Nagaland’s Indie Rock Act Papersky Kick Off North East Shows

Earlier this year, Dimapur indie/grunge trio returned to a familiar, hallowed stage at the Hornbill Music Festival in Kohima, Nagaland. Formed in late 2013, the quartet had first competed at the Hornbill Rock Contest in 2014 and although they didn’t clinch a top three position, they were feted as the Most Promising Band. “Hornbill exposed us to people who would’ve never heard our music otherwise,” the band says over a collective email interview.

Of course there were other competitions along the way which helped make Papersky’s name prominent in Nagaland and North East India. They won the first edition of Battle of the Bands Nagaland in 2014 and have kept to their winning ways even in 2019, winning a band competition called Project Play, hosted at the Drift Music Festival in Guwahati in March.

With a few gigs through late 2018 and some part of 2019 to shake off any rustiness, Papersky have now launched their “comeback tour.” Kicking off on September 7th in Kohima, the band – vocalist-guitarist Jongma H Ungh, bassist Augustine Eliem, recently recruited guitarist Nourhevilie Khate and Yanger Jamir on drums – will head on to Shillong (September 13th), Guwahati (September 14th) and wrap up at the Dimapur Music Fest on September 20th.

With two songs out so far – “Lullaby” and “Insanity” – the band promises new material as well as a few covers (including U.K. singer-songwriter James Bay’s “Pink Lemonade”). “We just recently finished some new songs which we’re very excited about. We’re yet to name the latest one which we will debut on this tour, but we’re also excited to play two of our recent songs called ‘Where Are You Now’ and ‘Say’.”

It’s all part of their forthcoming album, due next year. “I think it’s almost time for us to re-define ourselves,” bassist Eliem says. In the works at Jongma’s studio called JHC Records, the band says you’ll likely hear hints of djent, math-rock, R&B and even Western Classical. “At the end of the day, our songs are defined by all of these influences combined with hard hitting drums and heavy distorted guitar riffs,” the band says.

Papersky Comeback Tour

September 7th – Symphony Café, Kohima

September 13th – The Evening Club, Shillong

September 14th – Café Hendrix, Guwahati

September 20th – Dimapur Music Fest, Dimapur