Thank God for new platforms and streaming services: Palash Sen, as he reflects upon 26 years of Euphoria & re-releasing their songs for the fans

Oh, the band came together way before our first album in 1998. I was always a band follower, so whether it was The Beatles or Led Zeppelin or Pink Floyd or Deep Purple, I always thought people getting together to make music and playing it live was the way to go. I found like-minded people and formed a band. Also, I realised being a rockstar on stage is one of the easiest ways to impress all the girls. What I didn’t account for was that once you get off the stage, those same girls are not interested! They all have their boyfriends (laughs). So yeah, that was what it was in 1998 and yes, from day one, I always envisioned our band bringing music which was a fusion of the Indian and the Western. I understood very early on that if we just sing in English, it’s not going to reach anywhere. But doing it in your language, and doing it as a fusion of Hindi and Western music, I think that’s what made us stand out; and I think I was right, because here we are. So many English bands have come and gone, but here’s a band that’s been around for 26 years.

I think each one of us is fond of different kinds of music, but one thing is common, we all want to make original music. One of the first things we do when any song is being made is we try to find out if it sounds like anybody else. If it sounds like anybody else, then we don’t make that song. Euphoria has its own sound and brand, which we have tried to develop over the last 26 years. You will not hear us do anything else but ‘our’ kind of music. So we keep our influences to guide us to make music. We don’t follow those influences, instead those are part of our learning, our education, but the output is always our own.

I believe music is music. One can look at things being ahead of time, or in time. I feel that we did nothing great. We also learned from the people who were playing way before us. Bands like Shakti and Mahavishnu Orchestra and so many other artistes were already doing something like this at different times, in different spaces. In the ’60s and ’70s, The Beatles were already experimenting with Ravi Shankar ji, so it’s not like we did anything phenomenal; we just brought it to people’s notice in the ’90s, since in 1998, when we came out with our music, nobody else was doing this. But yes, obviously, people learn and they move on, but I can say with confidence and a lot of gratitude that what we have done and the kind of sound we have created will always be ‘our’ sound, and that’s great. Every artiste dreams of having a sound identity, and I think Euphoria has been very lucky to have done that.

Thank God these new platforms and streaming services have come! I think it makes the entire playing field extremely even and democratic. Obviously, the films are going to have more money to promote their music, and hence, it reaches more people. But still, at least these streaming services give you a fair chance. I am extremely grateful to them. It’s going to help musicians over time. What we, as a band, are doing is, we are trying to get back all the rights to our earlier music, and we are starting with the first two albums, Dhoom and Phir Dhoom. It’s a brand new recording for all the people who have followed us for so many years. It’s our gift to all the people who have been listening to us; and to the newer fans who might come and listen to us. I don’t take myself to be the best at what I do, but I am hoping that people will come and listen to Euphoria when our music is being presented again. I’ve always felt that Euphoria’s music is for the ages.

Euphoria has had its own set of struggles. Everybody grows and everybody changes. People outgrow marriages! But this is a band that has actually changed a lot of things in this country. Lot of people have hope. So many people’s lives are affected by Euphoria. So many people get so much happiness from us. So people who change their mind, who don’t believe in what the core of Euphoria is all about, are most welcome to leave. I don’t have a contract with anybody in this band. Euphoria is about happiness and love. I’m not the kind of person who gets into fights or arguments. Yes, I’m known to have a very bad temper, but it has more to do with efficiency, whether it is my own or whether it’s anybody in the band, and that is the way a captain has to play. You see, I’m the leader of the band, but I’m also the peon of the band.

I’m just a speck in the sands of time. I’ve really not changed anything. I made a mark maybe but that’s about it, especially in a country that is actually ruled only by film music. I don’t take myself that seriously in the bigger picture of things. Once I’m gone, what difference does it make? I’m not saying this with any kind of arrogance, but with a lot of humility.

There have been many, but I will perhaps talk about two. A girl in Dubai called me when we were there on a radio station, and she told me that our song Mehfuz helped her get over her father’s death. That was a very significant moment for me. And second, when Euphoria was invited to play at the Vaishu Devi in 2024. It was the first time a rock band went to a place of worship and played an entire set of bhajans! That shows the versatility of Euphoria and also the respect we have in this country — to be invited to a place like that.

COVID was the time when the virtual concerts started. We must have done a lot of virtual concerts just to entertain people. I think that’s part of what we learned during that time. You know, nothing should stop the music. Whether it is live concerts or virtual, Euphoria is ready with both. During the COVID, we realised how much people loved us, because it was a more close relationship with our audiences. I also realised that our music might not be the most hyped or the most commercial, but it is music that connects us to everybody’s hearts. And I’m very sure Euphoria is India’s most loved band.