Celebrating 27 years in the music industry this year, Palash Sen took to Instagram on Monday to voice his frustration over the film industry’s treatment of independent artistes and the growing dominance of “money” in the entire ecosystem. The lead singer of Euphoria shares, “Despite being loved, we do not have a single Bollywood song to my credit. Music labels have been unfair to us, but we have never compromised on dignity and honesty.”

The 60-year-old rues that success in the industry depends more on “connections” than on talent: “I don’t belong to any group, have never done ji huzoori, and never asked for favours. People have loved us for decades, so why can’t the industry people see this? Why are connections so important when it should be about music?”

Palash adds that it is unfortunate that independent music is so dependent on films and labels for visibility. “Films are using music as a promotional tool. Big labels want half of your revenue share. It’s tough for a band to survive. For young singers today, it’s difficult to work in films. For us, the audience made us survive and showered us with love, but what about youngsters?” he concludes.

Every winter, Delhi’s live music scene peaks with festivals and gigs, but this year, it is quieter and punctuated with coughing fits. With the AQI often over 400, the season meant for performances has become a battle to breathe.

Parikrama’s Subir Malik says this Delhi winter is brutal for musicians. “Singers’ throats are their livelihood—if their throats suffer, the whole band can’t play,” he says.

Nitin Malik of Katalyst Events says smog is causing cancellations, and artistes are anxious. He recalls a Gurugram show where a top artistes landed with a throat problem. “Being one of the greatest artistes and a fine human being, he pulled off the show,” Nitin says. “But the next day he faced the same problem and we had to take him to a doctor and get him antibiotics,” he adds.

Mohit Bijlani, founder of Team Innovation, says air quality is now part of their risk protocol. “We now deploy temporary air-purification units, mist screens, dust-control setups, and eco-friendly generators to create safer micro-environments at venues,” he adds.

Euphoria’s Palash Sen treats precaution as discipline. “I avoid cold, spicy food, sour pickles — and lean heavily on yoga and breathing exercises. We are living in times where if you can save yourself, then save yourself,” he says.

Kirtan artiste Radhika Das, who performed in Delhi over the weekend, says “I warmed up by limiting outdoors on high pollution days and rested my voice consciously”.

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Our guitar player, Abhishek Mittal, he just couldn’t take it. Yesterday he left for the hills. He’s saying, I can’t stay in Delhi any longer. I think everybody is going through a horrific time to keep up with the levels of pollution hurting their throat.

- SUBIR MALIK, KEYBOARDIST PARIKRAMA

I do sometimes feel the effects on my throat or breathing after long sessions, especially if there has been heavy outdoor exposure. I warm up, avoid long outdoor hours on high-pollution days, and rest my voice consciously.

-RADHIKA DAS, MUSIC THERAPIST AND KIRTAN ARTISTE

I am not actively seeking out concerts or gigs right now, but I still have to protect my voice. I take warm water, kaadha to keep my throat clear . I also wear a scarf around my neck, or try to keep it covered at all times, so that it stays warm.

- ABHISHEK BHATIA, SINGER, CURTAIN BLUE

It’s been stressful accepting gigs during peak season. Have been postponing vocal recordings since weeks because the throat just not feeling up for it.

- VARUN RAJPUT, VOCALIST, ANTARIKSH

I have warm water throughout the day and do steam inhalation during night to protect my voice. I have a mixture of honey, turmeric and black pepper.

- PALASH SEN, VOCALIST, EUPHORIA

Palash Sen visited Turkey in 2019 and travelled to Azerbaijan in 2023

Following Turkey and Azerbaijan’s support for Pakistan after Operation Sindoor, there is a growing sentiment in the country to boycott these nations altogether – be it for travel, film shoots, weddings, or the import of their products. Celebs like Atul Kasbekar, Rupali Ganguly, and Vishal Mishra have also taken to social media to urge their followers not to visit these countries. Palash Sen, frontman of the band Euphoria, who shot a short film in Turkey in 2019 and travelled to Azerbaijan in 2023 for a corporate gig, tells us he doesn’t see himself visiting either country again unless they change their stance.

