Blot!
They might describe themselves as being in a state of perpetually controlling chaotic epiphanies, but India’s first audiovisual electronic act is making everyone sit up, put on their 3D glasses and pay attention to their debut album, Snafu.
You don’t expect a hotel in the heart of Delhi’s hub to be the launchpad for what will go on to become a sort of path-breaking, multidisciplinary audiovisual duo. But that’s exactly what happened when BLOT (basic love of things) moved from underground parties to their debut gig at Aqua. It was 2007 and they had lit up the hotel façade with their cutting-edge visuals. Cut to 2012 when their album launch live show, also in Delhi, saw them convert the venue into their own playground replete with LED screens, an extended stage and a captivated audience.
But when they started out with such a bang, why has it taken this long for an album? “We started BLOT as individuals interested in sound, film, art and their interaction. I (Gaurav) was a DJ, not a musician. We wanted to release an album when the stuff I made sounded closer to music and looked closer to Avinash’s visual references. There was a gap between my sensibilities as a listener and my skills as a producer, but now I’ve managed to make stuff that I’d play and listen to, so it felt like the right time.”
With that thought process, BLOT works on multiple levels at the same time and it’s not always easy to get them to sit still or answer questions, so we wonder why they choose a military slang as the name of their album. “SNAFU (Situation Normal, All Fucked Up) is this feeling of being in a continuous state of disarray in small and epic proportions, which is something we relate to and thrive in. The fact that things are always wonky is big inspiration for us and what BLOT stands for.”
Which perhaps explains why this album is also largely genre-free going beyond their original stance as a minimal techno act and creeping deeper into the realm of twisted electronica and skittering lo-fi beats. “When we started out with SNAFU’s sound, we had no clue what all would make its way into a cohesive album. I (Gaurav) was enjoying myself with all kind of sounds, styles and arrangements, and halfway through realised that the best direction was to have no direction.”
That’s also how the album collaborations came about with Vasundhara from blues-pop act Adil and Vasundhara and Suryakant Sawhney from orchestral folk-rock outfit Peter Cat Recording Co. Gaurav elaborates, “I liked their sound so I asked them to collaborate. It was that simple.” There’s also Kohra who runs a record label with Gaurav. “I've known him for ages and we share a similar sensibility as DJs, so it made perfect sense to collaborate on the live set.”
As their first rehearsed live tour, BLOT weaves a fabric of unmatched audio and visual experiences. “Until a few months ago, we had never practiced for a gig. We decided to change that through brainstorming sessions and rehearsals with a predetermined plan and flow. Avi was working on 3D videos and after 8 months and we finally had enough content to work with.”
So what comes first – music or visuals? “It’s hard to say. Sometimes it’s the visuals that feed off the tracks, and sometimes it’s the other way around. If there’s one constant with BLOT, it’s that there is no constant”, adds Avi.
BLOT has almost come full circle since that 2007 gig. “The objective is still the same, only now we’re able to execute better.”
If you missed the Delhi leg featuring live vocals, drums, and bass along with synched videos, BLOT is currently on tour.
BLOT SNAFU tour dates:
Sep 01 - CounterCulture, Bangalore; Sep 05 - Plush Lounge & Bar, Kolkata; Sep 07 - The High Spirits, Pune; Sep 08 - BlueFROG, Mumbai
Spotted a mistake, or your photo used without permission? Report a correction
in your inbox