Motherjane
Encyclopedia
Motherjane is an Indian rock
band from Kochi
, India, formed in 1996. The band consists of Suraj Mani (vocals), John Thomas (drums and percussion), Clyde Rozario (bass guitar
), Deepu Sasidharan (guitar
and backing vocals) and Santosh Chandran (guitar
). They have released a total of two studio albums, and three singles. Since their formation, different styles like progressive rock
and Carnatic music
have influenced their music.
, Kochi. The initial line up consisted of John Thomas (drums), Clyde Rozario (bass), Mithun (guitars) and Laji (vocals). Vocalist Laji soon left the band and Motherjane had to continue as an instrumental band without a vocalist. In 1999 lead guitarist Mithun left the band and was replaced by Baiju Dharmajan. Around that time, Motherjane used to play at a restaurant called Ancient Mariner in Marine Drive, Kochi
. In 2000, Suraj Mani a HVAC engineer
by training, who used to perform with Bangalore
based rock bands, shifted to Kochi and chanced to meet the band at the Ancient Mariner. Thomas invited Mani to sing with the band, but Mani was not satisfied with the band only doing covers. Mani became the bands vocalist and wrote Motherjane's first original song "Disillusioned" soon after. About the same time, Motherjane recruited yet another guitarist, Rex Vijayan. Things took a slight detour after six months, when Mani moved back to Bangalore, but they continued to meet and jam as a band.
band 13AD
. Insane Biography was the only Indian album to be featured in the Asian Rock Rising Festival in Japan on November 1, 2003. The band also headlined Levi’s Great Indian Rock 2003.
was prominently seen in the guitar, vocals and percussion, and native instruments like the chenda
were used. Strong Carnatic guitar leads by Baiju were instrumental in growing Motherjane's fanbase exponentially and provided a new musical direction to the band. In 2009, Rolling Stone India
named Maktub as the album of the year.
In 2008, Motherjane opened for Megadeth
and Machine Head
in Rock in India 2008, Bangalore
and for Opeth
in Saarang '08
at IIT Madras. Motherjane has been a frequent headliner of college rock festivals across India and has performed at IIT Kanpur, IIT Madras, IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Guwahati, AIIMS, and BITS Pilani amongst several others.
Motherjane was ranked #1 in Rock Street Journal
s bands of the decade in 2010. In the 2010 AVIMA Awards, Motherjane won the award for the Most Popular Act of Asia, and lead vocalist Suraj Mani was awarded Best Rock Vocalist. In the 2009 AVIMA Awards, Motherjane was awarded the Best Rock Act.
In November 2010, Motherjane on their website announced guitarist Baiju Dharmajan's departure from the band to work with his new band Wrenz United. Later, in January 2011 Motherjane announced that Santosh Chandran has joined the band as the new guitarist.
Motherjane's new album, tentatively titled 'Graffiti Without Walls', is expected to be released by the end of the year 2011.
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band from Kochi
Kochi
-Places:* Kochi, a city in the state of Kerala, India, formerly known as Cochin* Kingdom of Cochin, a former feudal city-state on Malabar Coast, India** Fort Kochi, one of the three main urban components which constitute the present day city of Kochi, Kerala, India...
, India, formed in 1996. The band consists of Suraj Mani (vocals), John Thomas (drums and percussion), Clyde Rozario (bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
), Deepu Sasidharan (guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
and backing vocals) and Santosh Chandran (guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
). They have released a total of two studio albums, and three singles. Since their formation, different styles like progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
and Carnatic music
Carnatic music
Carnatic music is a system of music commonly associated with the southern part of the Indian subcontinent, with its area roughly confined to four modern states of India: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu...
have influenced their music.
Formation and early days
Motherjane was formed in 1996 by drummer John Thomas and bassist Clyde Rozario to "fill in" for another band which had backed out from a college festival at St. Albert's CollegeSt. Albert's College
St. Alberts College is an arts and science college located at Kochi, IndiaSt. Albert’s College, started in 1946 is an accredited first grade Arts, Science and Commerce College affiliated to Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala, India.St...
, Kochi. The initial line up consisted of John Thomas (drums), Clyde Rozario (bass), Mithun (guitars) and Laji (vocals). Vocalist Laji soon left the band and Motherjane had to continue as an instrumental band without a vocalist. In 1999 lead guitarist Mithun left the band and was replaced by Baiju Dharmajan. Around that time, Motherjane used to play at a restaurant called Ancient Mariner in Marine Drive, Kochi
Marine Drive, Kochi
Marine Drive is a picturesque promenade in Kochi, Kerala, India. It is built facing the backwaters, and is a popular hangout for the local populace. Ironic to its name, no vehicles are allowed on the walkway. Marine Drive is also an economically thriving part of the city of Kochi. With several...