Talking about his visit to Turkey in 2019, Palash says, “I went to Turkey in 2019 and shot a film there. There’s no two ways about the fact that it is a beautiful country. I was only in Istanbul and Cappadocia though, but even then, their internal issues were pretty obvious in 2019. While most people (in the team) were Indian, some Turkish people were also involved – the heroine was Turkish. We had a good time but there was an underlying tension in the air – a lot of strife within Turkey. And they didn’t have a very good attitude towards people from anywhere else. The Turkish have a little attitude. I felt a certain kind of animosity, an anti-India stance in Turkey. So when I hear about them helping Pakistan with drones, whatever their political understanding is, Bharat ka dushman matlab mera dushman. We all should take this stand that we should not be supporting Turkey and I don’t think I see myself going back to Turkey ever. There is no point unless they make amends. I am not saying that everybody is like that – but that’s true for every country. Establishment hi hota hai jiske apne views hote hain. If you are anti-India, you are anti-me and why will I support you? It is a beautiful country but saare jahan se achha Hindustan hamara. Aise koi cheez wahan nahi hai jo yahan nahi hai. Haan gaye thay wahan shoot karne – so thanks, but no thanks, Turkey.”

Talking about his Azerbaijan trip, Palash adds that he went there for a corporate gig. “It is popular for corporate gigs and destination weddings. Wahan pe there is not much population and our travellers keep looking for newer places to go to. Travel and stay is cheaper, but I have no attachment. However, unlike Turkey, people in Azerbaijan are sweet and very welcoming. This is my honest opinion. But what I want to say is that India has everything, we don’t need to go anywhere. I fully support the (domestic) tourism industry of India. I would never want to go to these countries unless they make their stance clear against the wrong elements in the world.”

He adds, “These problems are establishment-based, not people-based. Can we differentiate? That is the bigger question. I have been to Pakistan in 2008 or 2009 and people were supportive, (they were) so welcoming in Karachi but then 2008 is different from 2025. The people of Pakistan also say that the problem is with the government, they have their own issues. But I don’t think people anywhere have hatred towards people. That is my stand on the two countries.”

They first met in a medical coaching centre in Delhi before fate brought them to the same college. Palash Sen and his wife Shalini Sen were surprised to meet again at Hansraj College in the same class. Although Palash left Hansraj after a year of pursuing BSc (H) in Zoology for the University College of Medical Sciences, they stayed in touch.

“I met my wife in Hansraj College again, but once I got through Medicine, she realised I had potential. She wanted to be with an intellectual, serious doctor,” laughs Palash.

“The tragedy of my life was that when I was on stage, everyone used to groove, but once I was off stage, I would become Palash bhaiya. There was only one girl who didn’t consider me her brother, and that was Shalini. I made sure to marry her before she changed her mind,” shares Palash, adding with a laugh, “I want to apologize to her; she married a doctor, and he turned out to be a rocker.”

Sharing the initial phase of their love story, he says, “We were very serious lovebirds, both working hard to achieve our goals. While I was working hard to become a doctor, she was pursuing her PhD, and we hardly had the chance to meet. Our calls were made on landlines, I used to pretend I was speaking to a male friend, and she would pretend that she was talking to a female friend.”

He says Delhi helped their love story a lot. “It is the kind of place which gives people opportunities to spend time together. Shalini used to stay in Patel Nagar, and we would go there for our dates. Another place we would go to is Buddha Jayanti Park, it wasn’t like how it is today. It was love in a time of difficulty, and we both tried to make the best of it.”

When did Palash realize that Shalini was the one? “I remember this one time I was riding my father’s scooter on Ridge Road, and she was sitting behind me. It was dark, I could not see a rock on the road, and we both fell. She got up, came to me and asked me if I was alright, and that was the moment that I realized that this is the girl I want to marry,” he says.

