It's no secret that Best Kept Secret is perhaps one of the most sought-after English pop bands in the country right now, with an impressive and wide-ranging fan base, which they have amassed in just four years. If you’ve never had a chance to witness any of their Coldplay tribute sets live, you’re in luck, as the Bengaluru-based pop rock outfit is all set to belt out some of the British rock band’s most iconic numbers at Hard Rock Cafe, Kolkata on June 6, as a part of their North East India tour. The band’s vocalist Behram Siganporia reveals that Best Kept Secret wanted to perform an original set for their Hard Rock gig, but they wanted to give the people of the city a feel of their hugely popular Coldplay covers, as they don’t get a chance to perform in Kolkata too often.
“We have grown up listening to Coldplay. It’s safe to say that their music really resonates with us. Their songwriting has had a really big impact on the band. It’s more than just the music, it’s their ability to move the listener to an emotion. Even after listening to their numbers a million times, and playing them quite often, we feel a sense of thrill whenever we perform the band’s set. A lot of people from the city have actually been requesting us to play Coldplay’s songs here, and we thought we might as well give the crowd what they want,” offers Behram. Best Kept Secret came to popularity with their diverse line-up and energetic, impeccably curated live sets. They have experimented with pop, disco, blues and, of course, rock. So, it’s no surprise that their upcoming full-length, nine-track debut album features pop-rock influences along with some blues and funk.
The band’s original singles such as Moving On (2018) and Can’t Let You Go (2017) have done exceptionally well. From music festivals and fashion weeks across the country to tours across Asia and Europe, Best Kept Secret has performed everywhere, and Behram tells us that they’re always surprised when they meet fans in foreign countries. “We performed in Jordan last month, and it was beautiful. We had no idea we had fans there. Our show in Germany in August last year was completely sold out, and we were quite stunned. In fact, a couple of our songs have been playing on German radio on popular demand as well,” remarks Behram.
Best Kept Secret’s North Eastern tour will also see them playing at Siliguri, Gangtok, Guwahati and Shillong. While it takes independent all-English bands in the country a few years before they can actually carve out a niche, Best Kept Secret has had a phenomenal ascension to relevance. “When you play music, it’s almost like telling a story, and that’s actually how we write a song. The live sounds are also a priority for us. A lot of numbers sound good on radio, but we’re consistently thinking about how a song will sound live. So, we can factor in the emotions of the listeners. If it will make them cry or clap their hands to it,” reveals Behram. And, we have to agree with him on this one. Best Kept Secret has had a steady focus on their live gigs, and they have only gotten better, especially as they get to perform on a range of platforms, across continents. Though the indie scene in the country is shaping up well, Behram believes it’s hard to sustain original live acts in the age of EDM.
“There was a point when there were so many bands who would pursue a number of genres. I remember quite a few legendary bands from Kolkata as well. India had a really good rock and independent music scene at one point. However, a lot of younger performers have chosen to pursue DJing, rather than creating new stuff. We have way more DJs than we had a decade ago, and we have way less bands. By bands, I mean, acts who compose new music, and actually make their living from it. So we have fewer originators,” the vocalist tells us.
At Hard Rock Cafe. June 6, 8.30 pm.