Listen: Nagaland Indie Rock Band We The Giants’ debut single “Young Heart”
The runners-up at the Hornbill International Rock Contest last year will release an EP later this year
We The Giants. Photo: Toshi Longchar
As noted in our review of Hornbill International Rock Contest 2013, first runners-up We The Giants had a lot in common with funk rock band Gingerfeet from Kolkata, who walked away with the main prize in 2012 at the band competition held in Nagaland.
Dimapur-based indie rock band We The Giants, like Gingerfeet, were formed just ahead of Hornbill with the purpose of competing at the rock contest. Says We The Giants vocalist-guitarist Kevi Pucho, “We got together 20 days before Hornbill and managed to write five songs, which just about filled up the required setlist time.” Just as members of two bands ”“ metal band Damagera and alt rock band Spunk ”“ got together to form Gingerfeet, We The Giants, along with Pucho, also comprises members of two local rock acts ”“ bassist Meyasunep Imchen and drummer Yangkum Jinger from Incipit and guitarist Lima Mongro from Clueless Attention. “The whole intention [to form the band] was to collaborate for Hornbill. The feedback we got at the contest blew us away, so we kept going. The band is our baby, but it’s a project, along with our other work,” says Pucho, who runs Dimapur studio Element Indie Records.
The band recorded their first song, the straight-up rock track “Young Heart,” at Element Indie, which Pucho says is about “learning from mistakes and making mistakes in the first place, which comes with being young at heart.” The first single is part of their upcoming five-track EP, which is tentatively titled Young Heart. Says Pucho, “We’re about 60 percent done, but the recording is still on.”
Following their win at Hornbill, the band divided the winning prize of Rs 3.5 lakhs amongst themselves to buy additional gear “and repay debts.” We The Giants, who were also named the Best Nagaland Band at Hornbill, were promised a gig at Blue Frog, but Pucho says no one has contacted them to play at the Mumbai venue yet. Says Pucho, “We’re still waiting on that call.”
Listen to “Young Heart” below. Download the track here.
