The Hot List 2016: Parvaaz (Prog Rock Band)
Turns out psychedelia and Urdu make a perfect match
“The audience always want us to play more,” says vocalist/guitarist Khalid Ahamed from Parvaaz. Photo: Prashin Jagger
Bengaluru has a way of being the breeding ground for experimental music. Parvaaz’s love for rock giants such as Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin has gained them an audience far beyond their headquarters, reaching Gulmarg, Lucknow, Chandigarh and all the major metros.
    “The audience always want us to play more.”
Armed with one EP (Behosh, 2012) and one full-length album (Baran, 2014), the prog rock band know exactly what their fans want””a gig that rewards their patience with indulgent but practiced psychedelic jams, and profound Urdu poetry for lyrics. That’s probably what led them to create a live DVD called Transitions last year, taking on a massive two-hour set. Says vocalist/guitarist Khalid Ahamed, “The audience always want us to play more.” A few more songs away from their next full-length album, Parvaaz, which also comprises Mir Kashif Iqbal (guitars/vocals), Fidel D’souza (bass) and Sachin Banandur (drums/percussion), are regulars at every other big-stage festival in the country, something they weren’t accustomed to even until a couple of years ago. We wouldn’t have it any other way though.
Watch the music video to “Beparwah” off Parvaaz’s debut album Baran below:
