Underneath the Bollywood haze that has become the city’s most popular form of entertainment, there is an alternative cultural flux that is continuing to rear its head.
The non-Bollywood sector of Mumbai’s music scene is growing as musicians and fans passionately support local indie music.
Mumbai is heavily centred on local music, a by-product of the city’s high entertainment taxes which has ensured that international acts perform at Delhi and Bangalore instead.
But it’s a positive by-product at that. It leaves the spotlight to solely shine on local talent, making it much easier for them to find their own audience.
And as Mumbai is home to the country’s greatest night-life, the city has the right surrounds for independent bands to flourish.
With over 20 million inhabitants, India’s largest metropolitan area has increasingly become more cosmopolitan in the last few years, which has the potential to boost the city’s night-life.
While venues shut in Mumbai at 1.30am due to curfews enforced by the government, that’s far more generous than Bangalore, where the city’s curfew is between 11-11.30pm.
The independent music culture is appreciated by some, but for most of the city’s residents their music of choice comes from a genre called filmi.
Filmi, is songs from popular Indian films, which makes up 72% of music sales in India.
While other popular styles of music include Indi-pop and Fusion – which is a mix between traditional Indian music with other styles from around the world – the popularity of rock music is far smaller in comparison.
But India’s music scene in particular is experiencing a climate of change.
This is due to the increase in popularity of music festivals, as well as an increase in dance nights. Young Indians are being exposed to music that is outside the confines of the Bollywood bubble.
Western artists and musicians who haven’t made it in their home countries are increasingly looking towards India as a new and relatively untouched market, where Western styles of music are starting to grow in popularity.
We can only hope such an influx of international talent and influences from Western cultures doesn’t stem the growth of Mumbai’s music scene, but rather helps it progress even further.
But such change is unlikely to dethrone the popularity of Bollywood anytime soon which gives travellers the opportunity to see a music scene which is still very much trying to figure out what exactly it is.
While that transformation takes place, all you can do is appreciate the music being made and performed in Mumbai without any commercial pressures or pretension.
Mumbai Festivals/Conferences
Independence Rock
Not only did this festival make MTV Iggy’s list of top ten music festivals to check out in 2010, but it has also been described as “the Woodstock of India”. Held since 1986, Independence Rock hosts the biggest rock and metal acts from the country. It runs over two days during August to coincide with India’s Independence day. The festival is the oldest and biggest of its kind in the country. While also acting as a platform for up and coming acts, the biggest bands from the country perform at this festival.
http://www.independencerock.in/
Mahindra Blues Festival
With the third annual event to be held on February 16th and 17th this year, the festival has quickly become one of Asia’s most renowned blues events. Over two nights the festival sees performances by local and international favourites, with past performers including Grammy award winning acts such as Buddy Guy and Taj Mahal Trio along with local favourites Soulmate. The festival is held at the legendary Mehboob Studios, which you can read about below.
http://www.mahindrablues.com/
Sunburn
While this festival first made its name just down the road in the beach-side town of Goa in 2007, Mumbai was given its own version of the event in 2012. Sunburn is Asia’s biggest dance music festival and was touted by CNN as the ninth best festival in the world in 2009. The Mumbai event is held over three days in April and sees over thirty of the world’s biggest electronic acts over two stages.
http://sunburn.in/
Mumbai Record Stores
Nova Audio, 3 Fairlands, 314 LJ Road
While Mumbai isn’t particularly renowned for its record stores, this establishment is unlike any other in the world. Dedicated to vinyl, yet not stacked with hundreds of thousands of LPs, Nova Audio is about providing an experience. With a modern interior, this record store is a comfortable space for buyers to listen to records of their choice before purchasing. The store has an emphasis on English music, although there is high demand from consumers for local music. Nova Audio also sells top of the range turntables, amplifiers and speakers.
Chor Bazaar, Byculla Mumbai, Maharashtra
No this isn’t an actual record store, but due to India’s lack of vinyl selling establishments, the country’s largest flea market is the place to buy LPs. While there are plenty of online sites selling local Indian music, including the fabled Bollywood releases, this is one of the few places in Mumbai where buyers can actually physically see the condition of the vinyl. A great antique market in its own right, Chor Bazaar (which translates to thief market in English) provides a great opportunity for tourists to haggle prices down till they see fit.
Microgroove, 183, Waterfield Rd, Bandra West
Microgroove India is a vinyl record club founded by independent music website NH7 and Bandra bar Zenzi. New to the vinyl game, the idea behind Micrgroove is that punters need to literally ‘join the club’ in order to be allowed into these exclusive listening sessions. While the group is still relatively new, over 70 members currently exist.
Mumbai Bars
Blue Frog, Mathuradas Mill Compound, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel
At the forefront of Mumbai’s live music scene, this venue is a production studio, restaurant and gig space all in one. Blue Frog has hosted the country’s biggest indie and electronica acts six nights a week since it opened in late 2007. This 400 capacity venue also hosts international acts and is a shining light in the city’s music scene, as far as promoting non-Bollywood related music is concerned. Most contemporary genres are represented, with a metal night once a month, while aspiring musicians are also given an hour long set on weeknights.
http://www.bluefrog.co.in/
Cool Chef Café, Thadani House, 329/A Worli Village
Found in the middle of the Worli Fishing Village, this venue is difficult to find because it doesn’t quite look like it belongs where it is. But this only adds to it’s underground mystique as Cool Chef Café is the place to catch up and coming acts from Mumbai’s alternative music scene. You’ll experience anything from dubstep DJ’s to punk bands here. Previously an ancestral bungalow, Cool Chef Café is split into rooms for a restaurtant, bar and club. Characterised by it’s zebra print sofas, this venue is famous for it’s house party atmosphere.
http://www.coolchef.in/
Mehboob Studios, 100 Hill Road, Bandra West
Traditionally for movie making purposes only, this iconic space was founded in 1954 by Oscar-nominated Hindi film producer and director Mehboob Khan. While Bollywood films continue to be shot in these studios, a large number of music events take advantage of this venue. Other than the Mahindra Blues Festival, the studios are also home to Live From the Console. These gigs use the Mehboob Studios to provide locals with the best music from up and coming acts along with cheap drinks.
http://www.facebook.com/livefromtheconsole
Mumbai Acts You Should Check Out
Sky Rabbit – Soundcloud
This four-piece indie band, that mix subtle electronics with organic instrumentation, released their self titled debut album in 2012. Over six years old, the band have garnered a strong following not only in Mumbai’s alternative music scene, but across the country. A new EP is in the works with a release date to be set for later this year.
The Lightyears Explode – Soundcloud
This young three piece punk band came to prominence when they won Channel [V]’s Launchpad competition in 2011. Although they first formed in 2009, the band’s debut EP was made available for free download in early 2011, while an LP release is planned for 2013.
