INTERVIEW: Shantam, Pulpy Shilpy, Nigel Perera and Himay presents «Swarm Intel Vol 1» [OCL Records]

Who Music Magazine sat down with three of the four stars of the Swarm Intel Volume 1 record. Shantam, Pulpy Shilpy, Nigel Perera and Himay joined forced for the in-augural OCL Records release. This record is absolute fire, lets find out a bit more about the artists involved…

Hi there ! Where can we find you right now? How did you start your day?

Himay – Hi :). Right now, at home or on Instagram haha. I started my day with a cup of coffee, preparing to answer these questions.

Pulpy Shilpy – I’m in a street called Madla Bhatt in Siolim, Goa. I woke up at 1 pm with a cup of black coffee. I was bugging my cat Ms Suzie LePouf, and have scratches all over.

Shantam – Im at my desk right now. Started my day with a song in my heart and twinkle in my eye, No! with that ‘uurrghh…gimme coffeee’ zombie stare.

When did the idea for your new record take shape?

Pulpy Shilpy – Last year April. We were determined to create a platform for underground artists, and I was keen on writing a song exclusively for this project, to get things rolling. We had also curated events where two other artists – Himay and Shantam – on the album have performed with us (Orbs Cure Labs). So it all came together somehow. There was trust at the beginning of the process itself.

Shantam – Back in 2016 when I lived in the beautiful Andaman Islands.

Himay – The idea for this new record took shape in Goa, at Chapora.

How would you define the sound of your latest work? What is the concept behind it?

Himay – I remember playing at sunrise at a party hosted by Gowri and Ryan. That gig was really special after the first wave of covid lockdowns. The idea of this song was to make the listener feel the emotions from that surreal morning in Goa.

Pulpy Shilpy – I think I was going for some minimal psychedelia meets hard-hitting electro. I’m not sure if that’s what I made or achieved. I have never written a tune like Rigor Tortoise, and it became just an exploration of sounds, and me figuring how to arrange and build on them best.

Shantam – FunMusic is left-ffield with classical sensibilities. A melange of harmonic relationships with lofi chunky grit.

What artists are you interested in these days? Do you see any new sounds coming through that excite you?

Shantam – There’s always new sounds and inspiring artists to be found. If not for the particular style of music but also sometimes for what they represent.

Pulpy Shilpy – I am quite a fan of Jambutek Recordings from Sri Lanka. And musically, I love Rene Wise, and I want to study his way of producing. I would love to have him on our next compilation (Rene, if you are reading this)! In electronic music, one of my favourite artists has been Emperor Machine – since I discovered him three years ago. He always surprises and pleases.

Himay – There are a ton of artists who are producing amazing music these days, and it has never been more accessible. I have always enjoyed a bit of acid and I am really liking this new direction of Acid House with inspiration and sounds from around the world.

Where would you say your sound sits, firmly in one genre or a mixture?

Himay – I think production-wise, it is a bit of a mixture. But as a DJ, I try to keep it in the ‘House’ spectrum of things haha.

Shantam – Its definitely a mixture, a melange of all things I love.

Pulpy Shilpy – I’m angling for one genre, but at the moment, it’s all kinds of scattered. I’m learning, and it’s taking me time. I’ve barely begun mixing my own songs, and even that, I’ve been pretty slow on the uptake. After nearly two decades of being a singer/songwriter and guitarist, understanding music from the poverties of sounds is very very new for me.

How do you see the music scene at the moment?

Pulpy Shilpy – I see so much potential, but there’s a lot to learn on how to go about grabbing opportunities, or creating new. It’s all there, but here we are getting our hands dirty and learning it the hard way – by doing. It’s one way to go about it. I do feel a bit puzzled with
our scene though. In India, especially, there is so much going on – so much confusion, turmoil, hatred, prejudice. Yet what we create is always safe (IMO) and we try to appease some international unspoken jury. I really hope that changes. There’s a lot to communicate, a lot to document, and as musicians, we have the chance and need to do it. Else there will be no real change or healing. Just lukewarm imitations of scenes bygone.

Shantam – India is growing and full of prospect. Its an exciting time indeed. There’s room for everyone and everything. One just needs to find the right space.

Himay – The music scene in India is vibrant and growing rapidly. Although it is still in its early stages so there is a lack of venues, professionalism etc. But those are all problems we can deal with to do what we love.

Tell us something about your current or future projects?

Himay – After this release, I have another single out on a compilation at the end of May and then a two song EP, ‘Another Side Of Me’ out on 3rd June on 400303 Records. Hopefully a live set for the start of the post monsoon season in India.

Pulpy Shilpy – Now we have set up Orbs Cure Labs as a legitimate organization, and OCL Records as a legitimate label. The next few years are just going to be focused on building these platforms. Our first and foremost goal is to bring about financial independence amongst independent and unsigned artists from across spectrums.

Shantam – My next project began as a my trying to steer away from a cerebral approach to making music and letting my emotional states and ability to express them dictate the mood and direction of the tracks. It has been exciting and found myself in a new world of sound that I would previously shy away from. Expression for its own sake!

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