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The Koniac Net Release New EP Abiogenesis

The Koniac Net Release New EP Abiogenesis

By Amaan Khan

“Some (international radio) stations abroad liked my first album so much that they dedicated a whole 40-mins to the album, playing every single song” – frontman and songwriter David Abraham of Mumbai-based alt-rock band The Koniac Net, on gaining international radio airplay for his previous album One Last Monsoon.

During the early days as a solo singer-songwriter, frontman and songwriter David Abraham of The Koniac Net held a not-so-common approach to enter the Indian indie music scene. For him, garnering international mileage before anchoring at Indian shores was imperative, possibly due to an unripe music market. So, after tremendous networking abroad, his songs gained popularity on international radios, following which he started getting calls in India to feature or play his music. But that, he says, is an idea of the past. “… We’ve worked hard to build our name; enough to catch people’s attention without flaunting the ‘it-was-played-abroad’ banner.”

While indie artists are always on the lookout for a niche sound to be associated with, The Koniac Net are graciously elated when compared to international acts including The Smashing Pumpkins, Death Cab for Cutie, Marcy Playground, Toadies, and most of all Deftones.  On February 28, the band released its high-paced five-track EP titled Abiogenesis that is not only admirably mastered but also rests within the realm of familiar-yet-unfamiliar alt rock. soundplunge_test caught up with David Abraham for a candid chat about the new EP, thoughts on getting international acclaim before entering the Indian market, and touring India in the near future, especially the North East. Edited excerpts below.

soundplunge_test: Abiogenesis, that’s an unusual name. What inspired it?

David Abraham: I wanted to continue from the theme that I began with for my debut album (One Last Monsoon – wiping our race out, paving way for a better and more sagacious species) to be part of a whole story. The EP, being the bridge between my first album and our future second album, acts like the following chapter in the story that’s being told.

Abiogenesis is a former theory that life could spontaneously and naturally spawn from inanimate matter. Hence, it’s ideal, as the EP’s story begins where One Last Monsoon left off – a new era after humankind has been wiped out. What follows is a new species that evolves, unstained by politics, religion, race, gender, etc. Instead, the new breed is governed by something far more unified and amiable, which in this case, is music.

ST: How different is Abiogenesis from your previous album One Last Monsoon?

DA: Half the songs will seem heavier to some, as that is the space we want to incorporate. My second album has been planned for the past 5 years, and it comprises of various sub-genres of rock (indie-alt, hard rock, psychedelic, etc.), and we want our fans to know that we’re not changing our sound, but adding to it, and that this is something that was predetermined.

ST: You were initially a solo act, and today it’s a five-member band. What led to this addition? How did it come about?

DA: Well, the debut album One Last Monsoon was an album I wrote, performed, and recorded by myself (with the help of Jason D’Souza, who was the mixing engineer on the album; and guitarist on this EP). I have had a lot of bad luck and experience with musicians in the past 10 years, and hence, I figured since I wrote all the songs, I might as well work on the entire album myself. However, after it was released, and it started gaining quite a bit of airplay abroad (and here as well), a number of radio personalities messaged me saying that my music would do extremely well in their respective countries, and suggested I get a band together so I could bring my music there.

ST: What do you miss about being a solo act? Or do you think having a band in place is more productive?

DA: I miss writing every single part of a song. It’s always been a lot of fun. Also being able to work around my own set time, and not worry about scheduling recordings, etc. around different timetables.

But these are small luxuries compared to what we’ve accomplished as a full band. We have a hell of a lot of fun writing, recording and rehearsing together. Every meet-up is like a comedy act and pure passion for a shared love mixed in one. You can’t experience that as a solo act.

Vocalist David Abraham and bassist Adil Kurwa (right) of The Koniac Net

ST: You’ve got international radio airplay in the US, UK, Germany among other countries. Could you tell us how this happened?

DA: Every single song on the album has been played at least once (on international radios). Some stations abroad had liked my first album so much that they had dedicated a whole 40-mins to the album, playing every single song. And I know a few stations, even until today, that play a number of my songs.

All this came about after months of constant networking, trial and error efforts in promoting, and getting in touch with radio stations that I felt would like my music. There have also been a lot of stations or blogs that never wrote back. So far, I’ve been fortunate enough to have had my music heard by people who really do appreciate new indie and alternative.

ST: How are you planning to promote the EP? Any gigs lined up or music videos in the pipeline?

DA: I’m promoting this EP exactly the way I did my first album. It worked before, so I want to stick with that. And plus, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed being my own manager and promoter. However, we do have a new booking agent now (Rishu Singh), and I’ve spoken to him numerous times about our goals to tour India, and especially hitting up the North East.

As for music videos, I do have a few lined up, but I don’t want to say too much. Let’s just say that I hope my arrangements related to these possible music videos pan out.

ST: You wanted to get known internationally before entering Indian households. How much of that plan would you say manifested?

DA: All of it, actually. It was my initial plan when I first began. Only when it began getting airplay abroad did I start getting calls here in our country to feature or play my music. But again, that was meant to have been the first and only step. Now, I don’t need to do that as we’ve worked hard to build our name enough to catch people’s attention without flaunting the ‘it was played abroad’ banner.

For this EP, I’ve been promoting my music abroad and in India at the same time, with the same fervour. In addition, I’ve met and chatted with so many fellow Indians all across the country who love indie music. So, it’s much easier now, and they provide a tremendous amount of reassuring encouragement and faith in our music.

The Koniac Net comprises David Abraham on lead vocals and guitars, Jason D’Souza on guitars and vocals, Ishaan Krishna on guitars and vocals, Adil Kurwa on bass, and Karun Kannampilly on drums. To listen to the new EP Abiogenesis click here. To buy it, click here.

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