MUMBAI: Having spent more than 15 years as part of one of the most well known electronica acts in India, Gaurav Raina from Midival Punditz is now set to take his show on the road, solo. GRAIN, as he is now known, will be releasing his debut solo album on 19 September, after which he will tour cities across India. The DJ/ producer shared with Radioandmusic.com's Sanchea D'Souza insights into his decision to release his own album and upcoming tour.

You have been a part of Midival Punditz for more than a decade. What made you decide to do a solo album?

The "GRAIN" project came about, out of my personal desire to write songs and vocal tracks. Punditz have a particular aesthetic that is to do with Indian classical and folk. I have wanted to do English song-writing for a long time now, and it was with Karsh (Kale) that I started experimenting a bit. I wrote the first couple of tracks with Karsh and then with Talia (Bentson), and that led to a realisation, of the style I wanted for GRAIN. I think it was after I wrote ‘It's all right' with Karsh that the entire GRAIN sound came about.

Will ‘Grey to Silver' see you embark on a solo journey henceforth?

I think this album is the start of my solo career, which will run alongside the Midival Punditz. It is important as an artiste to create as many avenues of musical expression; as many as you are capable of.

How is the new album different from your work as Midival Punditz?

The GRAIN sound is all about exploring a more emotional side of electronica. Electronica is somehow only seen as EDM nowadays and there is so much more to it than that. I want to explore the many different emotional sides to electronic music, combined with songwriting.

What served as inspiration for the album?

My music is about my life experiences and the people I meet and the places I have been to. For this album too, it was all about that. Somewhat like a journal of my emotions.

Who wrote the lyrics to the collaborative tracks on the album?

All the lyrics on the album were written together by me and the artiste involved.

Do you plan on releasing music videos for any of the tracks on the album? If yes, which ones and have you already started working on the videos?

We have many plans in the making and my management is working pretty hard to get a few videos released soon. It is a work in progress.

Why did you release the album under Times Music and how did that happen?

I released it through Times Music as I have worked with them before on various projects and have enjoyed working with them. It is nice to be in familiar company.

Will the upcoming tour to support your album be different from your other gigs?

I am trying to perform the album in its entirety and hence I will be helped out by the different collaborators I have worked with. Fortunately Karsh, Ankur (Tewari) and Monica (Dogra) have made themselves available for this tour and along with my main band – Sid Basrur (vocals), Shardul Mehta (drums) and Karan Sharma (guitars) – we should be able to put together a killer show. We also have some surprise tracks in the set that have emerged over the past six months.

Are there any festival performances lined up for you as a solo act?

I am currently not booked to perform at any festivals, but the talks are on and hopefully we should have some information regarding this soon.

GRAIN's India tour starts from Friday, 19 September. Details below

Sept 19 - Over The Moon, Hyderabad - GRAIN (DJ Set)

Sept 26 - blueFROG, Mumbai - GRAIN Live (feat. Monica Dogra and Ankur Tewari); Closing Set by Sound Avtar

Sept 27 - blueFROG, Pune - GRAIN Live (feat. Ankur Tewari)

Oct 10 - blueFROG, Delhi - GRAIN Live (feat. Monica Dogra); Closing Set by Jitter

Oct 17 - Indigo Live Music Bar, Bangalore - GRAIN (DJ Set)