The Universal Music Publishing-signed songwriter duo from Kolkata is set to release their first album “Mira” on Silk Road.
ARKO
My father is a professor of medicine, my mother of bengali literature, and my sister is a networking-solutions student in Florida. Nobody in my family has anything to do with the entertainment industry, so I am the black sheep.
I cannot date back in time my association with music. It probably began with learning the songs of Tagore (Rabindrasangeet) when i was about 12. Then I woke up to the guitar at 14. Then songwriting. By the end of school, I still didn’t have a whole song written though.
In Don Bosco school, Park Circus, Kolkata, I was singing all the time at every fest and competition but not once did it occur to me this would be a career, probably because good students think about medicine and engineering, law and science. And I always happened to do rather embarassingly well with grades for a wannabe rockstar! So school was great opportunities, but everything except academics was just another hobby.
The next 5 years in medical college opened everything up: music got intertwined with philosophy, my guitar became my constant companion and I sang and played for half a dozen bands, in bengali and english. For the first time, I understood what I heard, where it
came from, why it was sung and written.
U2 was, and is still, the most dynamic music I have heard. Half the songs I have written in english were inspired by U2.
With the first band I started in college, we covered U2, Creed, GnR, Staind, rhcp, Radiohead, Green Day, and even Michael Jackson. We had a blast. The music had no purpose except fun, and we loved that fact.
My good fortune with examinations continued all through medical school, but I was frustrated: deep down it was pushing me everyday. Nothing was natural…
I met Dev in 2003, 3rd year med school; he was from another band. We jammed and it was very different from the word go. We both hadn’t heard anything like ourselves together. We started an original english band with some musician friends… those very few left in Calcutta who loved to play and not display, ones who put the beauty of a song above all expertise or knowledge.
I started writing in hindi in 2006. We just composed 3 songs together before Dev left for Mumbai in search of a job. I caught up with him in February 2008, moved to Mumbai permanently, once I had enough time and reason to leave every expectation and logic behind,
for the sake of this one thing we knew we must do : music.
Now we have 40 odd songs composed and written. I have begun to express myself in hindi better, though there is a long way to go as a writer in hindi. But I love what we do together. In our house, by the tall windows, is where half my job satisfaction lies : that moment when the song is made, the first bit… it’s a heady feeling!
Listen to the audio documentary serie exploring the life and work of Arko & Dev
DEV
I was born in a business family in Kolkata, on 7th May, 1983. And like all Bengali families, was immediately given a pile of books and a three generations old harmonium. After some time I shifted to Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh) with my mom.
My first music teacher was Mr. Parker from New Wendy’s High School, Kanpur. He would always make me sing in front of the class and teach us songs like My Grandfather’s Clock though I felt not particularly good at singing it.
I shifted back to Kolkata a few years later.
At home in Kolkata, I would occasionally hear Bob Marley’s Buffalo Soldier or Billy Joel’s 52nd Street played over and over again by my father. I was yet to develop a taste in music, but Buffalo Soldier did open up my imagination. Then there was Boney M which I still enjoy.
I started learning Eastern Classical from Pandit Gautam Adhikari after I shifted from Kanpur. I seldom enjoyed the constraints; classical music needs discipline and a rigid knowledge of theory which did not go well with my free spirit, and while doing riyaaz in front of my Guru, I would try different harkats that would irritate him though he was gracious enough to never pull me up. This went on for over 6 years; I learnt a few Rabindra Sangeet as well from the same Guru.
It was during this time I started jamming with a bunch of kids on the electric guitar. We called the band Mirage. It was Arko Chatterjee (lead), Surajit (rhytm), Godai (bass), Srinjay (keyboards), and we would have a new drummer every week! I was to sing covers of Deep Purple, Iron Maiden, Guns & Roses, Scorpions… and then Dreamtheatre! We started doing shows all over Kolkata and we got a bit popular in the school and college circuits there. I would skip school and, later, college to do shows or to rehearse. In the meantime I realized that I was winning almost every singing competition in the city at the college level. I wondered why?
Two years with this band, I joined my Engineering college and got a bit more serious with Love and music. And it is in this phase that I met Arko. We both came from absolutely different schools of thought but when we sat down to jam, it seemed songs were revealing themselves and we thought of forming a band. With Arko and Rahul Guha Roy (Cassinni’s Division) we formed The Lost. It was around this time Arko and me started writing some original music, first in English but soon we turned to Hindi.
