Bengaluru’s Record Room Launches Label, Set for Vinyl Launch of Indian Indie Compilation

When he was about 10 years old, Manipur-origin, Goa-based artist Lojal aka Martin Haokip discovered vinyl records in his mother’s old room. It was only a decade later that Lojal would hear music on an LP record player. “The idea of a vintage and worn-out technique or technology still captivating the ears and spiritual responses of a listener in today’s fast, compact, digital and modern world is captivating at the least,” he says.

Lojal is among 10 other Indian independent artists featuring on vinyl in 2023, courtesy of craft beer and vinyl bar Record Room in Bengaluru. The space is launching Record Room Volume 1 – the first collection of 10 songs pressed on an LP – on June 11th. It also marks the start of the label arm of Record Room.

Priced at ₹2,500 and on sale at the space and online with India Record Co., the limited edition vinyl will also include some of Indian indie recent hits and noteworthy songs from artists like RANJ x Clifr x Issamood’s “Attached,” Peter Cat Recording Co.’s “There Is No Love Here,” The F16s’ “WKND FRNDS,” Easy Wanderlings’ “Enjoy It While It Lasts” and Lojal’s “I’m Gone (You’re Home).” Artists featured also include singer-songwriters like Ditty, Shantanu Pandit, Rounak Maiti and Ramya Pothuri, plus hip-hop artists Irfana Hameed, Taslina Nazar and Kalla Sha’s song “Program.”

While Lojal has already been featured on vinyl – his collaboration with Mumbai bassist-producer NATE08 on “Feel It” was part of the latter’s album Furaha, which had an LP release – he says “I’m Gone (You’re Home)” was also specially mixed by co-producer Nisthula Murphy for Record Room Volume 1.

RANJ aka Ranjani Ramadoss, the Bengaluru-based artist says it’s an honor to be part of the collection of songs, representing the Indian indie and being featured among “great friends and inspirations.” She adds in her statement, “This is the first time our music is being pressed on vinyl, how exciting to actually have a physical record out there with our creation on it! Something you can touch, hold and feel – it’s so charming.” RANJ x Clifr (performing an acoustic set) and Irfana will be part of the launch event held at the venue on June 11th, with special performances.

In the works since 2021, the founders of Record Room say in a joint statement that they had help from former program director (and singer-songwriter) Andrew Sabu in putting the collection of songs together. The statement from Record Room adds, “First task was to identify artists and their songs for this genre-agnostic collection. Second was to approach these artists and to our luck, all were very excited to be on vinyl. For most, it was the first time their music would be pressed on wax!”

With a test press in Berlin and then in Poland facilitated by India Record Co.’s director Nehal Shah, the founders are now well on their way to representing not just vinyl culture in India, but also contributing to the vinyl output from the country in the midst of rising sales. The plan is to release three or four volumes per year, with Record Room Volume 2 currently being ideated.

Record Room Volume 1 tracklist

Side A

Easy Wanderlings – “Enjoy It While It Lasts”

Ditty – “Deathcab”

Peter Cat Recording Co. – “There Is No Love Here”

Shantanu Pandit – “Do U Know”

Rounak Maiti – “Speak Out Loud”

Side B

Lojal – “I’m Gone (You’re Home)”

Ramya Pothuri – “Sunlight”

Irfana x Taslina, Kalla Sha – “Program”

RANJ x Clifr x Issamood – “Attached”

The F16s – “WKND FRNDS”