Interview with Cheisrah
Club Muzik's ARTISIA - voice of the stars

Club Muzik *

Cheisrah

Cheisrah is a metalcore band since May, 2011 and is based in Bengaluru, India. Amarjeet Karam, the man behind the drums is from Manipur, Amit on guitar is from Shillong, Thejus on guitar is from Bahrain, Imon on vocal is from Shillong and Amir on bass is from Lucknow. "Cheisrah, the name of the band is derived from the Meitei (Manipuri) Folktale, Sandrembee & Cheisrah.

CLUB MUZIK: How did Cheisrah began?
CHEISRAH: Cheisrah was formed in the early months of 2011. It was a matter of finding like-minded musicians who had same taste in music and wanted to make music. We were not friends but came to know through mutual friends and that’s how we connected, later met up, became good friends and then formed the band in Bangalore.

CLUB MUZIK: You had an EP entitled Deafbreed, tell us about its tracks?
CHEISRAH: It’s a 10-track full length album. “Deafbreed” is definitely a very versatile record for us and we are very proud of it. Songs like Unscarred, We Hate Metronome, Bury the Bastards, No more Tolerance are fast paced groovy and attacking songs. While songs like Home, Ruins of a Grey Nation, Skinned are bit melodic and variate a lot. There is plenty of variations and textures that can create a different feeling and mood with every song individually but the common factor stays simple and straight.

CLUB MUZIK: How do you mark the inner meaning of the word Cheisrah?
CHEISRAH: Cheisrah, as you would know is the name of an evil character from a Meitei (Manipuri) Folktale, “Sandrembee and Cheisrah”. Actually we decided not to have an English name and this was just so cool and so we went ahead with this name (tongue twister for many apparently). There is no such inner meaning for us, as for the name speaking frankly.

CLUB MUZIK: In what ways does each member contribute to the band's activities like composing, production, managing, media, etc.?
CHEISRAH: Song composition is mainly initiated by Amit. Then Thejus comes into play and forms the skeleton of a song. Imon scrutinizes the song extensively then we all refine it. On the production side, Thejus is the main guy as he is a qualified Sound/Live Engineer now, so he knows this shit and we leave it to him. Band management and booking is mainly looked after by Amarjeet.

CLUB MUZIK: We all come across high and low. What are the biggest things Cheisrah did faced to come to this point of your music and success?
CHEISRAH: Well the biggest challenge of course is the money involved in running a band. We are an expensive band and we have a lot of things associated. We all do have full time jobs which helps us in paying our bills and sustaining the band but its tough since you have to sacrifice a lot of things. To run the band is the biggest challenge and also you know that there is no returns in Metal. Still, we go on for the love.

Cheisrah

CLUB MUZIK: How do you plan your set list in a gig?
CHEISRAH: We play a mix of all out old and new songs. Depends on the place where we are playing and the time slot allotted. But generally its a mix of both old and new.

CLUB MUZIK: How cool is a rock band to you?
CHEISRAH: A rock band is cool for sure. Especially the Rock bands from the 70s and 80s era, because they got groupies haha!

CLUB MUZIK: How heavy or brutal the band sounds it is the melody the band sees in their music. Tell us about the melodies in your songs?
CHEISRAH: Yes, we feel the melody in our song blends perfectly with the heaviness coming from mostly the rhythm parts and the drums. So its melodic at the same time heavy, that's all we can say.

CLUB MUZIK: Apart from Cheisrah what do you all do of now?
CHEISRAH: As said before we all have full time jobs. Amarjeet, Imon and Amit are into corporate jobs (SUCKS). Thejus is a studio and live sound engineer. Amarjeet is also a part of Horns Up Entertainment - Which organizes Metal gigs and does artist management for other events as well.

CLUB MUZIK: Some of your inspirations as a band and music?
CHEISRAH: Musically our influences go past an ocean. Every member in the band grew up listening to various artists ranging from blues, rock, alternative , hardcore , heavy metal, etc. but some form of music has been a constant. When it comes to song-writing for Cheisrah, we feel that every member is uniquely talented and when it all comes together it creates the whole band.

CLUB MUZIK: It's friendship with a sense of brotherhood a band mate is. Tell us a brief about how Cheisrah goes on this?
CHEISRAH: To begin with we all are great friends. Since we come from different places, we are like family here in Bangalore. We were good friends first, and then we formed the band.

CLUB MUZIK: How would you like to inspire the budding rock musicians?
CHEISRAH: Work hard. Its very tough but keep working hard, because this is what you love to do!

CLUB MUZIK: How would you earn 100 busk in a day if you are asked to do so? CHEISRAH: We have no frigging idea on this. Don't know, we might beg: P

Questions & Revised by
Lukhendro Keisham

Co-ordinator
Ithoiba Potshangbam

Produced by
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