About to Pop: Bamboo Shoots

By Nadine Cheung Posted Sep 15th 2009 02:15PM

Who: Bamboo Shoots
Album: 'Armour'
Song: 'Hey Girl'
Hails From: Brooklyn, NY
For Fans Of: Talking Heads and The White Tie Affair

Why They're About to Pop: Singer/guitarist Avir Mitra and bassist/vocalist Karl Sukhia began playing music together as teens. They met in their Zoroastrian community in southern New Jersey, and started collaborating after each of them got their first guitars. Years later, the duo met drummer Shiv Puri, a student at the Stern School of Business at NYU, and became fast friends. Then, at their first practice, friend of a friend Ankur Patel showed up with a dhol, adding a distinct dimension to the band. Patel also demonstrated his DJ skills, weaving 808s and percussion into the mix, and by the end of the day, he was asked to be in the group.

In 2006, Bamboo Shoots casually signed up for the mtvU Best Music on Campus contest and were more than shocked when they found out they won -- Mitra in particular as he was just days away from joining medical school! Instead, Bamboo Shoots went on to play 'Late Night with Conan O'Brian' and sign with Epic Records, the label that is releasing their debut album 'Armour' on September 29. Catch the band at this year's 2009 CMJ Music Festival in New York City.

Listen to 'Hey Girl'

Six Questions With Bamboo Shoots:

How has the band evolved since you played your first show at Pianos in New York in 2004?

Avir Mitra: We've gotten a lot better -- our sound is a lot more focused now. If you saw us at Pianos in 2004 and you still come to our shows, congrats, you are a true fan. The only song from that era that made the album is 'This World is Beautiful.'

In what way has your Indian descent inspired your sound?

Shiv Puri: I think our Indian descent brought us all together. I mean, it wasn't all that common growing up that I'd find other Indian kids who listen to music the same way I do, let alone play guitar, piano, bass etc., [and] get along! So when we all met and started hanging out, it all just clicked, and I think we all felt that this could be a band where we can actually move beyond just jamming and start writing songs together. But in terms of our actual "sound," there is an Indian element to it in the subtext, and in songs like 'This World is Beautiful' there's a prominent tabla sample in the intro and chorus which almost defines the mood of the entire song. But mostly I think our "sound" comes from a variety of places, including dance music, pop, hip hop ... even metal.

Which track from 'Armour' is your favorite, and why?

AM: For me right now, it's 'Turn Your Light.' It's just so under the radar, it's like a secret. No one has made any comments about it, and so it's just there doing its thing peacefully. The fadeout gives me chills.

SP: I've never heard anything like 'Milk, Satin & Silk' before. In a way it's so monotone in that the bass and guitar riffs seem looping, but if you listen closely, there's a lot of intricate stuff going on and the whole vibe of it all just brings you deeper and deeper into this strange mood. It almost reminds me of descending into a damp, cool and dark bottomless cave.

You've named Michael Jackson as a musical influence; what was your reaction to his recent passing?

SP: I still can't believe he's gone. I mean, my grandma in Punjab -- who is really far removed and disconnected from the globalized pop/media world -- even SHE knows MJ's music and dance moves. He's the only artist I know of that literally everyone can agree on (in terms of his talent, at least).

AM: It was really sad, but be honest, I don't think anyone can say they were completely surprised. We visited the Jackson house in Gary, Indiana on our last tour. It was 3 a.m. and it just really hit me that there will never be another like him, not in a hundred years. His life reads like a mythological story. I took a little stone from his yard, I have it right here. It's my lucky stone when I write songs.

You've played on the same bill as a number of well-known artists. Which experience has been the most memorable?

AM: A lot of times it's the small shows that feel really special. We just played in Mobile, Alabama -- when we arrived, the venue was like, "Who are you? We're closed." Apparently the booker had gone crazy and left for Alaska, so no one knew we were coming. Out of pity they let us set up anyway, even though no one was there. We walked around the city streets for an hour and literally met every single person out that night and persuaded them to come to the show. It ended up being one of my favorite shows.

SP: Playing on an airplane at 30,000 feet was pretty cool too!

What are some things you can't go on the road without?

SP: Episodes of 'Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!'

AM: Sudafed! The kind you have to go to the back counter for, not that phenylalanine that's on the shelves. I keep getting sick -- I'm still figuring out how to stay healthy while sleeping on floors and eating garbage. Maybe the key is bringing my own mic so I'm not licking years of spit off the house mic. So actually, I'm changing my answer. Just call me Nas -- all I need is one mic.

Tags: Bamboo Shoots, BambooShoots