The boys from All The Fat Children, a popular Bengaluru-based band, don't believe in mincing words. From being unabashed about how they are okay with not having ‘loyalists’ and never having 'formula'; the trio, who has been rustling up some mad ‘fat rock’ have indeed come a long way since they began back in the year 2008. The band chats up with us, just as they prep for a popular independent music festival in Kochi followed by a “mad” gig in Chennai in October...
“We live for the connect. There’s no secret hack which we use to make our music turn out differently. People who raved about our music nine years ago don’t really listen to us anymore owing to their own personal reasons, and we’ve come to terms with it. There’s always that 10 percent at any given gig who would have a problem with what we play. The fact that we've been able to keep the “distortion folk” followers intact is what we're grateful for,” shares Eben Johnson, lead vocalist and guitarist. Not dodging the question on how their rapport has changed over the years, Eben is upfront about how it's been a bumpy yet worthwhile, ride. "It's a love-hate relationship. We've had a change in the drummer once, but post that, it has just been Vicky, Sachin and I. There might have been a possibility of Vicky and I having becoming the best of buddies as we grew up in Bahrain. But sorry, I don’t think there’s a good story in there. Vicky and I bumped into each other in Christ University, Bengaluru and discussed about music and the next thing we know, the band was formed. That is all there is to it. We’re just musicians trying to create catchy music and getting along well enough with frequent yelling sessions at each other in the jam room," he quips. That said, Eben shares how similar music influences have helped them shape up better. “We grew up listening to guitar based distortions. Now, it's become a format for our music. We're inclined towards alternative rock.”
Having stuck to their guns for nine years, the journey though fraught with challenges, brought the young musicians a lot of accolades— The band's single Somebody Else was nominated by Rolling Stones India as one of its 10 Best Indian Singles of 2015. The band in association with Guinness World Records TM and Limca Book of Records TM along with India’s biggest beat-boxer - Vineeth Vincent broke the previous world record for the Worlds Largest Beatbox Ensemble. That aside the band was nominated for the Indigo Awards 2012 and VIMA Awards 2013. The boys, who made it to the fifth spot on Sennheiser top 50 this year, have interesting gigs coming up. “We recently created a slew of fresh songs. Every song has been inspired from an experience, and our music is an aggression tool – a leeway to let us expel our angst and frustrations through a healthy channel. The Mojo Rising Festival happening in Kochi gives artistes the platform they deserve, so we’re hoping things pan out well. Post which, there’s a mad gig on the cards for our Chennai folk,” signs off “Vicky” Kiran.