Dr Palash Sen has a special Mother’s Day present for his mother and the mums of his fans. His two-decade-old cult classic Maaeri is making a comeback. While he took to Insta to share a glimpse of the recording of Maaeri 2.0, the frontman of the band Euphoria exclusively tells us the thought behind revisiting the song.

“Back in the day, I made a huge mistake by giving away the rights to my songs to music labels. It’s been more than 20 years since I recorded the songs from my albums Dhoom and Phir Dhoom, but the audio rights continue to be with the music companies. So, I decided to re-record Maaeri, as now all the rights will belong to Euphoria,” says Dr Sen.

Ask if the new version will undergo any major changes and the musician denies: “Maaeri 2.0 will be very similar to the original version. But since the recording, mixing and mastering techniques have changed, the sound will be a little different. So, lyrically and melodically the song is the same, but the sound will be of today, which is also good because it will appeal to the current generation of music lovers.”

Ask why he decided against making changes to Maaeri, considering so many songs are reworked these days?

“I don’t like songs being altered,” says Dr Sen, adding, “Maaeri continues to be relevant even today and I can never think of changing it. It’s a beautiful song that I wrote for my mother and everyone’s mother. I feel so happy to revisit it. Main rahoon ya na rahoon, yeh gaana zarur rahega.”

Dr Sen adds that the musicians who played in the OG song are part of Maaeri 2.0 too. “I hope people listen to the song and like it,” says the musician, as he goes on to share his vision behind the new track. 

“I want young musicians to know the importance of retaining the rights to your music. It’s much easier now, thanks to the streaming platforms. But back then, we had no choice but to go to the music labels to back my music,” he ends.

In India, he is known as musician Palash Sen’s son. But in the West, Kinshuk Sen is known for featuring in the Broadway musical, Come Fall In Love: The DDLJ Musical, and Mira Nair’s Monsoon Wedding The Musical. Not many can boast working with Aditya Chopra and Nair so early on in their career. For the actor, it is a dream come true.

“I have watched Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge [1995] at least 20 times. So, to play the role of Kuljit and be directed by Aditya sir, whom I have always idolised, was a ‘pinch-me’ moment. Aditya sir was so kind and encouraging. The project gave me the debut of a lifetime,” smiles Kinshuk.

The actor is equally in awe of Nair, whom he rightly describes as the “torchbearer for South Asian creatives in the West.” “She is loving, passionate, and has such a clear vision in her storytelling. She used to come backstage before every show, and give us all hugs and words of encouragement before we went up on stage.”

One can assume that working with the duo has readied Kinshuk for his Bollywood debut, Guzel Kiz, to be helmed by his musician-father. The love story, also starring Gizem Tas, is set in Turkey. He tells us, “Dad is an easy-going director who trusts his actor to bring the character to life. He likes showing a physical and emotional journey in every film.”

If one looks at his trajectory, however, Kinshuk has had better luck in Hollywood than India. That makes us ask: has he not been trying as hard in Bollywood?

“That’s a common misconception. It’s my dream to do more work in Hindi cinema, but I’ve just got more work in the West. Hollywood has opened up for Indian actors. When you see how both musicals were sold out night after night, it shows how much interest people have in seeing Brown faces and hearing our stories. On screen, women like Mira Nair, Mindy Kaling, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Deepika Padukone and Alia Bhatt are leading the way. My identity as a Brown actor is reminded to me a lot more when I am in Hollywood, than when I am back in India. The roles are far fewer for us here [in Los Angeles], but I see a positive change. Producers here are recognizing our impact as a people,” says the actor, who will soon be seen in an action film written by Star Trek: Voyager writer Arnold Rudnick.

Palash Sen doesn’t mince words when accepting that while retaining his fan base hasn’t posed a challenge, 25-year-old band Euphoria continues to find new ways to reach more listeners. “Recently we did a show where artistes like Nucleya, Raftaar and Prateek Kuhad also performed. Let’s say a certain section of that audience came to watch Euphoria, and the rest came to watch other artistes. The fact that those other listeners also heard our music was a big boost for us. That night, we got so many followers that our streaming numbers shot up,” confesses Sen, admitting that his decision to go on an India tour with Euphoria stemmed from his desire to find a new breed of listeners who, he is certain, desire his music.

