Begum comprising of Kartik Pillai (vocals/guitar/synth), Karan Singh (drums) and Dhruv Bhola (bass/keys), are a Delhi-bred but Goa based trio acclaimed for their alternative/post-punk roots and hypnotic indie pop. Critics have described their style as 'dreamy, lo-fi and experimental'; one profile even dubbed their sound 11th century seduction' music. Their third album Are You Ok? was released in March 2022 as a 10-track set crafted over five years.
The Acoustic Sessions
Instead of touring behind that record, the band has now taken those songs back into the studio for acoustic treatment, a move they felt made sense while live performances remained scarce. The band explains they decided on the acoustic sessions partly because ‘we haven’t really been doing live shows,’ so it ‘felt like something to do honestly… a better way to put it out there for now.’
The band admits the idea had been in the works for a while: ‘I guess it was just something we wanted to do, we’ve actually had these recordings on the back burner for quite some time now,’ they say. In typical self-effacing style Begum adds, ‘We are horrible at releasing things,’ so this was a chance to dust off old material and give fans something new to hear.
Working on the old songs in the studio brought unexpected rewards. Begum found it refreshing to strip away the layers and focus on the core of each track. ‘It was just nice to do them in a more or less controlled environment,’ they note, a contrast to the chaotic energy of live shows. The mood during the sessions was focused and serious: ‘It was no nonsense, work mode,’ the band recalls. They spent long hours ‘doing a lot of heavy lifting and arranging,’ such as rewriting parts or re-recording segments.
Creative Direction
Manish (a collaborator on the project) even ended up handling most of the video shoots, ‘pretty much shot 80% of the videos all by himself’ for the live performances. After time away from releasing music, Begum says they feel a renewed excitement about their creative direction. They’ve already begun recording fresh material – some new songs have been cut at Lithos Studios – and they’re pleased with how things are shaping up. ‘We’re just really excited about our upcoming release… having recorded some of the songs in Lithos and just really happy with the direction we’re going,’ the band shares. They contrast this with the making of Are You Ok?, which was ‘more scripted because we were in the middle of a change.’
New-Born Chemistry
Now, by contrast, there’s a spontaneity to the process: ‘now there’s more chemistry’ between the members. That spontaneity ties into what Begum finds most inspiring about music-making today. They say the same core feeling that drove their earlier work is still there: ‘letting go and letting instinct take over… you can’t beat it.’ To feed that instinct, each member has broadened their palette. Lately they’ve been listening to ‘lots of music from around the world – African, Brazilian, a lot of Asian LPs,’ as well as reading books and even watching ‘mildly disturbing films’ for inspiration. These diverse influences are fueling Begum’s willingness to experiment. The band notes that over time they’ve become more adventurous: ‘we’re just refining what we’ve always done… we’ve become more willing to experiment now.’
Looking Forward
Through these acoustic reinterpretations, Begum hopes to connect with listeners on an emotional level. ‘I hope they experience resolve and love,’ the band says of the new recordings, adding, ‘I hope it helps them to be strong, that’s all we’d want for anyone to come away with.’ In other words, they want fans to feel empowered by the music’s honesty and warmth. Looking ahead, Begum has plenty of plans. Beyond the acoustic project, ‘the next album is being recorded, and we are very excited to let people hear it.’ As they move forward, the band seems energized by both their roots and their growth. Revisiting Are You Ok? has reawakened their chemistry and creative spark.
Words Harita Odedra
Date 29-07-2025