Listen: Mumbai Alternative Band Calico’s Effervescent Debut Single ‘Garnet Eye’

When Mumbai guitarist Anuraag Gawhale lost interest in playing fusion music with his previous band Bombay Bandook, he started looking elsewhere to channel his creative energy. “I wanted to enter this new space and wanted to start my own stuff,” says Gawhale. The guitarist kept to his word and formed alternative-indie group Calico alongside vocalist-guitarist Ivan Imkong, bassist Yohaan Pissulenker and drummer Shashwat Karkare (from Mumbai alt rockers Unohu) in late 2017.

“Garnet Eye” artwork by Vikram Pradhan

Calico hasn’t wasted much time and is already out with their debut single, the sparkling “Garnet Eye.” Imkong sings with an intended air of mystique, “We turned ourselves to rust/Saw flowers turn to dust.” The song slowly builds with slick guitar parts, a smooth bass line and a solid groove courtesy Karkare. “We’ve gone through five or six versions of this song,” says Gawhale. Although the lyrics are up for interpretation according to the band, the guitarist says, “It’s more about a conversation of someone with himself where they are trying to explore maturity.”

“Garnet Eye” was recorded at Mumbai alt rock band Spud in the Box’s drummer Joshua Singh’s home studio, produced by Zain Calcuttawala (aka Bulli Bainbridge) and mastered by sound engineer Rohan Ramanna (part of electronic/alternative duo LANDS). Up next, Calico plan on releasing more material later this year, “We want to put an EP out,” says Gawhale.

Listen to “Garnet Eye” below and also stream the song on Apple Music and Spotify.