MUMBAI: India's first writer led band 'Nine' will make its debut at the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival in Mumbai on 12 February 2010. The band is led by veteran journalist and Bollywood lyricist Neelesh Misra and features singer Shilpa Rao as the band's lead vocalist
After giving his words to hits like Jaadu Hai Nasha Hai (Jism), Kya Mujhe Pyaar Hai (Woh Lamhe), Lamha Lamha (Gangster) and many others, the multi - faceted Misra now explores the space of writing songs for his band Nine, the sound of which he describes as contemporary, conversational, and something that is "rooted in the soul of India."
For this new band, Misra will also be giving backing vocals and narrations besides writing lyrics. Speaking about how the band happened, Misra says, "I was initially approached to work on a non-film album, but since the market of non-film are not doing really well, the idea of setting up a band came about," he says.
However, Misra admits it's a completely new world for him, "I always thought bands are cool and funky, but that's really not how I am," he told radioandmusic.com.
Nine is made up of an interesting team of creative individuals who have come together from different walks of life. Besides Neelesh Mishra and Shilpa Roa, it includes Karan Dalal, who has given up his successful IT career to devote time to music and social work, composer Amartya Rahut who has created signature tunes for brands like Colors (channel), Godrej, MTV, Mcdonalds, Max New York, Levi's and Yamini Tripathi Manager of Elite -a Paris headquartered model management agency.
From being a journalist, lyric writer, photographer to starting a new band, Neelesh Misra himself is a multi - faceted personality who also holds the position of the Deputy Executive Editor at the Hindustan Times.
Ask him how he now plans to devote time to his new interest, and he reveals about his sabbatical plan. "I would be taking a six month sabbatical from work and focusing on several things - working on the band, my new book, and also setting up a rural call centre at my ancestral village."
For those who don't know, Misra has also authored books like '173 Hours In Captivity: The Hijacking of IC-814', 'End of The Line: The Story of the Killing of the Royals in Nepal'and the novel 'Once Upon a Timezone'.
Misra adds, "I was not able to do justice to my other creative interests and that's one of the reasons I'll be going on a sabbatical - I am taking it very seriously," he says.
Interestingly, Nine is already in the process of producing their first album titled 'Nine Lost Memories' which is expected to release by year-end. Meanwhile, the band plans to perform and tour across the country and overseas starting with Kala Ghoda festival in Mumbai in February this year
Till now, lyricists have always had to restrict their imagination to the tune set by the bollywood music composers, for Nine, Misra will enjoy the creative freedom of writing words first and then setting it to music. Is he happy? "Of course… this is my revenge against bollywood," he jokes.
Some of his future bollywood project are It's My Life, Tera Kya Hoga Johnny and Saif - Kareena starrer Agent Vinod.
A BRIEF INFO ON MEMBERS OF NINE, the band.
SHILPA RAO, Lead Vocalist
Shilpa is the voice of the new Bollywood. Her songs include huge hits like "Khuda Jaane" (Bachna Ae Haseenon), "Mudi Mudi" (Paa), "Woh Ajnabi" (The Train), "Saiyyan Re" (Salaam-e-Ishq), "Tosey Naina Lage" (Anwar), "Ek Lau" (Aamir), "Dhol Yaara Dhol" (Dev. D). She has worked with composers like Shankar-Ehsan-Loy, Vishal-Shekhar, Illiaraja and Pritam.
AMARTYA RAHUT, Composer
Amartya has worked extensively for Indian advertising. His campaigns include Cadbury's Perk, Colors channel signature tune, Godrej brand signature tune, MTV signature tune, Mcdonalds, Max New York, Levi's etc
KARAN DALAL, Executive Director
Karan has completed his BE in Computer Science and Mathematics from the US and his LLB from Mumbai University. Over the last 7 years, he has worked as an intellectual property attorney, grown and sold an intellectual property consulting business and most recently been the Director of a software products company, having growing the USD 2 million business to an USD 80 million dollar company in 3 years. He now helps run a school in rural Uttar Pradesh.
YAMINI TRIPATHI, Manager
Yamini is a leading model manager, managing some of India's top models for Elite, a premier Paris headquartered model management agency.