Swarathma Plead for More Shut-Eye on New Single ‘Dus Minute Aur’

Ever the advocates for empathy and easy, simple living, Bengaluru folk-rock band Swarathma bring their trademark jest and pomp to “Dus Minute Aur,” a new song that addresses the importance of sleep.

Powered by guitarist-producer Varun Murali’s rock riffs and violinist Sanjeev Nayak’s dramatic surges, the song is led by Vasu Dixit’s power-packed vocals which go from rage at the work-centric lifestyle which robs us of healthy sleep to imploring others to stay in bed just a little longer. Bassist Jishnu Dasgupta says in a statement, “We are part of a generation for whom night-outs and red-eye flights are worn like badges of honor. When we are on tour, it often means night after night of late running shows and early morning flights, and we never manage to prioritize sleep.”

Swarathma are at their uninhibited and funniest best with Dixit’s vocal acrobatics and lyrics by Dasgupta and Syed Aslam Noor. A statement from the band adds, “It is a groggy plea for just that little snooze before the start of the merciless morning rush. It is as if the lack of a good night’s sleep will be wished away, if only we could sleep in another ten minutes, a concept that almost everyone finds relatable.”

While an animated video is expected to adapt the artwork created by visual artist Ekta Bharti, Swarathma have also tied up with Fantico for non-fungible tokens (NFTs) that will mark their foray into the world of blockchain and crypto. Fantico is described as “India’s first curated celebrity NFT and fan engagement platform,” featuring NFTs by musicians such as singer-songwriter Pragnya Wakhlu, art-rocker Kapil Seshasayee and even singing legend Lata Mangeshkar. Swarathma adds about their upcoming NFTs, “The collection features immersive experiences with the band, rare unreleased early versions of songs, artworks from albums past that allow fans to interact with the band like never before.”

Alongside strides in the digital world, Swarathma also returned to the stage last week to kick off their Dus Minute Aur tour, performing in New Delhi, with drummer Vinay Ramakrishnan. Another show is lined up on November 27th in Bengaluru. “We’ve really been waiting for the chance to just get on stage and play, this feels like a dream come true for me,” Dixit says.

Even as more tour dates are expected, the band also continued their socially conscious efforts with music, teaming up with Tata Steel Foundation for a tribal music project featuring 40 musicians from 14 Indian tribes. An album and music video series are in the works. Swarathma worked with artists from the Munda, Ho, Oraon, Bhumij, Karbi, Bodo, Koya, Kotha tribes and more. “It’s a humbling, grounding experience. They are part of the Rhythms of the Earth collective,” the band said in an Instagram post.

Listen to “Dus Minute Aur” below. Stream on more platforms here.