“People want to hear our legacy unfold before them. Since we have completed 25 years, it is an excellent time to go back to give people a dose of nostalgia, and make new listeners aware of the music that made the music of this country what it is today. All kinds of music have audiences, so I am hopeful that via this concert tour, people are made aware of the fact that this kind of music also exists.”

With Indore having been the first pit-stop of the tour that commenced on Saturday, Sen is set to take his band across seven cities in the subsequent weeks. Certain that his music will resonate with the younger breed, Sen says “individuals experience music at different times in their lives”.

“When [our popular number] Mayeri released, not many people liked and supported it. But, 23 years later, it is an anthem of sorts for the country. It is the unlikeliest song to become an anthem because it is a sad song about heartbreak and separation. In our gigs, we have kids aged 15 and 16 singing the song back to us. These are defining moments for us.”

Topping his list of suggestions for young listeners hoping to enjoy a long-lasting career is an emphasis on good-quality lyrics. “It’s cool to make dumb lyrics, but dumb lyrics are giving rise to a dumb generation. I don’t know why [makers] insist on making the lyrics dumber each day. Kids are intelligent, and are hence listening to western music instead, which is a shame. Those who are creating music with good lyrics are being heard. Also never compromise on originality. It’s easy to copy somebody else, but it’s difficult to be yourself. Choose the tougher path. Finally, don’t sell your soul to the devil. Many people will offer contracts and make promises, but they will enslave you. Today, we are re-recording all our big songs so that the rights remain with us,” he signs off.

Dr Palash Sen is looking forward to taking the stage with his band, Euphoria, at the Bacardi NH7 Weekender in Pune tonight. It’s also a milestone year as the band, credited for cult hits Kabhi Aana Tu Meri Gully, Dhoom Pichak and Maeri, turns 25.

Ask what makes them relevant even today and he is quick to say, “Honesty”. “I don’t sound like anybody else. The things I say on stage and the way Euphoria performs make us different. We might not be the greatest band in the world, but we’ve been honest to our craft and that’s what has kept us going.”

Over the last two decades, what kind of changes has he seen in the audience? Dr Sen says, “Unlike the past, the listeners have a lot of options today when it comes to music. So, it’s not easy to grab their attention.”

As he gears up for the 60-minute set, the singer talks about the freedom in performing live: “There are many good singers in our country. But, most are studio singers and their songs are high on production. When they perform live, the songs don’t have the same impact... This is why independent music is so important. An artiste can perform the way they want and sound the same on stage.”

There was no sense of apprehension when Euphoria’s lead singer Dr Palash Sen decided to helm his latest single, Jaane khuda. The singer-songwriter was assured in the knowledge that the influence of one of the country’s finest music video directors, the late Pradeep Sarkar, had rubbed off on him. After all, through the late ’90s and the aughts, the two had come together to give us some memorable music videos — from Dhoom Pichak Dhoom to Kabhi Aana Tu Meri Gali and the much-loved Maeri. With Sarkar having passed away this March, Sen helmed Jaane Khuda as a tribute to his long-time friend and collaborator.

“Pradeep da will always be my elder brother and guru. Everything I’ve learned about filmmaking is from him. He was the master of cinematic moments. He would write instances that stayed with you. With this song, I have tried to tell an unusual story, in the way that he would,” says Sen.

The song, shot in Himachal Pradesh, narrates the story of a divorced bed-and-breakfast host, played by Sen, who forms an unlikely bond with a young tourist. The musician says that like Sarkar, he has a vision for every song right from the start. “I see the song in my mind when I compose and write. Sometimes the vision comes true, and at other times, it takes another form. But this was a tough song. There is a lot of music, as well silence. There is no drama at all. It needed the right treatment as I was handling many modern-day issues, all at once.”

