On the 30th of January, Mahatma Gandhi's martyrdom day, 92.7 BIG FM and BBC collaborated on a unique initiative to transcend borders and mental divides between India and Pakistan to spread peace  through music. With the 30th of January being observed as the International Day of Peace, the two radio giants brought together two of the most popular independent music bands -- Euphoria from India, and Strings from Pakistan – in the Music Beyond Borders initiative that had both bands jamming from studios in Mumbai and Karachi respectively from 12 noon to 3 pm. Broadcast on BIG FM, the â€?long-distance' interactions between Euphoria and Strings saw the bands switch songs, discuss music heritage, speak about similarities in music and, of course,  jam to some of the most popular songs, taking listener requests and interacting with the radio jockey along the way.

Pavan R Chawla, Director Content & CSO Indiantelevision Group and Editor – RadioAndMusic.com,  spoke with Dr Palash Sen, Founder and leader of Euphoria, on, among other things, the joint tribute with Strings to the world's pre-eminent political and ideological leader, Mahatma Gandhi; Euphoria's current projects and next album which will have Pradeep Sarkar and Vikram Mishra directing videos; the fact that he is releasing a biography that has been written by a fan of the band, and other things. Excerpts.

What was your Music Beyond Borders experience like?

We had a great time interacting with all the members of Strings. We discussed a lot about our music and culture. We had a jamming session where each band performed the most popular songs of the other band. We even interacted live with the listeners and sang songs on demand. In fact it was a really amazing experience and I was thrilled to see the synergies between the music of the two countries. I'm really grateful to BIG FM and the BBC for giving us this opportunity. It was about a tribute to a great man, and both, emotionally and musically, it was a profound experience.

Do you believe initiatives like this will actually help both countries spread the message of peace?

Absolutely! Music is the common language of the world we live in. The language of music knows no boundaries. It binds all people in a oneness that transcends hatred, strife and divisions.

Moving on, what are your forthcoming projects? One hears the next album is almost ready.

Yes, I am working on my new album, which will be launched around June this year. There are 12 songs in it; we've already recorded 11, and I am working on the 12th song named Aman Ki Asha. I am also releasing a biography which is written by one of my fans, Ashish from Pune.

How do you plan to promote the album, and who is directing the videos?

At the moment, we are working on the album title and the music videos. We plan to launch the album online and extensively promote it through YouTube, Facebook, Orkut etcetera. We will have Pradeep Sarkar and Vikram Mishra directing the first two music videos.

Why did it take you close to three years to write the songs for this album?

It took me two and a half years. I had taken a break to rejuvenate myself and harness my creativity. I don't like to rush into things. I wanted to take some time off and take it easy. I don't believe in launching albums one after another, and writing 50 songs a year. I want to give my fans quality over quantity of music.

Tell us about the two new members you have introduced in your band.

One is Vinayak Gupta, who is on keyboards, and the other one is Amorish,  a guitarist. We have been together for almost eight months now. It's good to have young talent in the band as they bring new energy, new ideas and new enthusiasm in the team.

Why do you think non-film albums are vanishing?

Music has come a long way in India. In the golden era, Indian classical was at its peak. The 70s saw a burst of melodious movie songs representing the youth of that era. The early 80s saw the emergence of pop culture in India, followed by formation of rock bands in late 80s and early 90s. In the early 90s, several non-filmy / pop music albums were launched, and during that time, pop music ruled the roost. Thereafter, an era of sufi / soulful music came into existence. Today, Bollywood music has again taken centerstage. But I feel the culture of pop / rock music is coming back and today's generation likes music which is peppy as well as expressive.

Are you doing any more films?

Yes, I am doing a film named Mumbai Cutting. I am playing the lead role in the film. I cannot share more details on this as it's too early to talk about it.