Michael Dias’ bond with the guitar started long before birthing his popular rock band Mad Orange Fireworks. He would chip in that he was a singer-songwriter ever since he figured his way along the fretboard.
“For me, it’s never been just about playing the guitar or just singing; it was always about doing both together. I was performing some of the tunes and when I met the right guys I got them involved to form a band,” says Michael, who started his musical training at the age of nine at Kalabhavan.
Growing up with country music and rock ‘n’ roll, the musician shares that he’s just as comfortable busking on the sidewalk, as he’s performing onstage. After moving to Bengaluru for a software job—which he later dropped in favour of a rockstar life—Michael is bringing his solo showcase to his hometown this weekend.
Dreaming alone
So, what makes his one-man show different from a Mad Orange Fireworks gig?
“Independent music has more individuality as it’s more about what the single person connects with more. When I write songs, it starts with a version that I compose on an acoustic guitar. Most of them turn out into Mad Orange Fireworks songs but some of them don’t quite fit into the setup of a band,” says the 31-year-old, whose performance will constitute of 50 per cent originals.
The rest of the hour-long set will be taken up by covers of artistes like Sting and Avial: “not the popular numbers, but the ones that have really had an influence on me,” says Michael. Alongside acoustic versions of songs from his band, the crowd can expect new material including tracks like Give It All Away which is about self-realisation.
At the Muse Room
On December 16 at 7 pm