In an industry that’s undergoing dramatic change where, thanks to the internet, anyone who is anybody can put music online and sell records, the tried-and-tested formula of a music label-groomed artist still is, for some, the ultimate nod of approval.
For the UAE-based rockers of Vin Sinners, who’ve just been signed by Universal Music India, it’s that, and also the beginning of a very exciting journey.
“We’ve arrived at the station and now we’re ready to board the train,” says Vin Nair, the group’s hard-working frontman who put the band together in 2010. “For us it’s an acknowledgement of the dedication and hard work we’ve put in all these years. And that means it will push us to also make this commitment work and be a success.”
The deal comes just in time for the global release of Vin Sinners’ sophomore album, A Mighty Black Box, which will act as a follow-up to their 2011 independent release An Element of Surprise. The band’s first single, the aptly-titled Open the Box, will be released on March 1 digitally. The full album will be available online by March 15 with physical albums on sale by the end of that month.
A number of bands in the UAE have been associated with major record labels in the past, says Nair. “But it’s mostly for distribution deals where a label will help sell their albums and distribute them. No other rock band have actually been signed up for an actual recording deal,” he explains.
The three-year multi-album deal with Universal Music India will require Vin Sinners to produce and record a number of albums. The band will in turn receive promotional help from a major recording company, which will include tours across India and abroad, and physical album packaging and sales. Universal Music Group, the US-based, French-owned multinational, is the largest music corporation in the world with subsidiaries in many countries, including the UAE.
The Indian label got involved following the band’s extensive tours across the country, says Nair. And it helped that all of Vin Sinners’ members were Indians.
‘Stand out’
“As a band we’ve always looked to represent something. We wanted to send out a message where rock ‘n’ roll doesn’t always mean drugs and a free-wheeling lifestyle. Apart from representing their own style of music, artists have to stand out. And perhaps that’s what they saw in us,” says Nair on why he thought the company picked them. “You need to stand for something.”
Besides Nair, Vin Sinners features Johan Roy on bass, ‘Tazz’ Khan on guitar, ‘The Skinner’ Naveen on drums/percussion and Keith Roche on keyboards. All five of them work day jobs to supplement their music careers.
“We’re going to have to take our annual leave to go on tour to promote the album,” Nair laughs. “For now that’s the only way we can make it work.”
Even before the record label deal, the boys added a feather to their caps: the upcoming album’s first single Open the Box will feature none other than former Iron Maiden frontman Blaze Baley.
“Blaze was the frontman of what is one of the world’s greatest heavy metal bands and many of us have followed his career even after that. I remember travelling all the way from Chennai to Bengaluru (in south India) to buy the new Iron Maiden record he debuted on called X Factor back in 1996 because back then it was difficult to get the absolute latest music. So it is really a great honour to have him feature on a track that we’ve produced,” says Nair.
Baley’s appearance might seem an unlikely collaboration, but he is no stranger to Dubai’s underground music scene. Before making waves with Iron Maiden, the vocalist fronted Wolfsbane, a group who, believe it or not, got their first gig as a house band in a hotel in the city.
“I love it when I can be part of a project run by a hard-working band,” he told tabloid! of the collaboration earlier.
Although represented by an Indian label, the album is a 100 per cent Made-in-the-UAE album, says Nair.
“The entire album was recorded here in Dubai and was mixed and produced here. It’s a complete Dubai product,” he says. “At the end of the day we represent the rock ‘n’ roll scene from Dubai and we are really proud of that.”
For more on Vin Sinners go to facebook.com/vinsinners
