In the heart of Mumbai's vibrant music scene, a new band is gearing up to leave an indelible mark on the city’s formidable rock landscape. CONTRA, born from the reunion of old friends Manas and Dean, released their self-titled debut EP on 20^th October, 2024.

This four-track offering, produced by indie veteran Siddharth Basrur at his Aural Pleasure Studios in Bombay, promises to be a tour de force of raw emotion, compelling storytelling, and music that hits hard where it needs to.

CONTRA consists ofManas Jha and Dean aka Nikhil Bhosle,drummer Natasha Nair and bassist Pankaj Kulkarni.  CONTRA stands at the threshold of what promises to be an exciting journey. The band's unique blend of personal storytelling, social commentary, and on your face music positions them as heralds for a new era of Indian indie rock.

The EP: A Journey Through Sound and Emotion

CONTRA's debut EP four songs are a glimpse into the band's diverse influences and experiences. Each of the four tracks tells a unique story, bound together by the band's distinctive sound and Basrur's expert production.

Kids aren’t the same anymore.

The EP opens with a powerful anthem that draws directly from Dean's experiences with Longboard Crew India. This track is a raw exploration of youth culture, delving into the struggles and triumphs of a generation often misunderstood. Through its driving rhythm and poignant lyrics, the song paints a picture of kids finding solace and purpose in the rush of wheels on pavement, the wind in their hair serving as a metaphor for freedom from the chains of addiction and societal expectations.

You Were There

Perhaps the EP's most emotionally charged track, You Were There is a haunting tribute to Sunondo Sen, a victim of a hate crime in New York City a decade ago. The song doesn't shy away from the harsh realities of xenophobia and its devastating consequences. Sunondo’s death was the result of an act of violence spurred on by the political rhetoric of that time. It is ironic and alarming that, rather than using the incident as a turning point to come together, ten years later our society stands more fractured than ever before.

Accompanied by an evocative music video created by animator/illustrator Kashyap Purushottam, the track finds its place in the dialogue between two minds - the victim seeking answers from beyond and the perpetrator grappling with the weight of their actions. The pastel themed animated video masterfully uses bursts of color to depict the intense and explosive emotional undercurrents of the dialogue.  It's a powerful reminder of the long-lasting impacts of hate and the need for understanding in our increasingly divided world.

Rain

Released as a single in May 2024, Rain has already made waves in the indie music scene. The track is a visceral exploration of emotional numbness and the struggle to feel in a world that often seems devoid of color. The chorus, with its haunting refrain "colours I feel no more," captures the essence of battling inner demons and the fight to reclaim one's emotional landscape. The accompanying music video, directed by Upasana of LSD2, is a visual feast that mirrors this internal conflict. Through a combination of street dancing and intense combat sequences, the video builds to a climactic confrontation with the self, ultimately serving as a powerful call to embrace life in all its vivid hues.

Lucky Strike

Closing out the EP is Lucky Strike a track that showcases CONTRA's versatility. Shifting gears from the introspective tone of the previous songs, this number paints a vivid picture of a modern-day Casanova. With its infectious rhythm and playful lyrics, the song follows a tall, dark, handsome character - who’s resemblance to the band’s guitarist Dean might or might not be purely incidental - as he navigates the Mumbai nightlife. It's a lighthearted yet sharp observation of dating culture, set against the backdrop of cigarette smoke and blue Long Island Iced Teas.

Courtesy: No Binary Records