KAPOW!

KAPOW!

What is refreshing about KAPOW! is that they are the first comic rock band in India. They have a unique sound topped with their infectious energy, quick wit and wild theatricalpresence. Quips were flying in my interview with them, and one-liners made me laugh out loud as I read their responses. The playful banter between the members and their lighthearted interactions with fans are hallmarks of their performances, making it a unique comedy-rock experience.

As they gear up for 2025, KAPOW! is set to release new songs that will complete the puzzle they’ve been teasing, taking their musical journey to the next level. Each track promises a delightful mix of laughter and rock that keeps fans guessing and grooving.

But behind the colourful costumes and electrifying performances lies a group of nerdy geeks who meticulously orchestrate every aspect of their operation. From planning catchy marketing strategies to crafting whacky content, these five members are determined to bring the comic book universe to life through their music. We wanted to discover the stories behind their hilarious lyrics, dynamic performances, and the chemistry that makes KAPOW!

Prakhar on Drums, Eternalramblings (Mayank) on Vocals, MC Gilehri (Vinod) is a ‘Pocket-sized Guitairst’, Saira plays the Bass, Ritic plays the Keyboard

Excerpts below.

KAPOW!

A NEW JAM
Comic rock is a genre that combines rock music’s raw energy with the playful, unpredictable world of comedy. We are standup artists and comedians on stage trying to use music and theatrics to tell a story while making you dance. Imagine a high-energy rock anthem with lyrics that are just as likely to make you laugh as they are to make you think. Like, you are dancing to Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean, and you are asking yourself, ‘Darn it, whose baby is it?’. It’s like mixing a punchy guitar riff with a punchline, all wrapped up in a sound that’s equal parts fun and edgy. KAPOW! is a prime example of this genre, infusing humour and wit into their music with tracks like Scooby Doo Jackie Chan, which blends danceable rhythms with deeper psychological themes, and Experimenting with Hoomans, a trippy look at technology and human existence. Then there’s Kaali Billi, which humorously takes on the age-old superstitions with a dose of self-aware satire targeted towards our desi Indian audience. It’s not just music; it’s not confined by language, we have English, Hindi, and Japanese on the way, it’s a playful exploration of life, where each song feels like a hilarious yet thought-provoking rollercoaster. So, if you want to rock out and laugh a little (or a lot), comic rock and KAPOW! are your jam.

KAPOW MULTIVERSE
The sound of KAPOW! is the sound of our audience and their lives reflected, and thus, our music is all over the spectrum. We love working on newer sounds and ideas and pushing ourselves out of our comfort zone. We have 21 songs now in our catalogue, and all of them explore different genres, lyrical themes and even singing styles. From rock to pop to indie to funk to dance to polka to Bollywood, we have explored a lot and created comic book crossovers like crazy, and we have many ideas to bring to the world still. We are building our own KAPOW! multiverse here, and it will take some time, so be patient and let us cook for a couple more years. The mastermind, Eternalramblings, loves physics and music, and he is building a whole narrative within these fragments that will come together like a grand reveal.

KAPOW!

A SONG IS BORN
Vinod that is MC Gilehri, our guitarist receives most jabs. Both verbal and physical. We spare no one, the rest of the band members are equally berated, bullied and insulted. But,Vinod is usually the winner (in a way at least). We all also love each other and push each other to grow and become better versions of ourselves, except maybe once or twice we all enjoy pulling each other’s leg and sharpening our wit and humour with actual practical use on each other. A song usually starts with Eternalramblings coming up with a story or a concept, it’s like writing a script for a music video or a short story, mostly at least a couple of pages long that the rest of the members are forced to read. Then he writes the lyrics and encapsulates the story into a 3-4 minute song. With this, we take the song to the drawing board where we start working out the musical elements together, the composition and arrangement happen as a unit and then flesh out the ideas, have countless arguments, and finally come to a common ground and a new song is born.


Words Hansika Lohani
Date 19.02.2025