. In 2000, Suraj Mani a HVAC engineer
HVAC
HVAC refers to technology of indoor or automotive environmental comfort. HVAC system design is a major subdiscipline of mechanical engineering, based on the principles of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer...
by training, who used to perform with Bangalore
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
based rock bands, shifted to Kochi and chanced to meet the band at the Ancient Mariner. Thomas invited Mani to sing with the band, but Mani was not satisfied with the band only doing covers. Mani became the bands vocalist and wrote Motherjane's first original song "Disillusioned" soon after. About the same time, Motherjane recruited yet another guitarist, Rex Vijayan. Things took a slight detour after six months, when Mani moved back to Bangalore, but they continued to meet and jam as a band.
Insane Biography (2002-2003)
Motherjane released their debut album, Insane Biography in 2002 under Kan & Will Records. The songs "Maya" and "Soul Corporations" had strong Indian musical elements which would continue in later albums. "Soul Corporations" was featured in Geki-Teki Metal, a compilation album released in Japan in 2004. Soon after the release of Insane Biography, rhythm guitarist Rex Vijayan left the band in 2003, and was replaced by Deepu Sasidharan. Sasidharan, at that time, was playing with the Kochi based Hard RockHard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
band 13AD
13AD
13AD was a prominent classic and hard rock band from Kochi, India.- History & formation :13AD was one of India's top most rock bands from the 80's to the mid 90's...
. Insane Biography was the only Indian album to be featured in the Asian Rock Rising Festival in Japan on November 1, 2003. The band also headlined Levi’s Great Indian Rock 2003.
Maktub (2008-present)
Maktub which was released in 2008, marked a change in Motherjane's musical style. Influence of Carnatic musicCarnatic music
Carnatic music is a system of music commonly associated with the southern part of the Indian subcontinent, with its area roughly confined to four modern states of India: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu...
was prominently seen in the guitar, vocals and percussion, and native instruments like the chenda
Chenda
The Chenda is a cylindrical percussion instrument used widely in the state of Kerala, and Tulu Nadu of Karnataka State in India. In Tulu Nadu it is known as Chande....
were used. Strong Carnatic guitar leads by Baiju were instrumental in growing Motherjane's fanbase exponentially and provided a new musical direction to the band. In 2009, Rolling Stone India
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
named Maktub as the album of the year.
In 2008, Motherjane opened for Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...
and Machine Head
Machine Head (band)
Machine Head is an American heavy metal band from Oakland, California. Formed on October 12, 1991, the group was founded by Robb Flynn and Adam Duce. There have been 4 member changes since their inception. The current lineup of the band comprises Flynn , Duce , ex-Vio-Lence guitarist Phil Demmel ,...
in Rock in India 2008, Bangalore
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
and for Opeth
Opeth
Opeth is a Swedish heavy metal band from Stockholm, formed in 1990. Though the group has been through several personnel changes, singer, guitarist, and songwriter Mikael Åkerfeldt has remained Opeth's driving force throughout the years...
in Saarang '08
Saarang
Saarang is the annual social and cultural festival of IIT Madras. It is a five-day long event held towards the end of January every year and is attended by around 50,000 students. Called Mardi Gras when it was started more than thirty years ago, the fest has gone on to become an integral part of...
at IIT Madras. Motherjane has been a frequent headliner of college rock festivals across India and has performed at IIT Kanpur, IIT Madras, IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Guwahati, AIIMS, and BITS Pilani amongst several others.
Motherjane was ranked #1 in Rock Street Journal
Rock Street Journal
Rock Street Journal or RSJ is a monthly magazine covering the rock scene in India and South Asia. It was started in January 1993 in Allahabad by Amit Saigal and Shena Gamat Saigal after they realized the lack of support system for Indian rock musicians. The magazine has grown in popularity ever...
s bands of the decade in 2010. In the 2010 AVIMA Awards, Motherjane won the award for the Most Popular Act of Asia, and lead vocalist Suraj Mani was awarded Best Rock Vocalist. In the 2009 AVIMA Awards, Motherjane was awarded the Best Rock Act.
In November 2010, Motherjane on their website announced guitarist Baiju Dharmajan's departure from the band to work with his new band Wrenz United. Later, in January 2011 Motherjane announced that Santosh Chandran has joined the band as the new guitarist.
Motherjane's new album, tentatively titled 'Graffiti Without Walls', is expected to be released by the end of the year 2011.
Current members
- Suraj Mani – Vocals (2000–present)
- John Thomas – Drums (1996–present)
- Clyde Rozario – BassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(1996–present) - Deepu Sasidharan – GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
(2003–present) - Santosh Chandran – GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
(2011–present)
Former Members
- Baiju DharmajanBaiju DharmajanBaiju Dharmajan is an Indian guitarist, music composer, producer and guitar teacher. He is widely considered as one of the best guitar players to have surfaced in the country from the last decade. He achieved fame and huge popularity in India, as the lead guitarist for the Indian rock band Motherjane...
– Lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
(1999–2010) - Rex Vijayan – Rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
(2000–2003) - Laji – Vocals – (1996–2000)
- R.Mithun – Lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
– (1996–1999) - Deepak DevDeepak DevDeepak Devraj, better known as Deepak Dev is an Indian music composer, best known for his compositions in Malayalam cinema, with films such as Chronic Bachelor, Symphony, Udayananu Tharam, Naran, and Puthiya Mukham.-Early years:...
- Biju Peter (Rock Biju) – Vocals