The Indie Initiation

“...the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes 'Awww!' What did they call such young people in Goethe's Germany?”  

- On The Road, Jack Kerouac

These are the people who inspire me. These are the people I want to be counted in someday. These are the people who were there at the NH7 Weekender, Pune. At least in that environment, in those colours, the bright lights, the drunken haze and the magical sound of music, everybody looked like energy was literally flowing out of them and feeding the so happy and satisfied. If only we could live our life making music, making each other happy and counting the smaller joys of life, everything would make so much sense. But till that happens we'll just have to hold on to these beautiful memories and wait for the next NH7 Weekender. Wish I could share the music... Ankur Tewari & the Ghalat family, King Creosote, Swarathma, Papon and the East India Company, Reggae Rajahs, Bhayanak Maut, Mother Jane, Imoge Heap... my head is still ringing with the beautiful music. So many artists that I'd never heard before. It feels like a giant, professionally run crash course into Indie music. A class I'd like to enroll to more often.

 

Much love,

Rules are for City Kids...

...I'm too old-school to follow any,' he said to me. I was not surprised.

He didn't seem like the kind of guy who followed rules. He wasn't the rebellious type either, who would make his own. He was just a good-hearted jolly 'ol fellow. Share a thought or a tune, sit a while and he'll amaze you with his life's stories. Sounds like one of those Jack Kerouac characters. He was the ideal travel partener. Probably the last of the beat generation. Though I didn't know that then. It was a happy accident. He was 50, I was 24 and we had cultures, experiences, religions and what-nots-of the world dividing us. But that only promised a long, entertaining and very involving conversation. With a tune in his heart and a piano on his tie, his enthusiasm was infectious. Meet the Saxophonist/Harmonica player/Guitarist of the Big Bang Blues Band - Mark Mowry

Based out of Delhi, do not miss their gig if you come across one.

Much love,

Where I lay my head is home

Deep within a valley, far away, rests a lake. Beautiful as any sight can be. With trees so green that it's hard to believe. With travellers coming together and musicians too. Their sound like pied piper pulling us in. Deeper we go, more mesmerising the sounds become. The deafening silence broken by melodic notes. If this isn't paradise, what is? Maybe the wanderlust is taking over me. Or, the rhythm is still lingering inside my head. I can't forget the three absolutely surreal days I spent at the little hamlet town called Naukuchiatal. My camera went into overdrive as did my trance-induced body. With every music genre being represented by some of country's best talents, it comes as no surprise that the music festival was named 'Escape.' An escape it certainly was!

Much Love,

Colors of Colaba

This might seem random. Well, it is. I'm not sure if colors should inspire one anymore after the overload of them all throughout Spring Summer collections. I might be so sick of brights that I might just give them up once again. So why am I writing a post on colors, again? Why don't you think up a very smart reason and enjoy the pictures below. It has taken me over a month to post again. Why? Answer is Bombay. And lack of internet connection. And will. And that other smart thought in your head. But, I missed you.



Lamps



Pencil color Artwork at The Attic

Earrings at The Attic

Building at Causeway

Furniture at Attic

Fruits

Paan/Beetel leaf sweet

Plastic strap watches

Signage for the namesake export surplus shop

Shopping totes

 Much Love,

Glam Girls of Angola

I miss glamour. The old school way.. the big bouffant hair, the overworked eyelids, full lips, big jewels... yes, so Cannes and MET gala bring in few stunning looks off and on, I'm talking about the real life glamour. You know when women used to perm their hair at home.... actually, when curls were really 'in'. (have I told you how bored I am with the women who want to straighten their hair?)

Think of all the sexy secretaries of the 80's bollywood films. The curly hair bombshells who color matched their outfits. The time when earrings were never to be worn without a necklace or the shoes were always matched with the bag. the good old times when less was NOT more. More was still merrier. Curves were hot, sex was suggestive and disco was a cool word.

These ladies seemed right out of a time wrap and stood out amongst the  t-shirt/jeans clad women of Colaba. How glamorous are they even in their ridiculous kaftan dresses and the gorgeous golden jewellery. But what honestly blew me away was their meticulously done hairstyle. I wish we could put so much time into doing our hair. I would kill to wear BIG hair everyday!

While some of you may find this post disconnected with the present aesthetics, I can assure you gold accessories and big hair would be back in vogue with a vengeance.

Much Love,