Premiere: Chennai Indie Band BIGSAM Seek Refuge in ‘Sad Francisco’

It was March 20th, 2020 when Chennai indie band BIGSAM released their debut album Stay and as it happened, India was set to observe a curfew to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Thankfully, frontman Samuel Vijayan has a sense of humor about it. “Stay premiered the exact day where a nationwide lockdown was called out and it gave us more context to give our listeners. ‘STAY home, STAY safe’ and all that,” he says with a laugh. 

Nevertheless, the album picked up well on streaming services and made BIGSAM yet another formidable Chennai indie pop-rock band to watch out for. They dial down to melancholy on their misty-eyed new song “Sad Francisco,” which released today. Vijayan says the track is inspired by evergreen yet doomed memories of a person that can come from one’s own mind or a place. He adds, “It’s one of those places you pass by and you’re spiralling down with thoughts about how good things used to be and that place is Sad Fran.” 

The glimmering song is part of BIGSAM’s plans for more singles and an EP in 2021. “Sad Francisco” also arrives after a couple of on-ground gigs in Chennai and Puducherry, which showcased duo and trio iterations of the band. Vijayan adds, “We are still getting a few enquiries to play in other cities and it feels good. It’s been a real joy to be back on stage no matter how small or big. Getting that rush seeing people waiting on you to serenade them, damn! We missed that.” 

Stream “Sad Francisco” below and on more platforms here.