MUMBAI: The massive success of the NH7 Converse Road To Rubber Tracks event at the new Richardson and Cruddas factory saw Chennai-based finalists The F16’s win the fully paid trip to Brooklyn to record at the Converse Rubber Tracks Studio. The band beat out competition from four other finalists; Frisky Pints, Spud in the Box, Space Behind The Yellow Room and the Ganesh Talkies. The rock event was headlined by Zero, Pangea and Superfuzz. Radioandmusic.com spoke to Harshan Radhakrishnan about winning the contest, USA plans and what makes their band click.

So you won! Congratulations. How was the experience for you?

It was amazing. We played at the new venue, which was like an abandoned factory, which was pretty f***ing amazing. The other bands played really well too and the headliner, Superfuzz, was amazing. We also got to record a song there and we did one called ‘Jacuzzi’. It was really well organised and a lot of fun. They even took care of us. It did not even feel like a competition; more like a festival. And it was a packed house. Despite there being a huge line of people waiting to get in, they had to stop entry after a while. They even printed shirts for us; we gave in our art work and they print shirts that our fans could buy. It was really neat.

We went there to win and we won it. We are going to Brooklyn and yeah, we are really stoked about it, very psyched.

What are your plans for your trip to the US?

Yeah we have loads of songs ready to record. Actually, we already started recording for an album that we want to put out by December. That was the plan. But when we found out about the competition and the chance to go to New York, we thought it would be a great opportunity. We thought we might probably get some gigs even, since we know some people there. We may end up staying there a little longer, probably gig a little, and then head back home.

They have not let us know yet if we will be getting to record a track or an album. They should be, in some time. Whatever it might be, going there and meeting some Grammy Winners and stuff, is going to be really cool. Albert Hammond Jr., who is the guitarist for The Strokes, runs the studio. Oh yeah, that is like a dream come true.

You have made quite a name in just one and half year. What do you think did the trick?

We never expected it. We put out stuff at the right time. A lot of bands do not, but we put out our music three months after the band was formed. That is when people get to know about the band. If you play in pubs, no one knows you exist. Nowadays, everything is online so you should put it out. That is one thing we did right; our EP called ‘Kaleidoscope’.

Another thing is the band. Sometimes, we go to the jam room and just jam; we start playing without saying anything, without discussions. We are very connected that way. That is why it works. It is very important for the band to have that connection, that niche. The first thing is that you all should click in the jam room. If you do not then it is not working out. We found our sound fairly early. What the five of us want in our sound is mutual, which has worked in our way.