After completing my studies, I moved to Mumbai as I was in search of a career in art and Kolkata was suddenly looking rigid and slow. Some odd jobs later landed a plum job as Head of Corporate Communications at Shapoorji Pallonji, in their CMG division. Only four months into the job, over a phone call with Arko, who was still in Calcutta, we decided to take the plunge and we both resigned the very next day.
In July 2008 we went to record a demo at Deep Emotions studio and Achille Forler signed us to Universal Music Publishing as composers; a while later, we signed a 4 album deal with Silk Road. So here we are, ready to surprise you!
Arko & Dev
- Written by: Achille Forler
- Posted on: 11.19.2010
- File under: Hindi Pop
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Bishwadev (Dev)was my batch mate in engineering college (heritage). we played a lot of football, cricket together.the Mira re is a great job. he was our ‘Deva’.he is a guy who used to think out of the box. I really liked it ‘Deva’. Wish u all the best and hope you get the best and entertain us . I’m proud of you baby..
.. carry on the good thing…one day you guys will be very famous.
Hi Mayukh, see you on Friday 8 July at GD Birla Sabhaghar for our concert. Meet you backstage after the concert!
This song “MIRA” is awesome . Havent heard such a melodious song in years … after Euphoria…….Guys u rock and hope that you can revive the pop album culture in India,….All the best for your future and hope that you touch everyone heart
Thanks Prasanth, your comments mean loads to us. We’re just trying to be honest with ourselves; we’re fed up with all the shit that’s thrown to us under the guise of “hit songs”. Support like yours encourages us to move forward into the uncharted territory of creativity. Listen to our podcasts here: http://tinyurl.com/682qf7h
A third one is coming soon.
‘Mira re’ is a beautiful song..really enjoyed it..soothing beautiful music..kudos to u guys…waitin for more material from u guys…
You guys rock, your voice and songs are much like a gush of fresh air. Your voices have touched my heart. Keep up the good job. Wish you guys all the best.
Hi, I got to know about MIRA from my cousin..As soon as I listened I became your fan..I was taken to some alien world..Awesome and splendid are the words suitable…Best of luck for future, want more and more from you guys!!:-)
What can I say? Been a fan since the first day I heard u both sing Mira at your Versova apartment at 3 in the morning. And as you go along, I seem become a bigger fan everyday. Since I tell Tublu Dada (Arko) almost everyday about how much I love your songs and how much my friends connect to them too (some even made Mira their ringtone), let me now tell u how great its been reading your website too. It is sleek and no-nonsense.. reflecting the kind of people u both are, and also your music. Congratulations.. this is a very proud moment for me and the rest of us too, who believed and always will.. that u’ve got what it takes.. to live on in the minds of people as superstars.. and more importantly.. MINDBLOWING MUSICIANS!
Love & best wishes..
Great job done .. have heard Mira rae for umpteen times now ..seems finally the quality drought in hindi music is over ..say afloat guys and stick to such awesomeness
Mira Re is absolutely soul-touching…!!! I just can’t get over it..!!! Its got a magnetic pull…!! Thank you soo much and hope to listen more such heart-tugging songs..!
Hi!
A friend introduced me 2 your songs or i wouldn’t have known about u guys.
M not a specialist in music or anything but as a listener…..al i can say is dat
“U Guys Just Rock!!!!”
Swati Padyal
Thane (Maharashtra)
Thank you, Payal. Our office and recording studio is in Thane, Ghodbunder road (behind Cinemax)! Lots of good things come out of Thane!
Arko Dev, Mira re was so lovely… bought the song and never quite stopped listening…. so glad u listed on spotify too……
looking forwards ur next album
Wow… Just… Wow…. Amazing songs, Amazing Lyrics, Amazing Vocals, Amazing Music… Hope you guys go far…
All the best
DEV – My collegemate… I saw it on your profile and then listened to the songs… The creation is awesome… This is just the beginning for you both (Arko too)… You’ve a long marathon to run… So, wishing you all the best… Keep creating great music…
~DJ… (Hope Dev remembers this name from HIT)