Get this India: British India is back on home soil after an “exhausting” tour overseas.
Erin Pearson
THE LAST six months has been an overwhelming experience for Melbourne garage rock group British India, according to Declan Melia.
The lead singer and guitarist said he had only just returned with his bandmates, who were also high school friends, after their whirlwind overseas debut.
Life was treating the group “really well”, Melia said.
“We spent a few months at the end of last year in the UK, which was beyond all expectations. It was exhausting.
“We did 25 shows in 30 days. Life’s hard over there.”
British India emerged from Melbourne’s independent music scene in July, 2007, with debut album Guillotine.
As album tracks Black & White Radio, Tie Up My Hands, Run The Red Light and Russian Roulette became air-punching anthems at venues and festivals across the country, British India developed a hard-earned reputation for explosive live shows.
The year culminated with the group taking out a 2007 ARIA Award for Best New Independent Artist.
A year later British India released its second album, Thieves, which debuted at number five on the ARIA Top 10.
The band has since smashed its way through sell-out tours and festivals ranging from Big Day Out to Homebake and Splendour in the Grass.
Melia said radio was paramount to the band’s success.
“I’ve noticed here in Australia that having a song on the radio is what makes you a band. We played around Melbourne for three years and nothing really caught,” he said.
“When we first started to make a name for ourselves we were a travelling freak show because we were so young but we had to evolve or perish.
“We had our diehard circle but couldn’t tour. The radio is every musician’s bible.”
Melia said British India had made many mistakes along the way but had “grown enormously” over the years.
Fans could expect a Geelong show and set list “more different than ever before”.
“We were quite cagey about playing new songs before their release because we worry about losing intensity, but we’ve now opened our minds to that,” Melia said.
“We’re certainly not cocktail music – we still have those moments of blinding punk intensity.
“We’re confident enough in our ability to play with things we didn’t do before.”
British India plays at Geelong’s Bended Elbow hotel on March 25.