All his tracks have been born from personal experiences, and Jaane Khuda is no exception. “This is the story of someone who held my hand in my toughest phase.”

Pop rock band Euphoria’s frontman, Dr Palash Sen, shared a close bond with Pradeep Sarkar. So much so that he sobs intermittently when we speak to him about the late director, who he fondly addressed as dada. Sarkar shot Euphoria’s first music video for their cult song Dhoom Pichak Dhoom in 1998. The duo also did songs like Kabhi Aana Tu Meri Gali, Maaeri, Sha Na Na Na and Tum together.

Recalling their first collaboration, the singer says, “Dada heard Dhoom Pichak while we were recording it at a studio in Delhi and he immediately told me that he wanted to shoot the video. I felt honoured. We took a train to Benares (Varanasi; Uttar Pradesh). Our three-day schedule turned into a seven-day one because of the rains and the setting he wanted. The song became so big because of dada. He was the best.”

Sen says Sarkar was his mentor and guide. The singer feels the director, who died on March 24, never got his due in the industry: “He never copied anybody. He should have won awards for the work he did with us. He taught so many people, but he didn’t get enough credit because he never marketed himself.”

Palash Sen recently dropped a new single called Kesariya Baalma, and to everyone’s surprise, the singer revealed on Instagram that the track was recorded 17 years ago. Ask what made him release it after all these years, and he shares: “Somehow, all our albums at the time were performing so well, I couldn’t find the right spot for Kesariya... Every song has an appropriate time to be heard.”

But, given how much has changed in music and audience’s tastes over the years, especially with the advent of social media, would he still choose to not associate with a record label? He says, “I feel a musician loses his creative freedom with a record label. We have a set way of doing things. If I go to a label, they’ll of course tell me what kind of music to make as per the latest trends; paisa daal ke views badhate raho [and I don’t agree with that]. I should be an example for all independent musicians.”

As someone who has also refused to compose music for Bollywood films, does Sen have any plans to work in the industry? He says, “I will be very happy to go [to Bollywood], but the conditions must be mine.” He also clarifies that he isn’t opposed to the idea of collaborating with other artistes: “I would love to team up with rappers like Raftaar, King, EPR or Badshah. But, I will do it when both artistes’ genres meet halfway and neither party has to compromise.”

Euphoria frontman Dr Palash Sen received flak on Wednesday after he posted a photo with Pakistani singer Atif Aslam. The Maeri singer lauded Aslam’s contribution towards Bollywood music and wrote, “According to me, the one singer — musician who has made the maximum impact on Bollywood’s music and most singers over the last 15 years, is this man. The awesome @atifaslam. I say this with a lot of humility. He has style, panache and that nasal twang that most singers in Bollywood tried to imitate. And his music is still copied by some leading music directors .. the Minor chord Kings!! This pic is 10 years old, when both of us collaborated for our concert in Abu Dhabi. And both Indians and Pakistanis sang along and danced together. Music Unites!! (sic).”

While some internet users supported his “music unites” stance, most criticized him for praising an artiste from across the border. When we reached out to Sen, the 56-year-old said, “I don’t think people understood the essence of my post. I was hinting at many more things than endorsing Atif. My question was basic: Do we lack talent that there was so much influence from one musician on Bollywood? I think Atif did make a big impact, hence Bollywood forgot our own talent and started following his way of singing/making music.”

He added, “We Indians give so many opportunities to everybody, but I don’t think we get the same from other countries. I don’t mind getting trolled if people eventually do understand my purpose and start asking bigger questions.”

Singer KK’s sudden demise last week left everyone – the music industry and his fans – shocked and heartbroken. He was laid to rest in Mumbai on June 2. He had an underlying heart condition that was aggravated by lack of oxygen (hypoxia), which led to a fatal cardiac arrest, the final post-mortem report has stated. As love and condolences from his grieving fans and colleagues continue to pour in, so do various reports on how the show at Kolkata’s Nazrul Mancha was allegedly overcrowded, mismanaged and lacked medical and emergency facilities. It has sparked nationwide conversations on how concerts and live events in India need sharper focus in areas that the venue of KK’s final performance apparently lacked.

