‘Indian’ givers

‘Run the Red light’ is one of the catchiest singles heard since Kasabian’s ‘Shoot the runner’. A debut LP Guillotine this year has been nominated for the prestigious Triple J Award for 2007’s Album of the Year. The band behind these feats might be young to the music scene, relatively speaking, but for the four Melbourne boys who make up British India they show no signs of slowing down on producing a sound which is delivering them their success. They could well do this for some years yet.

Feeling they wanted to avoid the status quo of hanging in car parks, skating and smoking bongs and knowing they also wanted to attract girls the band formed out of high school - Nic Wilson, Matt O’Gorman, Will Drummond and front man Declan Melia.

A mutual love of the Beatles and Pink Floyd (rites of passage influences of boys this age) coupled with motivation to change the minds of the girls who no longer found them cool they applied some modern day sensibilities borne from the likes of Radiohead and Blur they conjured their own version of grungy, garage pop. A sound their age -group hadn’t heard of in a while but which judging by their popularity, the kids obviously easily relate to.

It’s been a fairly smooth ride since, with their debut album being produced by renowned Harry Vanda and Glenn Goldsmith’s Flashpoint studios in short timeframes. Without any formal theme running through their song assemblage the lads laid down a fast paced album in just two weeks, which housed diverse genres.

“There is no conscious theme to our song writing, in fact I’m pretty anti forcing or creating inspiration, it inhibits song writing,” said Declan Melia.

Regardless of this declaration, Declan and the band have put together an album that marries underlying Brit pop, as reflected in the track ‘Tie up my hands’ to the rollicking garage pop of ‘Russian Roulette’ and of course ‘Run the Red light’ but it’s being recognised alongside the likes of Silverchair and Josh Pyke (the seasoned musicians) which has brought Melia believes, a lot more respect their way.

“It’s really good and apart from even the relief and rapture of such critical acclaim let alone the would be judges of Australian music everywhere, nomination for the J Award holds such enormous clout, which is a fabulous thing, “ he stated.

Melia speaks from somewhere near the established Evelyn Hotel of Fitzroy, lamenting the possibility that the evening, in fact their weekend shows, might be a little bit of a fizzer.

“We were going to do east Melbourne last time we were in Melbourne, I think the Evelyn relaunching bad ass bands really did not come to pass – so now we’re alone on the iceberg, and we’re doing three shows in two days - not sure how’s it going to go,” he laughs.

Given the buzz surrounding the band in recent months and a recent capital cities tour behind them, one could be mistaken for asking why such nervousness?

But behind this lead singer’s cocky self-assuredness lies an anxious performer who can’t relax before, or on stage. In fact it’s not until their last song of the set, ‘Black and White Radio’ (ironically the single that drove their initial success) is played Melia can even begin to relax.

With such a nervous stage presence I wonder if he follows any specific pre-performance routine. And outside of Nic’s (guitarist for the band) apparent compulsion to force the lads to kiss a chosen ornament he places on the guitar amp Melia does have his own sometime ritual which gets him through.

“I will have a black Sambucca shot before a gig, as someone once told me you sing better, as it coats your vocal chords,” he said.

“I don’t know whether that has a placebo effect on me, but with so many people there to see us without it I don’t know it’s kind of weird I sort of freeze up.

Perhaps they’ll have a whole bottle of the aniseed liqueur standing by for their upcoming performances, the sold out New Year’s Eve spectacular Pyramid Rock Festival at Phillip Island will be the icing on the cake to a stellar year for the band but before that, the nation’s largest Oz act only festival - Homebake - will see them take a top billing.

Whilst he’s looking forward to catching the likes of fellow young players – Operator Please, The Divinyls - hold pride of place in his wish list when he’s not performing. A sneak peak will be sought of his good mates Angus and Julia Stone too.

“That will be great summer festivals rock and I’ve been to, Homebake before but it will be fabulous there with the bands this time around,” he said.

Catch British India at Sydney’s Homebake on December 8 or at the Pyramid Rock Festival Phillip Island for New Year’s Eve.

Their album Guillotine is out on Flashpoint /Shock Records.

Posted: October 11th, 2008 under INTERVIEWS.
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