MUMBAI: If you were part of a band which split up or fizzled out because your band mates saw no point in making more music without having a good enough platform to showcase it, you might want to gather around and read this. After the announcement of a new music channel that will showcase the indie music bank, the buzz is only getting louder as the day of the launch gig approaches. The line-up for the same, will take place on 20 February at Mehboob Studios, brings together some renowned names of the indie scene through a series of entertaining and severely anticipated collaborations.

Warren Mendonsa, lead guitarist with Blackstrat Blues and a one of the few Indian Fender Artistes, seemed to be the right person to speak to about Viacom 18's new music channel Pepsi MTV Indies. Having been around a long time, he feels Pepsi MTV Indies is a step in the right direction and that anything that has the primary intension of showcasing independent music in India is a good thing. He also hopes that more local musicians will be recognised.

Mendonsa spoke about how a sizeable population has no internet connection, leaving a space that a television channel like Indies can fill. However, contrary to common knowledge, the channel will be a paid one across all providers.

Artistes previously did not feel the need to spend money on making videos since there was no platform to showcase them. We wondered whether making videos for tracks will now be a necessity for artistes. "Like making records, the cost of making videos has become more affordable these days," stated Mendonsa. "Though I think the first priority is still making and recording music first," he further added.

Expressing his views on Indian audiences and their take on indie music, Mendonsa said, "I think audiences are inclined to like anything that moves them, be it Bollywood or EDM or rock. I think these days, Indian indie artists are more comfortable with being themselves and this reflects in the audience reaction."

A platform like Pepsi MTV Indies is sure to be a motivation for upcoming bands and musicians. Mendonsa signed off with an advice to musicians who are just starting out; "Seek out the artists that influenced your heroes and find out how they took what came before them and moulded this into their own unique style."