Armaan Malik was among the first to raise his concern over this on social media. He wrote, “Concerts in India need better management, medical and emergency facilities. I’ve seen and been a part of far too many shows that don’t serve the right conditions for us to perform in. But yet, being the artists we are, we continue with performing because we don’t want to disappoint our fans. (sic)”.

Ever since, several singers, composers and musicians, who perform at live gigs, have weighed in and pointed out multiple issues that pose a threat to their and audience safety during live concerts.

Pota, lead singer of Bangla band Cactus, who performed at Nazrul Mancha a day before KK, says, “The performance pressure remains high when we have back-to-back concerts. We are performers and want to entertain people, but not at the cost of our own lives, or for that matter, anyone else’s life. We performed at the same stage of Nazrul Mancha just a day before KK. It was overcrowded; there were around 100-150 extra people. But the next day, the crowd was more than double of the hall capacity. That really puts a question on their management.”

Euphoria’s Palash Sen, who has been performing live since the ’90s, says he insists on adequate safety and security measures, apart from sound, light and technical support. “We have always had a strict rider that states things specifically for halls, auditoriums or open-air stadiums. That is scanned and approved by us before we go for the concert. After this sad and shocking incident, I am going to insist on having a paramedic backstage henceforth. Ensuring proper medical arrangements and keeping oxygen cylinders handy are basic necessities. We have hours of high-energy performances and it can get strenuous. If the artiste is unwell, they must take a call soon. Since I am a doctor myself, there have been instances when I have provided medical assistance to my team members and even to people in the audience.”

Shilpa Rao says organisers should ensure that they don’t exceed the capacity of a venue. “Plus, there should be medical emergency facilities, not just for the artiste, but also for the audience. Say, if a fan is not feeling well during the concert, there should be proper care and medical facilities to get them the right aid at the right time,” she adds.

Composer-singer Jeet Gannguli says, “We need auditoriums that are well-equipped with disaster management teams, emergency response systems, and fire safety compliant. Ambulances, too, should be at the venue for medical emergencies. There should be a strict control on the crowd allowed inside an auditorium.”

He adds that before using special effects, such as the blasts of the confetti machines and the smoke machines, all precautionary measures must be taken.

Talking about performing in other countries, Kailash Kher says the facilities provided during their concerts abroad are way better. “When we go abroad to perform, the organisers take artistes’ and crowd safety much more seriously. They always have a fire brigade, an ambulance and a doctor readily available in case of any mishaps. I know people have immense love for us and they love our work, but there should be respect for our personal space and comfort too.”

Singer-songwriter Silajit Majumder says when he goes for a show, he makes sure to inform the organizers about a few things he requires. “The basic necessities may vary from performer to performer. But many a time, we aren’t even provided with the most basic things. Instead, we are asked why we need this and that, and why we can’t manage with what is being given. So, it’s better to make it clear at the outset. The problem with some organizers is that once they hire us, they feel their job is done,” he adds.

Singer Palash Sen is unhappy with what music has been reduced to today, which, according to him, is “like a condom”. He adds: “You go buy it, use it and throw it. I think the whole system has made music like a condom,” says the 56-year-old.

He adds that it is not about merit anymore. “If you can buy a radio spot, Facebook ads, radio ads, media space, you can be way ahead of somebody who actually had a better song. That is something of great worry. Why do you think India has only Bollywood music? It is because Bollywood has the maximum money. Eventually, it is not good music, but the only music you get,” rues the Maeri singer and member of the band, Euphoria.

Sen feels Bollywood has “run out of ideas”, and is hence only coming up with recreations and rehashes of old classics. “Even the songs being made sound the same. It is all about the number of views, 500 million and what not. How these 500 and 800 millions views happen... It is all about the money. Recently, one artiste spent Rs. 25 lakh on the first day of the song. It is a sad state of affairs,” he reveals.

