Nikotin may not be signed to a major label — or any label at all — but chances are, you’ve already heard of them. The regional rock band has been alive and kicking since 2005, keeping its flame alight in the midst of a flickering music scene. The band members’ perseverance has been a true indicator of the rock ‘n roll mentality: stop at nothing.
After a line-up change in 2009 — including the addition of lead vocalist Neil “Cruize” D’Cruz — Nikotin began to make a name for themselves by playing live gigs across the country. But nearly ten years since the band’s formation as a simple “bedroom project”, the boys decided to take the next big leap. On Saturday they released their first ever record by the name of Panodrama.
“It was two years ago when we actually decided to start putting together music for our first album,” D’Cruz said. “It addresses the human condition, thoughts on emotions, and the search for hope in a very tangible way. Panodrama is an exploration of these emotions — a Panorama of Drama.”
After their album launch party at Hard Rock cafe, D’Cruz and his band mates — Frederick Mondol, Irfan “Charlie” Omar, Kenan Bairouti and Walid Khalif — opened up about the struggles of making it as an unsigned band, their support for regional rock buds Vin Sinners and how the voices of their fans made it onto their album — literally.
You’ve been together for five years, but are just now putting your first album out. What held you back from releasing a debut sooner?
Omar: After we formed, we gigged a lot... and I mean a lot! Eventually, we started getting called up for really big gigs and, of course, we couldn’t have been happier. We were also writing and composing music back then, which we started playing at our live shows. And our stuff was so well received, we knew we had to put it out there in a big way, but without the support of a record label, which of course meant we were doing things independently and hence it took a little bit longer. I’ll tell you one thing though; the fruit of our labour could not be any sweeter!
What’s the scene right now for local bands in the UAE? We see some activity and some talk of major labels opening their doors to regional talent, but what’s the reality?
Bairouti: The music scene in the UAE is growing and has come a long way. It’s amazing to see musicians taking matters into their own hands and doing things themselves instead of waiting for something to happen. There are a lot of bands that have done amazing things independently. Respect to them! On the other hand, our good friends, Vin Sinners, just recently got signed to Universal Records India which is just amazing. We are glad to see that some major labels are finally taking notice of regional rock acts. This support is a step in the right direction.
You’re working as an independent band right now. How difficult was it to release an album without the backing of a label?
D’Cruz: It depends on how you look at it. We knew exactly what we wanted our album to sound like and the level of production that would be required, but when you work for yourself, you bear the responsibility for how your career pans out. And it’s not always an easy burden to bear. At the same time, working independently may just be the highest form of self-actualization in our whole career.
What about the “crowd-sourcing” you’ve done. Where did you get the idea, and what is it exactly?
D’Cruz: One of the tracks on Panodrama called Overloaded always had the audience belting out the chorus at our live gigs. When we went into the studio to record the track, it just wasn’t the same without that massive, crowd-backed chorus, so we decided to get our fans involved by getting them to send in their voices which we layered to mimic a packed stadium.
Did you scrap any songs in the studio when you were narrowing it down to the final product?
Omar: Actually, we were a track short. We wrote our last track In the Eyes in a day and it’s turned out to be one of our favourite tracks on the record.
What’s the album cover artwork all about?
Mondol: The artwork was created by the extremely talented, Guillermo Munro. We had him listen to a couple of demos from the record and basically let the music be his inspiration to design what is now the visual representation of Panodrama.
The official launch and release date was on March 8 at the Hard Rock Cafe. Where can we get the album?
Khalif: For now, the album is available internationally for digital download on iTunes, Amazon Music and Nokia Music. Album CDs will soon be available at Virgin Megastores across the UAE and eventually the rest of the Middle East.
And finally, what’s next for Nikotin?
Omar: Putting out this record is literally just the tip of the work we have ahead of us. We got the ball rolling with Panodrama and we’re looking forward to more gigs and tours. We’ve already started working on new material — it’s just us getting together, sharing ideas and a bit of composition, as well, and it’s going great so far. So we’re hoping to get back into the studio by the end of this year.
Panodrama is out now. For more on the band go to www.nikotinmusic.com.
