The Koniac Net

It’s not very often that I find indie artists from India. Actually, David Abraham is the very first one. Spawning all the way from Bombay under a stage name The Koniac Net, David creates sensual and smart alternative rock that he explains as “ a love letter to the Indie & Alternative genres, and the artists/bands that allow these genres to thrive.”. His debut album “One last Monsoon” was primary recorded in his bedroom.

18403_549615528407252_1012031025_n

The DIY spirit winged The Koniac Net and the project was voted as “Best Original Band, Mumbai 2012” by Rolling Stone India, was used by Vogue India during Bombay Fashion Week, got published by GQ  and the video of “This Time Around” debuted on MTV & VH1 India. Upon receiving numerous requests to tour internationally, the Koniac Net transformed from a one-man-project to a 5-piece band in June of 2012.

The sound of The Koniac Net will please the fans of bands like The Smashing Pumpkins, Toadies, Death Cab For Cutie, Marcy Playground, and even Chris Isaac, or just everyone who enjoys smooth and mellow alternative rock. Here’s what else David told me in an interview for Flowers In A Gun.

David you’re the first indie singer-songwriter from India I have met: can you tell me something more about the music scene over there? 

Well, the indie music scene in India has only recently (in the past 4 years) become something that a lot of musicians & music lovers have started to consume & play. Otherwise the main genres of music that flourished (and still flourish) here are commercial pop / rap & Bollywood. However, every day for the past year & a half, I have met people (fans & supporters) from all corners of India that chat with me & tell me how much they love my album, as well as the indie & alternative scenes. Although the indie / alternative scenes are not as huge as they are in Europe, Canada, Australia,the States, etc., it still is being appreciated, and slowly coming up.

Picture by Amith Nair via Facebook

Okay, let’s say I’m a passionate indie music lover and I suddenly end up in Bombay, where you live: which spots you should recommend me to check?

There are a number of places actually, that support independent & live music. We’ve had the honour of being asked to play at traditional venues here in Bombay like Blue Frog, Bonobo, D’Bell, and MehBoob Studios. There have even been non traditional places like the Taj Lands End Amphitheatre in Bandra. Hard Rock Cafe Mumbai too supports a number of independent acts. In addition: there are numerous festivals & outdoor music events throughout the year here in Bombay, as well as in other cities & states of India.

How did you decide to pursue music career and why did you choose alternative/rock as your genre?

I’ve always been obsessed & completely in love with music… since I was born actually. It originates from my parents who are music fanatics as well. My mom has pictures of me when I was 3 years old air-playing on a toy guitar.

unnamed (2)

 

As cliche as this sounds: I guess the passion for music has always been in my blood. But it was when I was 8 years old, when i first heard Guns ’N’ Roses, Metallica, Megadeath, etc. that I began to realize that I didn’t simply just listen to music for simple pleasures. And as the years progressed into my early teens, I recognized that I NEEDED to listen to music every single day of my life. It became almost like naturally breathing or eating.

Although, I don’t only love Indie or Alternative. I grew up (and still obsess over) many different genres: Shoegaze, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Psychedelic Rock, Doom / Stoner Rock, Hip Hop, Electro / Paris House, Blues, etc. However, writing alternative, indie, and hard rock came naturally because first – I learned how to play the guitar, and therefore naturally started learning a lot of different sub genres of rock songs, and I didn’t have an MPC, nor a studio at that time to write or experiment with hip hop & other genres.

Now, I can… and I do!

What’s the story behind your first album “One last monsoon”?

“One Last Monsoon” consist of songs I had written between 2000 & 2010. The album was actually supposed to come out in 2010, but I had a lot of obstacles & problems with musicians that I had asked to help me with my tracks. At one point, I got extremely frustrated, and figured that all the songs were written by me anyway, and I could hence do this album without the aid of anyone else. So, I enlisted the help of a good friend, Aditya Ashok, to play & record the drum parts I had composed for the songs, and then sat in my bedroom with my Digi 003 & recorded every single instrument & vocal part for all trn songs. “One Last Monsoon” was actually the name of my band in New York, when I was studying & working there, but I decided to use this name for my album instead as I became a sort of misanthrope after I had moved back to India. I realized that the theme of a number of my songs were to do with mankind being erased by Mother Nature, therefore paving the way for a possible better & more intelligent species.

Why did you pick the name “The Koniac Net” for your project?

I had this name for one of my mix CDs I made. It represents a point in your life, 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 & 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 & Southern Comfort were at trying times.

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

The cover is gorgeous, who’s responsible for the artwork?

The album cover was done by a very closed friend of mine from my high school, whose work I have admired since I’ve know him: Aviraj Sehmi.

Who would you love to play on one stage with?

Oh my, this is a tough question. There SO MANY bands I would do almost anything to play on the same stage as: the Deftones, Helmet, the Kissaway Trail, Toadies, Superdrag, Swervedriver, Teenage Fanclub, Starfucker, the French Kicks, Dinosaur Pile-Up, Jason Collett, Catherine Wheel, Penniless, Alberta Cross, Manchester Orchestra… and a number more!

David would love to share the stage with alternative metal titans Deftones

What’s coming next for The Koniac Net?

Well, we are currently working on a 5-song EP. This will be the first time that I will be writing my music with other people (the rest of the band members). We’ve pretty much gotten most songs down completely and are currently in the recording process. We hope to release the album by the end of 2013. This EP will bridge “One Last Monsoon” to our future 2nd album (also songs I had written between 2000-2011), which I have been dying to get out for the past 5 years. The EP acts as a good bridge since we, as a band, want to not only play indie & alternative, but hard alternative, shoegaze, stoner, etc. as well.

More about David Abraham and his project The Koniac Net on Soundcloud, Facebook, Twitter, Reverbnation and MySpace. “One last monsoon”  can also be bought digitally on Bandcamp, ITunes and Amazon.

4 comments for “The Koniac Net

  1. Ruthus
    November 27, 2013 at 2:28 pm

    Great intrview! This band is fantastic. Been a huge fan for months now. One of the best bands I’ve heard, (EVER). The music is very unique as well as the vocals… David is a musical genius. “No doubt”. Wish them all the best in the future and can’t wait to get my hands on that new album….

  2. Ruthus
    November 29, 2013 at 9:31 am

    Great interview! This band is FANTASTIC….. Been a huge fan for a few months now. I higly recommend it. David Abraham is a musical genius! Can’t wait to get my hands on the new album!

  3. Nida Ali
    December 12, 2013 at 1:24 pm

    Fantastic interview! Fantastic band! EVERYONE should check out ‘The Koniac Net”. Eagerly waiting for the upcoming EP!

  4. Nida Ali
    December 12, 2013 at 2:04 pm

    Fantastic interview! Fantartic band! EVERYONE should check out “The Koniac Net”. Eagerly waiting for the upcoming EP!

Comments are closed.