Talent, thus, is not getting enough chances to trump the power of money, feels the Dhoom Pichak Dhoom singer. He adds, “Somebody else, who might have a better song, which should reach the people, will never reach them, and some crap will. Advertising space has been bought. The problem is, I might be sounding like a prude or a very traditional guy, but I eventually feel things like music or writing books are art, and hence, sacrosanct.”

The Coronavirus pandemic brought the world to a standstill, and singer Palash Sen admits it’s been particularly tough for performing artistes, in the absence of live shows. In order to adapt, the singer and his band, Euphoria, started doing virtual gigs. However, he does not shy away from sharing that it has been extremely hard, financially. He, in fact, dipped into his own savings to ensure that all his band members get paid.

“These are things you’ve to do for each other as a family. Not only for them, I did a lot of charity in the last year and a half,” he says, asserting that when the going gets tough, people have to stand by each other. “You can choose to have a bigger house, a bigger car or a grand holiday. Or, you can choose to help people. That’s what I did,” he adds.

The band recently came out with their latest album, Sale, for which they went the NFT way. Fans could bid, and the highest bidder got to listen to the album before the release itself. Without live shows, Sen confesses it has been quite hard to sail smooth.

“We reinvented ourselves and started doing virtual concerts. We also brought out music continuously. This year, we worked on this album which has seven songs. It keeps your creative juices flowing. Yes, it’s tough for finances, that’s the biggest hit. We all have to keep faith, things will get better,” says the 55-year-old, asserting that things will be back to “not normal, but new normal”.

Even after all these years, Sen still gets nervous right before a concert or an album release, he confesses. “This album has come out after a lot of blood, sweat and tears. I have nervousness before getting on stage, album toh bahut badi baat hai. I get loose motions before any big thing happens. I had an upset stomach three days before Sale’s release!” Sen quips.

“I started my isolation period with a lot of questions and anger in my heart. I had just taken my first vaccine shot, always followed the Covid-19 protocol. Still getting infected made me think a lot,” says Euphoria frontman Palash Sen, who tested positive for Coronavirus and is currently isolated in his clinic’s basement in Delhi.

Some people said the pandemic isolation allowed them to be more creative while for some it’s been stressful. “When I went into isolation, I carried my guitar along. I’ve been composing our upcoming album, and my time alone has given me a different perspective towards songwriting. God has ensured that I keep thinking, creating and dreaming. I’m isolated but not idle,” laughs Sen, who is keeping his spirit up in many ways. “I’m listening to Rock n Roll, reading Asterix comics, and obviously a lot of laughs. It’s amazing how laughter can uplift your spirits in an instant.”

As the second wave of Covid hits harder with many states opting for night curfew or complete lockdown, Sen says, “Covid has impacted us badly. Most of the musicians haven’t earned properly for over a year now. I hope that the government decides to help.”

On how Euphoria is planning to regroup, the singer says, “Recovery is on top of the priority list. We were in the middle of recording our album, which will have to be pushed now. We will be working from home and exchanging ideas over video calls now.”

Sen plans to educate people on how to deal with the virus, based on his experience. He opines, “We the people are the biggest problem! Most don’t follow any protocol. The only way to fight the virus is through behaviour change.”

“Anything that can give us a voice, is a beneficial medium for us,” says musician Palash Sen of Euphoria. The artiste referring to the rise of independent music over the last few years, says a “musician is no longer at the mercy of a label or corporation”.

He elaborates, “His/her music is out there for the people to consume. Sadly, I am seeing a change in that as well. The internet is also governed by advertising budgets now. So, toothpastes have more visibility than music videos.”

Moreover, to make things worse, there have been reports of artistes buying likes. Sen is deeply distressed about these developments and says, “Unfortunately, all the blame has been focused on the artistes. May I know why nobody is blaming this entire system? It is a ridiculous assumption that a song must be good only if it has 500 million views.”

Sen also finds the evolution of the artiste-audience relationship funny. “We’ve come from asking the audience to pay for the music they consume, to paying money to advertise so that they listen to it for free…” he quips.

