Mumbai-based metal titans Zygnema pay homage to their city in the music video for their new single, Grind. We asked the band's guitarist Sidharth Kadadi the BIG questions . . .
Taken from their recent EP Iconic, the track blends traditional Indian musical elements with modern groove metal, and centres itself around the band's pride in their city and in their people.
Speaking about the video, the band say, "The people of Mumbai are resilient, and are having fun grinding it out in their day to day lives.
"The grind of Mumbai spares no one. It doesn't matter what strata or class you belong to; Nobody is complaining. At the end of the day, they have fun and celebrate their achievements. That's what we want to showcase through our music video."
Since the band formed in 2008, they've released two full length albums, leading them to win multiple awards at 2011, 2014 and 2016's Rolling Stone Metal Awards.
Tell us three things about yourself . . .
We are a heavy metal band from Mumbai, India. We love our chai (tea) and local street food from Mumbai. We want to reach out to maximum people who love heavy metal and other culture.
How would you describe your music?
Raw, unadulterated, hints of Indian music elements layered in between the calming chaos of metal music.
Who are your musical inspirations?
Meshuggah, Pantera, Slipknot, Sepultura, Devin Townsend and many more.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
Independence Rock here in Mumbai - India about 21-22 years ago. We were around 17-18 years old and had just picked up instruments during and after college and we were getting into this whole culture of rock and metal music. Fantastic days to be around.
What was the first record you ever bought?
I remember I was given a tape by a friend of mine who absolutely hated it. It was Pantera's Vulgar Display of Power. I was blown away and my journey from there on continued. I remember queuing up outside Planet M (Mumbai's biggest music record store back then) and my first purchase was Metallica's S&M Vol 1&2 along with Guns 'n' Roses' Appetite for Destruction. A month later a few friends got together, made a list of artists and decided to go Dutch on those tapes. The list had Rammstein, Rage Against the Machine, Nine Inch Nails, Limp Bizkit, Sepultura, Godsmack, Alice in Chains and many, many more. Uff. We used to be so excited to purchase these tapes and get home and hear it while we used to read the lyrics from the inlays. Good times. Would love to go back to those days.
What's your favourite song right now?
I am seriously digging Meshuggah's Ligature Marks from the new album Immutable along with Sepultura’s Agony of Defeat from their album Quadra.
Favourite lyric of all time?
This is a tough one for me but I will pick Shedding Skin by Pantera. This song somehow helped me to get through a break-up and me getting laid off from my job within 48 hours. Both happened back to back and the only track that could comfort me was Shedding Skin. "I don't want you to look at me while, I'm shedding skin, I can't afford for you to see what's in, I'd rather shoot myself than have you watch me, I feel you'd steal my skin to try and wear me."
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Music is food for the soul. How can we eat the same thing our entire life? We need a balanced diet for our mind and soul ;) In all honesty I am yet to find that track that will assure me that, yes, this is the one. I am still searching for it. Maybe GRIND or Rise Again from our new EP Iconic, I guess. Cause we had to change soo many things about us personally as musicians and we love the way it's come out.
Where can people find your music/more information?
On our Instagram, YouTube and Facebook page. @zygnemaofficial More music on all major streaming platforms and Bandcamp, of course.
Alan Corr
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