Bengaluru Prog Rock Band Param Release Diverse Debut Album ‘Upasana’

There’s a lot to be said about what constitutes progressive rock – while it can be music inspired by the subgenre’s greats like Dream Theater, Pink Floyd, King Crimson and more, genre fluidity and boundary-pushing that relies less on formulas (and odd-time signatures just for the sake of it) could be among the definitive elements.

Mysuru-origin, Bengaluru-based band Param tick exactly those boxes on their debut album Upasana. Spanning seven songs across 39 minutes, the band traverses rock, blues, funk, Carnatic and Hindustani classical, psychedelic and more.

In the works for three years, Upsana released in September. Hegde says that people from “diverse demographics” have loved the album. He adds, “The album seems to be very accessible and relatable for musicians and non-musicians alike. People feel that the album has a sense of uniqueness and artistic depth that makes the listening experience captivating. The album transcends conventional boundaries, both linguistically and in terms of genre, inviting listeners on an extraordinary sonic journey.”

Param’s approach to songwriting as a prog band, according to Hegde, was very natural in that nothing was force-fitted. “Yet, there was always a push for expressive composition where no stone is left unturned,” he adds. That’s heard best on songs like the album’s opening song “Moonrain” and the near-seven-minute sojourn that’s “Away,” packed with a mind-bending guitar solo.

Guitarist Shreyas Urs fires up melodies and riffs on “The Groove Khyal” for Hegde’s bellowing but sublime vocals, helped by the rhythm section comprising drummer Mayur G.S. and bassist Sanketh Kumar. Hegde adds, “Each musician gave enough space to each other. We always wanted the songs to reach a point, where nothing is excess or scarce. There is a sense of fullness and yet a lot of breathing space in the music. There’s a bit of konnakol and tabla work going up against rock arrangements on “Bhageshree.” Perhaps intentionally left a bit raw in its production, the title track is doused in Hegde’s Kannada vocals.

The vocalist describes the title track as a “sonic portrait of the journey, process and struggle of an artist.” He adds, “It celebrates the beauty of their struggles, the depth of their passion, and the transformative power of their art. The song is a reflection of the band’s own journey of creating art and pursuing dreams despite all odds.”

Param have so far played a few shows in Bengaluru to mark the launch of Upasana and are planning more shows. Hegde says, “We did have an album launch tour spanning Bengaluru, Chennai and Kochi. We will be playing in Mysore on Dec 10th at Cornucopia Fest.”

Listen to ‘Upasana’ below.