nation released in September and is described by Bhutani as his “getting over depression” album. Bhutani has been trying to break into Bollywood as a composer and channeled this desperation into Hello Sin Nation, “I cried multiple times while making this album, because it was so complicated for me to record it the way I wanted, to try and switch instruments and make sure everything sounded just right.” Like the way the 11-track album gets progressively darker, Bhutani says on completing the album, he realized the songs were making him depressed again.

The three-member band, explains Bhutani, won’t need a drummer as of now and will used sampled beats instead. He adds, “We’ll get a MIDI drummer on board soon, who will use a V-drum [electronic drum kit].” Killer Fan will open the gig with a 45-minute set, playing Hello Sin Nation in its entirety. Says Bhutani, “I never wanted to do a DJ set and sample all these sounds. The content is really high, unlike bands that just play three power chords and get tons of gigs. Unfortunately, what matters is the vibe of the music, not the content.” The composer plans to head into the studio to re-record parts of Hello Sin Nation, including a few outros and covers and then work on his next EP after a few gigs.

Stream Killer Fan’s debut album Hello Sin Nation below

Killer Fan, Nush Lewis and Spud in the Box perform on January 29th, 2014, 9pm onwards at D’Bell, Mumbai. Entry: Rs 300 [cover charge]. Event details here.