MUMBAI: Blues and Rock band The Shakey Rays plans to release their sophomore album around Christmas or early next year. But, before that, the band will release an extended play (EP) with seven songs from their new album in October. The band will be releasing new singles of the EP next month.

The Shakey Rays are a four piece independent rock 'n' roll band from Chennai who have recently moved to New Delhi. Songwriting duo Dhruva Gautham and Vikram Kannan got together with drummer Niranjan Swaminathan to write songs rooted in rhythm 'n' blues, exploring various arrangements and musical patterns - with an approach that is fresh and contemporary. They released a critically acclaimed debut album, 'Tunes From The Big Belly' in 2011.

Kannan spoke to Radioandmusic.com about the conception of their new EP and new album. He emphasised that the new album would be "really different" from their earlier work. "We have been experimenting with different sounds, working in a different city, in a different studio and with a different song structure. Unlike our previous work, this time, we are ideating on our music in the studio. Our new work is slightly groove-based with more drums," said Kannan. "With this album, we aim to showcase the band's individuality. We have found a sound unique to us which resonates our journey moving cities," he continued.

For the album, the band has roped in Paul Schneider, a rock musician, from Kansas City. Schneider is the sound engineer on the new album.

Although The Shakey Rays was announced as part of the line-up for this year's Ziro Festival of Music, the band revealed that it will not be performing due to a clash of dates. However, the band will perform at The New Wave Festival of Asian Indie & Punk Music in Goa in November and the Magnetic Fields 2014 in Rajasthan in December.