Exclusive Premiere: Hear Bengaluru Rockers Out of Office’s ‘The Biker Song’
The bluesy jam with a few Carnatic guitar leads is an ode to the road
Bengaluru rock band Out of Office. Photo: Courtesy of the artist
When Bengaluru rock band Out of Office’s frontman Rakesh V.G. says their latest single “The Biker Song” came about on the behest of “a reputed biker gang that wanted us to play at their annual riders’ meet”, you have to understand that biker gangs in India aren’t exactly the law-breaking hell-raisers like their foreign counterparts.
These gangs are a far cry from the outlaws ”“ an organized lot of biking enthusiasts and riders who love getting on the road. So the music they’d listen to is, understandably, not so rowdy either. Out of Office penned a six-minute blues jam for this gang in September last year, and they’ve now recorded “The Biker Song.” Rakesh adds, “Their sheer passion for riding and the sense of freedom and unforgettable experiences of road trips inspired us to write this groovy song.”
On “The Biker Song,” Out of Office toy around with a steady blues groove, Carnatic-leaning melodies and throw in their own bass and guitar solos, while vocalist Rakesh echoes out metaphors about the road and life. The song is their third single after Wild West-inspired “Django” and a live version of the mellow “Rain,” recorded at gig series Songs from a Room (Sofar). The band, who came together in 2014, are completed by guitarist-bassist Narasimha Curam and drummer Akshay Nagmule.
Entirely a DIY exercise, “The Biker Song” was recorded live at the band’s own Groove Garage Studios and mixed and mastered by Curam. There’s also a video in the works, says Rakesh. He says, “We’re currently in the scripting phase. We’re crowdsourcing road trip and bike videos from avid bikers/biker gangs.” The video is slated to release in November.
Listen to “The Biker Song”
