The Vinyl Records Launch Debut EP

The Vinyl Records. Photo: Amaan Ali Khan

Feminism and life in the capital are two themes that central to the music of the all girl band The Vinyl Records. Although their drummer Mithy Tatak says that their debut four-track EP was written on a whim and therefore earned its title Whims. Adds Tatak, “There was no particular idea behind it. We just went on composing and picked songs.”

Formed in 2011 as a school band in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, by Tatak, guitarist Banu Jini and bassist Minam Tekseng, The Vinyl Records recruited vocalist Cheyyrian Bark after meeting her in Delhi last year, where they moved to study. The band explores their love-hate relationship with Delhi on “The Vibe,” which also features on the upcoming indie compilation album Stupid Ditties Lucky 7. The hate, of course, is for “perverts” the band has encountered and the love is for the big city life. Says Tatak, “Our ideas wouldn’t have evolved back home, nothing would push us to work hard.”

Whims is a moody EP, as Tatak admits [even just for four songs], because there’s a track like “Escape Trick,” a groovy, psychedelic rock-influenced number which is about getting away from “a very digital and not organic” way of life in the city. One of their live staples, “Apocryphal” includes lyrics that refer to both feminism and anarchy.

While they might have their ups and downs with Delhi, the Vinyl Records still love Mumbai, where they last played on tour with alt punk band BLEK at Hard Rock Café last month. Says Tatak, “We played in Mumbai first in 2011, it was at this really underground place,” referring to the erstwhile B69. For their Mumbai EP launch gig at the second edition of monthly gig series Vans Fresh Off the Wall, the band will play Whims in its entirety, as well as previously-released singles “Ready Set Go” and “Coco Bomb” and a cover of Delhi dub/ska act The Ska Vengers’s “Rough and Mean,” recorded for online video series No Cover Charge.

The Vinyl Records play at Vans Fresh Off the Wall in Mumbai on October 3rd, 2013. Entry: Free. Venue TBA. Sky Rabbit and Two’s A Crowd will also perform.