Meet the Kochi-based drummers whose venue, Plug N Play, is revitalising the indie scene

Their idea is to help musicians bridge the gap between art and business.

Performance at Plug N Play

It all began when musicians Binoy Joseph and Benhar Thomas met each other while exploring the world of drum rudiments, rhythms, and fills. The percussion journey that started in Cochin Arts and Communication wound up in the creation of a venue in Edapally called Plug N Play. Now, they’re flying down international bands like glam metal act Nitro to Kochi, hosting Iron Maiden tribute gigs with Hexagun, showcasing gigs with famed playback singer Jyotsna, and even producing viral music videos.

Humble beginnings

L to R: Benhar and Binoy

Both youngsters were initially guided by Jerry Peter, founder of the band Wooden Shield. While Binoy focussed on the artistic and operations aspects of the outfit, Benhar worked on reaching out to the crowd and bring in sponsors. They also performed individually in other bands and worked as freelancers in the events sector. All of this industry exposure and on-the-job expertise resulted in the formation of their own brand, Plug N Play.

“Leaving my corporate job in Huawei Mobiles was a hard decision. It was my safety net, but I wanted to invest all my time into my singular passion: music. I believe true artistes pursue their dreams by overcoming all hurdles,” states Benhar. The primary focus of their 1,000 sq ft establishment is to bridge the gap between ‘Art’ and ‘Business’. “These are two very different things. So, we wanted to help independent artistes to put forth their true potential while we took care of organising and production work for them. Most artistes don’t understand the corporate side of things, however, we do,” explains Binoy, when asked about the USP of their label.

Quantum leap
Their biggest breakthroughs have been organising the Machans Music Festival in Fort Kochi and working on the video production of the Orfeo Quintet’s track Rakkamma—which went viral (over 1.1 million views on YouTube). They are currently working on launching a music school/art space, instrumental productions, and hosting multi-genre gigs (think Ghazal Nights) in their venue. “Simply put, we are a place where independent artistes can perform and flourish—while we provide marketing support and build their public relations for them. Plug N Play will be a stepping-stone for emerging singer-songwriters searching for global recognition,” concludes Benhar.

Open from 9.30 am to 9.30 pm.
Near Metro Pillar #398.