Excise Dept is a Mumbai/New Delhi artist collective known for blending surreal visuals with genre-bending music. Formed during the pandemic, the group quickly built a reputation for its unconventional, satirical style. Now, Excise Dept finds itself at a creative crossroads, eager to push into new frontiers.
After The Debut
Excise Dept’s 2024 debut album Sab Kuch Mil Gaya Mujhe Vol. 1 (SKMGM) was years in the making, and the band breathed a sigh of relief upon its release. Listeners across India embraced the album’s eclectic tracks and sharp lyrics. They were struck by how deeply fans engaged: people scrutinized lyrics, hunted for Easter eggs on the website, and spun elaborate lore around their universe — exactly the kind of interaction they had hoped for. That support culminated in sold-out shows in Mumbai and Delhi, an unexpected but validating moment for the group. ‘Witnessing the love and support we’ve gotten from people all around India and also parts of the world has been really humbling and exciting for us. While some of us have been making music for some time, we knew that ED’s debut project was truly a labour of love, something special, and we’re glad that folks have received it so warmly,’ they recall.
Lyrics and Visuals
The world hasn’t gotten any saner since 2020, if anything, it’s ‘more nonsensical than ever,’ they note. That frank outlook continues to fuel their music. Even if the new material doesn’t mirror the debut’s tone, they still channel introspection, dread, love, and humour, ‘it’s all part of just being a person and trying to write about what you feel,’ they say. Visual storytelling has been integral from day one. As they write songs, ‘the lyrics and samples already start doing the work of visualizing a story,’ they explain and just as often, a film clip or Instagram reel can inspire a track. With a string of self-made music videos now under their belt, their visual ambitions are growing bolder (‘if only money were infinite!’ they joke). They operate with an exploratory ethos, unbound by any single genre or formula. A great film or a strange historical anecdote can spark their creativity as much as a rare record. They even quip that one day they might make a sludge metal album or perform in a circus tent. Their one guiding principle is keeping things human: they remain staunchly anti-AI to ensure their creations stay personal and authentic.
Rebuilding and Looking Ahead
After the whirlwind of their debut, Excise Dept is shifting gears. ‘We’re rebuilding and reimagining,’ they say, focusing on establishing themselves as a full-fledged audio-visual collective beyond music. Now they’re enjoying a phase of open-ended studio experimentation, jamming on ideas with loosely defined plans. Free from the pressures of an immediate release cycle (which they admit can be ‘destructive and saturating’), the group is rediscovering the joy of creating for its own sake, a creative breather. Buoyed by the success of their debut album and the community they’ve built, Excise Dept approaches its next chapter with confidence, unburdened by expectations and ready to surprise even themselves with what comes next.
This article is from our August EZ. Read the August EZ here.
Words Harita Odedara
Date 16-8-2025