Pune Punk Rockers Doctor Zebra Release Debut EP

Doctor Zebra. Photo: Courtesy of the band.

The last time we spoke to Pune punk rock band Doctor Zebra’s frontman Jay K about why he was singing about surfing and skateboarding, he said it was catching on in India. Says Jay, “I’ve got a few clips of skateboarding up on YouTube and all kinds of [Indian] kids are commenting on it and stuff.” Jay’s band Doctor Zebra push their hopes to promote surf punk with their debut EP Surfer Girl.

Formed in November last year, Doctor Zebra was formed after Jay saw his cousin’s cover band perform and met drummer Anant Joshi, who heard the band’s track “Breed It.” Joshi also roped in his roommate, Amit Bhatia, who was a guitarist, to fill in on bass. After the Mumbai gig, the band finished recording their EP at Pune’s Grey Spark Studio. While the EP leans towards punk rock, there are a few mellow pop rock tracks such as “So Sweet You Are.” Says Jay, “The mellow pop songs are always something I enjoy playing live.” The frontman, who has been writing music for the last 15 years, says he’s picked eight songs that he likes best for their EP.

For a band that started out less than a year ago, Doctor Zebra have an EP and a music video in the works. Their first ever music video for the song “Surfer Girl,” was produced on a zero budget and shot in under a week, featuring footage of [you guessed it] surfer girls. The song tells a story about falling in love. Says Jay, “I actually shot it over the weekend and the cameramen I’d hired said it couldn’t be done, but I’m a very organized guy. I’ve moved mountains.” It’s no surprise, then, to know that Jay went on to contact a surfer based in Hawaii for footage of people riding the waves for “Surfer Girl.” Following their EP launch, the band is plotting a launch gig in Pune and Mumbai. Says Jay, who moved to India from the U.S. four years ago, “I hope more venues open up around here. I mean, I don’t want to end up playing in a mall.”

Listen to “Breed It” by Doctor Zebra. Buy Surfer Girl on OKListen

Watch the video for “Surfer Girl”