Meet Nexa Music Top 24 Artist: The Backyard Shrooms

On their 2018 debut four-track EP Solitary Mind, Gurugram-based band The Backyard Shrooms created a melting pot of sounds with the inclusion of blues, rock, electronica, psychedelic elements and soul plastered all over the record. The group – comprising vocalist-guitarist Rankeerat Singh, guitarist-keyboardist Sarvejeet Singh, bassist Aditya Vashisht and drummer Rahul Yadav – are now part of Nexa Music’s Top 24, the nationwide hunt for English-language artists from across the country.

Rankeerat says about Nexa Music, “Fortunately it is trying to build an oasis for indie artists in the midst of chaos and commercialization. A platform where there’s a chance to be heard in a country like India where only Hindi or Bollywood music is mostly encouraged and catered.” He adds, “Nexa is bringing that change, which is much needed because we’re all growing as individuals and as a nation altogether in all forms of arts and culture.”

The vocalist also feels that Nexa Music will give his band a massive boost in getting their music out to the masses. “Bands and artists need a push, need a market which can take them to the stars. India is exuberantly accepting newer and fresher music and this shows that we’re headed in the right direction,” he says.

Being part of Nexa Music also means getting a chance to work with A-list composers A.R.Rahman and Clinton Cerejo. Rankeerat says, “There’s so much to learn within the spectrum of music itself and if one gets some guidelines from the pioneers themselves is a huge deal. He says further, “We’re only beginning to learn and survive in this industry, and this is going to be a hell of a ride that we’re always going to cherish.”