Kolkata-based duo, Parekh and Singh’s new album, Science City, is an ode to the ‘lightness of childhood’ 

The genre of dream pop in India is synonymous with the music of Parekh and Singh. The Kolkata-based duo, made of Nischay Parekh and Jivraj Singh, captures a romantic nostalgia for all things retro through its lingering, guitar-driven melodies. The latest album is no exception. Titled Science City, it is an ode to the famous edutainment complex for kids located in Kolkata. “Science City has been a part of every Kolkata childhood for over two decades. It is a strong memory for the both of us and is a symbol of our desire to continually learn and grow, but always preserve some of the lightness of childhood,” says Nischay, the vocalist and guitarist. As part of the Science City Tour, the band comes to Bengaluru this weekend.

The album was conceptualised over the course of many meals, drives, chats and studio sessions, Nischay tells us, adding, “The mood of the album varies across different atmospheres, tempos, textures, stylistics, inspirations and eras.” The track, Hello, touches on themes of communication, while the psychedelic number, Sunbeam, talks about health and mortality. “We’re currently enjoying 100 Shadows a lot. It’s a tribute to The Lord of The Rings books and movies; both of which we love,” he reveals.

The song Summer Skin, with a lingering melody, also has a music video that illustrates their love for childhood science experiments. “We love making videos. When we’re working on a video, it truly feels like we’re constructing a parallel universe and living in it for a while,” he adds. The duo’s earlier album, Ocean, made waves (pardon the pun) in the indie circuit and even beyond. The hit song, I Love You Baby, with its Wes Anderson-esque music video, even got the approval of the American director who emailed the band about how much he loved the video.

In Science City, we get a glimpse into how much the band has matured. Nischay offers, “We’ve navigated a lot of challenging experiences and hopefully grown up a bit in the years since Ocean and we think some of that growth has seeped into the music.” Post this four-city tour, the two are shooting a few more videos, touring more and travelling. “We’re also looking forward to making some new music again,” the artiste signs off. 

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