Musicians on the bridge

Cochin-based Thaikkudam Bridge burst into prominence with their performances on Kappa TV’s Music Mojo. Truly a product of social media fame, the mammoth band consists of more than 15 members, with each one of them bringing a special musical talent to the fore. With fusion rock being the core of the band’s performances, the ensemble has covered tracks like Metallica’s Nothing Else Matters too, adding to their popularity. Excerpts from a chat with the band that’s all set to rock out at NH7 Weekender, Pune this year:

With over 15 members, you guys are a rather huge band. How did you come together?
We get asked this question so often! The founder members, Govind Menon and Siddharth Menon, took a liking to the flagship programme of Kappa TV, which was called Music Mojo. They then decided to bring in a few friends together, all to do an episode of the show. The rest, as the adage goes, is history. We’ve completed close to 300 shows across the world together and we’re so glad our music is loved my all.

How did you name yourselves Thaikkudam Bridge?
This was because we were jamming in a buildiong close to a bridge that had a similar name in Kochi. So, during the jam sessions, a friend of ours called Piyush, suggested we name ourselves Thaikkudam Bridge.

does it get difficult coordinating amongst yourselves?
Firstly, we have to thank Aum I artistes, who manage us exclusively, as well as our managers, Sujith and Lakshmi, for being there to support us all through our journey. They make things much easier for us, leaving us to only create music and play them. We’re 16 band members, with sound engineers too being a part of the band, unlike how it works in common scenarios. Amith Bal, Rajan K. S. and Hemanth form the backbone of our band, indeed.

How did Kappa TV happen to the band?
We had seen some shows aired on Music Mojo, and wanted to make something new that people around us could relate too. It also had to be something we would ourselves love while forming a band. We contacted Sumesh Lal, the creative head of Aum I artistes, who is also the content consultant for Kappa TV. He, in turn, paved the way for us to perform our first episode of Music Mojo, and we haven’t looked back since.

You often mix genres, sometimes even during a song. Is there a particular genre (or a mix of them) you prefer sticking to?
Absolutely not! Though many of our songs fall into the fusion rock genre, we do have folk and metal in the mix too. Luckily, we have the genius of nine vocalists, who we can use to experiment in any and all genres. And that’s what we prefer to do as well.

The Malayalam indie music scene was brought into the limelight by Avial, and you guys have covered some of their tracks. Do you think the band helped pave the path for you?
Avial is  our all-time favourite band, and it’s not only us. They’ve acted as an inspiration for many of our predecessors and successors in good spirit. Avial has proved that we can make music in any language, and taste success with the sheer class of music made.

What’s your song Fish Rock about? That’s quite a peculiar one…
What else could it be about, than the love for fish! Govind, our founder, violinist, and vocalist, loves fish, and that’s where Fish Rock came from. We’re sure he meant it top be a tribute for the scores of fish fry he has enjoyed. Dhanya Suresh, who writes all our Malayalam numbers, has penned the lines to the song.

What does it feel to be part of NH7 Weekender this season?
In one word, we’re ecstatic. It’s the biggest festival we have in India. Musicians we love and respect are all on the same stage, and to get one of the prime slots to perform on the dream stage of the Bacardi Arena is a dream come true for all musicians.