The singer says that the lockdown has been fun for him as he got to spend a lot of time with his family. “I made sure they never complain about me not having time for them ever again! I spent a lot of time alone in my studio. I wrote a lot, composed a lot and created a whole different kind of content. I discovered social media during those months and it got me closer to those who belive in me,” he concludes.

Away from the razzmatazz of commercial music, Euphoria seems to be reinventing itself. The 22-year-old band, fronted by Palash Sen, has dabbled in a wide array of genres in the past few months, crafting its tracks with deftness such that several have emerged to be among its biggest hits, already.

In an interview with mid-day, Sen discusses the band's upcoming releases, including an elaborate 16-track album.

They did. A one-minute track that we created called I Like It, earned 850 million views, and that is a first for our band. Another memorable one is a song that we made for, and with indie artistes, because they were facing several problems during the lockdown. Seventy-six indie artistes recorded their portions from their homes or gardens, and created this beautiful piece. We also had many firsts. We created an acoustic version of Kisi ki muskurahoton pe, which was a tribute to those band-mates who play at weddings.

On the 14th, we are bringing out our first Bengali song by Gurudev Rabindranath Thakur. The current generation doesn't know the kind of music that our elders created. We wanted to [put the spotlight on] the sangeet that deserves attention. It is a song on the beauty of mother nature, and how human beings have destroyed it.

All of us depend on live gigs. We don't make money from our recorded songs. They may make money for music labels, but not for the artiste. We need an indie industry that takes care of the needs of all artistes.

But, taking to virtual gigs has been gratifying. A live set-up has a lot of distractions. Virtual gigs helped us connect with listeners in their personal space. We've [been able to reach out to] those listeners who don't care about the frills, and listen to us only for our music.

We are also set to bring out an album which will be a collection of songs that we have been creating for six years. It will have tracks based on love, self-belief, and expression, and will include folk, rock, qawwali and acoustic music. There will be something for each kind of listener.

In the '90s, there were artistes like Daler Mehendi, Lucky Ali, and Alisha Chinai, who were superstars. For the film industry, nobody apart from an actor should be a superstar. You may not know this, but there was a time when Daler Mehndi was paid a large amount of money to feature in a song with an actor, because he was not saleable, but Mehndi ji was.

The film industry realised they had the resources to dismantle this system, and did. It was easy for them to promote their music because they had budgets, and would recover costs. Think about the indie music being created by these labels — it sounds like film music anyway. India doesn't have an independent music industry. I wish someone like Mukesh Ambani decides to invest in it and enables India to have a music industry. That will bring about change.

“I still am an outsider. My brief trysts with films have been nothing more than short lived flings,” says singer Palash Sen of the popular Indian band Euphoria. Sen adds that he does have a few friends in the industry but he’s “always been the doctor who rocks and walks alone...”

The band, known for their tracks such as Ab Na Jaa and Jiya Jaye Na have retained the essence of their independent music despite having worked on a few projects in Bollywood. With the boom of internet, the avenues have widened as well. “Anything that can give us a voice, is a beneficial medium for us. With the power of social media, a musician is no longer at the mercy of a label or a corporation. His/her music is out their for people to consume and decide for themselves. Sadly, I am seeing a change in that as well. The internet is also governed by advertising budgets now. So, toothpastes have more visibility than music videos nowadays,” says Sen.

The artiste who’s recently become a part of the moment #indiaforindie feels it is his moral obligation to help those who have been affected by the pandemic. “A lot of musicians I personally know were suddenly out of work. Everybody has bills to pay,” rues Sen.

He adds that independent music needs support and one should do everything to help it sustain. “While India is seeing almost all the sectors stand on their feet again, live music is going to be the last one. We are still unsure when the situation will be back to normal for us. Life is tough, but tough times bring people together. It is an effort to get the independent music scene officially recognized as a music industry. The idea is to keep music independent of films and film stars. To make sure that each hard working musician gets his/her due,” he concludes.