The Koniac Net recently crowned as Runners Up of the Global Battle of the Bands (Hard Rock Rising) celebrated their success with a super duper performance at Hard Rock Café, Worli, Mumbai recently.

There were 10000 bands enrolling for it globally and over 418,000 votes had come in. Recently at the finale in Rome, the local winners from Mumbai The Koniac Net were adjudged Runners Up. Getting this title among 10,000 bands, carries huge magnitude for the genre in India and more so in particular Mumbai. As a prize, the band received 10,000 dollars worth of music gear with the title.

The band members include David Abraham on Lead Vocals, Jason D’souza on Guitar Ishaan Krishna on Guitar and Vocals, Adil Kurwa on Guitar and Vocals and Karun Kannampilly on Drums.

Verus Ferreira met up with lead vocalist David Abraham to know more about the band and the success they just received.

What are your thoughts on achieving such a great feat?

In all honesty, we were pretty sad that we didn’t get the opportunity to head to Rome, but then again, in retrospect, once we took a step and realized that we were the first Indian band to achieve a runner-up winning slot out of 10,000 bands worldwide and that too, chosen by an international panel of judges, it was quite surreal for us. We weren’t expecting to make it past round 2. 

What is your secret formula that you used to achieve such global support?

Considering I’ve been in love with music since I was pretty much born, and have had the opportunity to be obsessed with many different genres of music, the best of the best, I have been able to associate myself and our passions with radio personalities and bloggers across the globe much easier, which allowed them to understand precisely what we are trying to achieve with our music. It also helped that I was able to put our music out there into the world, and receive a tremendous amount of positive feedback.

How did the name Koniac Net come about?

I had this name for one of my mix CDs I made when CDs were still used. It represents that point in your life (that can happen at any given moment) where you are presented with 2 paths, and even though "Path A," at the time, looks better than the other, for reasons unknown, you are FORCED to take the less appealing "Path B". Later in life you realize that "Path B" has turned out to be the FAR more fruitful and lucrative trail, while the more appealing choice was in fact a metaphorical net (similar to that of an Angler Fish's protruding fleshy light). It's a name that's been with me for over a decade. It also precipitated during a time in my life where I realized how comforting scotch, whiskey, cognac and Southern Comfort were at trying times.

Hence "the koniac net" - a paradoxical / oxymoronic optimistic and cynical representation of how life's surprises / plans for you have reason and purpose and are justified at random points of time in our lives, even though we might not be aware of it.

How long have you guys been making music together?

The Koniac Net began at the end of 2011, with the debut album One Last Monsoon which was released a solo project by me (David Abraham). When it started getting airplay worldwide, radio personalities abroad kept suggesting that I form a full band so that I could showcase the music live in their respective countries. The band got together, officially in June of 2012.

You released an album ‘One Last Monsoon’ in February 2012, what response did you get?

The response had been really fantastic - in fact, we are still getting a lot of amazing feedback and compliments about that album. It not only got us a lot of radio airplay & numerous write-ups and features in magazines and blogs around the world, but it especially got us noticed here in India; we began getting invites to do shows and festivals like NH7, Ragasthan, Live From The Console in Goa, radio rotation, write-ups, a feature in GQ Magazine, our music was used by VOGUE India, and a lot more. Overall, it’s been quite overwhelming and exceptionally positive and complimentary. We still get messages from people all over India about our music videos too, hence turning them into amazing fans.

Which label did you sign on?

We’re unsigned at the moment, but looking to get signed to an indie label either in the States, U.K., Canada, or France.

What do the songs on the album speak about?

The songs’ themes vary. One Last Monsoon dealt a lot with my transformation into a misanthrope for a few years, hence revolving around the idea of the human race becoming extinct after mother nature and the heavens finally give up on us and deem us unworthy of life. There are other themes too dealing with a musician’s dilemmas in life, being taken back by another woman when you’re already dating someone and then being caught in the act, and a number of other different themes. I prefer to write about very varied topics, and I try to leave my lyrics as open as possible so that fans can make up their own story about any particular song, therefore making it more personal for them. 

Your new EP has 5 new tracks, when do you plan on releasing an album?

After we are satisfied with the promotion aspect of this EP, we will begin recording our 2nd album. The future 2nd album has been ready for many years now, but I didn’t want to release it until we have established ourselves, and after our fans understood what we are about: that we don’t stick to 1 sub genre of rock, but that we incorporate a lot. It’s how I write, and how I like doing so. People loved our 1st album which was on the very relaxed indie side, as well as our new EP which is more on the harder alternative and hard rock sides. Our future 2nd album will incorporate much more, and our fans will hopefully already be used to the kind of music we do, and the styles we write in.

What do you think about the local rock / alternative scene right now?

It’s actually pretty amazing. There are so many bands out there in our country that don’t slide anywhere near the commercial realms, and who are also struggling to make a name, trying to get more and more people in our country to understand the beauty of the many genres of music out there that are non - commercial. There are also so many venues, companies and music channels like Blue Frog, Hard Rock, NH7, VH1, MTV, that are going out of their way to support independent acts.  Even though the Indian crowd still has to get used to going out there and discovering new bands as opposed to going out to see bands that are already huge, the people and companies that are here right now supporting all of us is truly astonishing & encouraging. With their help, we (the Indian musician) will be able to put India on the map (musically speaking).

Who are your musical influences?

There are too many: Deftones, Helmet, Toadies, Rage Against the Machine, Superdrag, Teenage Fanclub, French Kicks, Hey Mercedes, Bombay Bicycle Club, Catherine Wheel, Autolux, Blonde Redhead, the Foals, Dinosaur Pile-Up, the Revolution Smile, Poison the Well, Norma Jean, and A LOT more. I have also been influenced heavily by hip hop acts like Pete Rock, Channel Live, Living Legends, Celph Titled, Nine, and more.

What are your future plans?

My personal main goals right now are to play in the North East of India, do our Indian tour with Hard Rock (Café) which we are really looking forward to, as it’s something we have talking about doing anyway for a while now, get signed to an indie label abroad, and therefore start playing live worldwide (it’s the only way to get our music heard to a much larger audience and get people to notice our country’s music revolution happening right now.

 Interviewed by Verus Ferreira