Meet Nexa Music Top 24 Artist: Calico

If you’re looking for polished soft rock, look no further than Mumbai alternative outfit Calico. The four-piece band comprising vocalist-guitarist Ivan Imkong, guitarist Anuraag Gawhale, bassist Yohaan Pissulenker and drummer Shashwat Karkare have been growing steadily ever since they put out their debut sparkling single “Garnet Eye” last year. The group now find themselves in the midst of Nexa Music’s Top 24, the nationwide hunt for English-language artists from across the country.

The band is more than happy to be part of the competition. Pissulenker says, “Nexa Music offered us a concept that would help us as an indie band.” In a collective discussion, the band is also looking forward to how the project will attract a new audience to their music.

Karkare points out that opportunities like this don’t come around easily, saying, “It’s difficult to find platforms for bands that aren’t doing Bollywood or Hindi music in India. Getting selected has catapulted us to a place we would’ve taken years to get to.” Gawhale is also very keen on collaborating with the likes of composers A.R. Rahman and Clinton Cerejo, the guitarist says, “It would definitely be an honor and so much fun!”