Euphoria (Indian band)

Euphoria

Euphoria (Hindi: युफ़ोरिया), is an Indian rock band from the city of Delhi, India. Their unique style has helped them gain an audience, seen as alternative to the dominant Indian film or classical music. Euphoria were among the first to bring rock culture to India. They mixed electric guitar with traditional instruments like the tabla, dholak and sitar to create mesmerising effects. The band lineup has often changed through the early 1990s, attaining stability after 1998, until recently, when guitarist Gaurav Misra (also known as Gary) parted ways with the band. It has been reported in the media, that Gary went off to settle in Australia. But nothing has diminished its appeal over their fans (also known as Dhoomers). Recently, they inducted female members Vaishali Barua and Krutika Muralidharan as backup vocalists.

Biography

In 1983, three young starry eyed boys - Ashok, Sunil and Jitty, one Rangarsons drum kit, a Reynolds' electric-guitar and an old hand made bass guitar (With acoustic guitar tuning keys.) plugged in and called themselves SMALL CHANGE. Endless bluesy jams in the Shroffs' drawing room and of course any party in the house was the default audience much to the delight of the trio. "We need to do a proper show!” was everyones echo. But none of them sang. Another bright eyed guitarist Prashant joined the trio and introduced a vocalist called John, who got SMALL CHANGE their first show at JMC. Another show at SRCC and the SMALL CHANGE story came to an end.

In walks Raj (Rajshree Balasubramanian). Friends told us "Has an awesome voice. Will sing your rock stuff”. Around that time, another Delhi band "White Fang" had called it a day and Amitanshu on the lead guitar came as a valuable additional member. With the exit of John, the name SMALL CHANGE was abandoned and NIGHT SHIFT was born. There was no looking back after that. The first show at IIT Delhi was followed by a new year gig at the Taj Palace Hotel and many others. Amitanshu left in around 1985 to pursue higher studies overseas followed by Manishi on guitar. Manishi was an amazing guy with original lyrics. "We must make a professional recording of our songs!” said all. In the Shroffs' Barsati practice room a make shift studio was made, thanks to Amit & Puneet Chandra who lent their equipment along with a professional mixer that was set up in Ashok’s mezzanine floor room, an audio tape recording of of 6-7 original NIGHT SHIFT songs was made. 'We should cut an album now!” Raj said. But all good things have to come to an end. Raj left to join her parents in the USA and Ashok & Jitty to London to study Printing Technology at the London School of Printing.

End of 1987 - Ashok & Jitty came back and the familiar bluesy riffs again started wafting from the Shroffs' Barsati. 'We need a good vocalist!” said Ashok after no result from several auditions. Raj’s absence was terrible. The College Fests started around this time. Saw a young boy do an Elvis Hound Dog routine with desperate intensity. 'He’s good!” Everyone said.

Enter Polly, later to become Dr Palash Sen - 1988-: The youngest Shroff, Ravi did not want to be left behind and joined the group around this time on the keyboards. 'We must have a new name!" Polly said. "Our name should indicate a state of feverish excitement. How about Euphoric… or Euphoria! said Sunil & Ashok.”, "Euphoria, then be it!” echoed the others. EUPHORIA took off with the first show at AIFACS in August 1988.

1989 - Exit Ravi to the USA,enter Johnjit to replace him on keyboards.After that IIT, AIIMS, JMC, UCMS and many other gigs.

While this success came with a lot of hard work one cannot forget the co-operation and support of Ravi, Jitty & Ashoks' parents who put up with all that cacophony for so many years. A special mention for their mother who would welcome not only the band members but also their friends, acquaintances or even the passer by, who sometimes came in to listen to the band practice. Sumptuous lunches, endless cups of tea and coffee made the toil of practice like an enjoyable picnic. Whereas the band went ever onward, they could do so only with the moral support of their parents, girlfriends, wives who happily agreed to forego many precious weekends, so that the band could have more time available for practice.

1990 - Enter Anuj Bhatia, on the second guitar. Lot of Whitesnake, Rainbow, Van Halen and Scorpions followed after that.

1991 - exit Johnjit, enter Benny. Though, a hotel musician, Benny jelled in with the band instantly. Many more shows and then a prominent exit.

1992 - Sunil decided to pack his Washburn bass forever and focus on his career. He was replaced by DJ a few days later. EUPHORIA played on steadily till 1995 till Anuj left for U.K. for higher studies. Both Ashok & Jitty wanted to focus on their business expansion plans and decided to call it a day. Polly carried the EUPHORIA dream forward with new members and hasn't looked back since then.

Old Band Members

• Ashok Shroff
• Sunil Verman
• Jitty Shroff
• Prashant
• John
• Rajshree Subramanium
• Amitanshu
• Hitesh Madan
• Gaurav Misra
• Chris Powell
• Ravi Shroff
• Johnjit
• Anuj Bhatia
• Benny Pinto
• Prashant Fuloria

Band members

• Palash Sen
• Amborish Saikia
• Debajyoti Bhaduri
• Vinayak Gupta
• Ashwani Verma
• Rakesh Bhardwaj
• Prashant Trivedi

Discography

Films

The band has signed to compose soundtrack for a Malayalam film named Best of luck (2010).

Albums

• 1998 - Dhoom
• 2000 - Phir Dhoom
• 2003 - Gully
• 2006 - Mehfuz
• 2008 - ReDhoom
• 2010 - Follow Your Dreams

Singles

• 2001 - Mantra

Collaborations

• 2004 - Jeet Lo Dil feat. Strings
• 2010 - Delhi Meri Jaan. (for the Commonwealth Games 2010 New Delhi)

Key Facts

Dr. Palash Sen is an actor, who acted in the Bollywood movie called Filhaal. Also, Palash has just completed a film called Mumbai Cutting, in which he plays the lead role. Euphoria created the background score to this movie.

Palash is a Pediatrician by profession.

Euphoria mostly played covers initially.

External links

• Official Euphoria Website
• Interview: Palash Sen on TempoStand
• Interview: Palash Sen at merinews

References

"E U P H O R I A - The Official Band Website : dhoom.com". www.dhoom.com. Archived from the original on 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-08.