Filter Coffee, PCRC Head To UK Music Fest Alchemy

(from left) Karan Singh, Suryakant Sawhney, Kartik Pillai and Rohan Kulshreshtha. Photo: Courtesy of pcrc

After debuting artists like Mumbai electronica act Nicholson, Delhi’s Curtain Blue and Bangalore-based Sulk Station in their 2015 maiden edition, Wild City return this month with their second showcase of Indian independent music at London-based music and arts festival Alchemy. The online music platform is recruiting jazz/cabaret group Peter Cat Recording Co. to perform at the ten-day long music festival that takes place in Southbanks Centre, London. Other Indian artists performing at Alchemy include Mumbai indie band Filter Coffee, world renowned percussionist Zakir Hussain and film composer trio Shankar Ehsaan Loy.

“I’m excited because I’m good friends with everyone, so it’ll be a fun experience,” says Suryakant Sawhney, frontman of Peter Cat Recording Co., who will also perform under his solo moniker, Lifafa. “We’re all very different as artists, so that’ll be interesting.” Sawhney is part of Wild City’s lineup of alternative artists which also includes audio-visual electronica act Gaurav Malekar better known as Blot! and Bangalore-based producer Rahul Giri aka _RHL.

However, both Malekar and Sahawney agree that while at times there can be ignorance, there is greater acceptance of Indian artists in the international space without the expectation of a display of ”˜Indian-ness.’ “If people like the music, they’ll like the artist regardless of where they come from,” says Gaurav Malakar of Blot!. “An artist’s nationality should only come into play when the music is trying to express it.”

“There are people who come to the show expecting it, but there are more people who don’t,” says Sawhney. “We don’t feel any pressure that way.”

Southbank Centre’s Alchemy is an ongoing festival that will continue throughout the month of May 2016. For more information about the workshops and artists, click here.