Exclusive Interview With 4 Degrees Of Freedom

MASSIVE METAL INDIA - We would love to take you back to when you started as a band. For those who don’t know, (band’s name), How did it come together? What is that made you decide on the name of (band’s name) and what story does it have behind them? Who are your members and what role do they have in the band?

The journey began 7 years back in Ranchi. 4 Degrees of Freedom started off as a college band in 2006 and that's when we just fell in love with the stage. We started out with the name Morello’s Moshpit as we are the first band to play Rage in Jharkhand. As we come from a small city we had very little information about the music scene in India back then. We were happy playing covers around colleges in our state and the biggest thing for us back then was the IIT Kgp Wildfire where we made it to the finals two years in a row. In 2010 we meet our manager Zubin Ekka a music enthusiast who knew the scene around the country. He started to organize us, worked on our own comps and helped to find the sound that would define us. Thus, 4 Degrees of Freedom was born.  Well there is no major story behind the name. Degree of Freedom is just a statistical measure of variables. In this case we are the variables and 4 also is in reference to what we are told to believe are the four pillars of democracy.

Members- Shashi Baxla (bass), Viren Emanuel (drums), Vivek Ekka (vocals), Kunal Minz(keyboard), Sameer Soy (guitars).

MMI- We have 28 bands on list and the country witnesses’ bands coming up every year. What sets you apart and makes you different? Who are your favourite bands and influences? And why?

In our music there is something for everyone to enjoy. Heavy guitar riffs and funky bass lines to the melody of the keys. Coming from a tribal state which is hardly talked about our music brings out the various tribal issues that don’t make the news. I am sure the crowd in Nagaland will find something to connect with. Favourite bands- Rage Against The Machine, Avagened Sevenfold, Dream Theatre, Asking Alexandria & Papa Roach.

MMI- A lot of people as a band focus on subjects like social and political aspect. But what subject apart from the ones mentioned above do you have a keen interest in? What current messages do you convey which is important for the youth of today?

Your right……and we also have a political and social agenda. But, the social agenda is to talk about the culture and history of the tribes of Jharkhand. Something people know little or nothing about. We also sing about love as it brings everyone together. Our song “Love revolution” talks about this. The song is also different from all the other stuff we have composed. This year we have also been trying to integrate the indigenous sounds that we find in Jharkhand. We would be releasing an edited version of our song P-A-P with vocal samples taken from one of folk songs from Jharkhand.

MMI- If someone is interested in your music, what would you tell them to expect from your music? What are your favourite track you guys have recorded and Why?

4 Degrees of Freedom has pure old funk in its heart. Rhythmic grooves created by the drum and bass added with some distorted guitars and effects generated by the keyboards all packaged with Rap. Our favourite track is P-A-P (Project affected People). The track has some power packed riffs which just gives out energy. The lyrics talk about displacements cause of mining activity, something that has affected our people a great deal. Be the judge yourself and check it out on http://www.facebook.com/FourDegreesofFreedom.   

MMI- As India is concerned in music industry, financial situations are hard for a band and it seems people give up on the search for their Dream. What do you think the Dream for your band is and are you searching for it?

 It's not difficult….it’s dam F#*@ing difficult….. But what to do ?? Our dreams just won’t let us stop. We just have too much fun dreaming and playing our music. The dreams tell us that one day in the future we will be able to take our music to the best stages in the world. So we are just doing what we are told and what we enjoy.

MMI- Maybe this is your first time playing at HIRC, well If you had to name one of your favourite things that made you guys decide to register and play for the contest, what would it be and why?

The northeast of India has always had a good music scene and we were looking for opportunities to play there. What better opportunity than HIRC which is the biggest rock completion in the country.

MMI - What do you feel has been the defining moment about Your Band?

Which shows, gigs or concerts have been a turning point for you as a band? Tell us a stage where you had the most fun and the worst too?

Our first newspaper article. It got us all so excited back then & life is made up of small moments like this. That was the time we realised and discovered that we can actually make it big. Our dream was to make music no one else was doing and that article made our vision more clear.

Best Gig ever - Ragnarock at Chennai we just loved the crowd there….what energy, that gig was simply amazing. That’s the night all of us accepted that our life would just suck without music.

Worst Gig- IIM Ahmedabad….we boarded the train from Jamshedpur with 2 seats confirmed. With the 5 of plus equipment we ended up standing for most part of the journey which was about 40 hours. So we reached there all exhausted and had to play in the night. Dam we sucked that day. 

MMI- There are so many bands and young musicians today and the completion gets more and more every year. What advice do you have for musicians who want to make music their full time career?

Like everyone tells you….a full time career would involve a lot of hard work as there are no short cuts. You have to go on with the music for 8 or more hours a day to be the best. We don’t believe that you can get high and think about making music a serious career. If it’s the music making you high play on brothers and find your way.

MMI- Thank you so much for giving Massive Metal India this interview, is there anything you would like to add?

Thank you Massive Metal India. It’s cause of guys like you the rock scene in India has stayed and grown bigger. So keep up the good work. Please do connect with us on our facebook page http://www.facebook.com/FourDegreesofFreedom.