It was the early 2000s. Jayakrishnan S was yet another engineering student, one with no roots in music. He was introduced to metal through bands like Guns N’ Roses, Bon Jovi and Metallica. At a college fest, he met Nikhil NR who was playing an electric guitar. The backstage conversation on metal music around the world led them to start a Thrash Metal band Chaos where Jayakrishnan is the vocalist today. The band which later expanded with two more members has performed at several music festivals across India, released several albums, and has also composed the music for a film.
Recalling the early days, Jayakrishnan, now Co- founder of Malayalam OTT app Mainstream, said, “I have never studied music and Nikhil didn’t have much knowledge about strumming patterns. But the sheer passion for music led us to start the band chaos in 2005.”
The self- taught vocalist and his band became a regular at college festivals. The love for music has been the driving force for him, recounts the entrepreneur and marketing consultant – and an ongoing journey of 18 years.
“After forming the band, I started practicing relentlessly. I used to play albums of Metallica, Megadeath, Bon Jovi, Guns N’ Roses on the stereo and sang along. Thanks to luck and my dedication, I could pull it off easily. Even today I keep doing the same,” says the frontman.
Contrary to its name, Chaos seems to have a system at work – ideation on themes and lyrics are done by Jayakrishnan and Nikhil together.
Music for a cause
Apart from garnering fame and accolades, for Jayakrishnan and Chaos, music is a means to fight oppression and discrimination. They haven’t been afraid to call out despotism and bigotry. The albums ‘Violent Redemption’ and ‘All Against All’ raised a voice against wrongdoings in society and advocated peace.
“Gone were the days when artistes and musicians and celebrities came together and protested when things were going wrong in society or for the changes that needed to be made. Today, artistes are silenced,” opines Jayakrishnan.
The title track of ‘All Against All’ goes: ‘Together we fall, when it’s all against all’.
When the single ‘Merchant of Death’ that spoke of the Gujarat Riots of 2022 became viral, media outlets covered it and soon social media angst against the band followed.
“After that, before any performances we announce the theme of the songs we are going to perform,” he adds.
Jayakrishnan firmly believes that change cannot be brought about in a day or two and that music is not the ultimate tool of protest. But it has a role to play, he underlines.
“If we are able to convey our idea or bring in at least some awareness to the ten people who are listening to us, and if they are thinking about a change, then I believe we have succeeded as musicians,” he adds.
Chaos has composed the music for internationally acclaimed and controversial film ‘S Durga’. The track received a jury mention at Cinema Jove, International Film Festival of Valencia, Spain.
The band has been part of several music festivals across India. The latest addition to the list is the Indiegaga Music and Arts Festival, where it will perform this May in Bengaluru. This will be followed by a North East music tour in August.
The team has also been invited for a music tour across Europe but that has some logistical challenges.
“The problem with European music tour is that we have to pull off everything logistically. They give us the band fee. We have to have over 20 confirmed shows and then only things can be figured out and finalised. Hopefully in 2024 we will be doing it,” he signs off.
A single that marked 15 years of the band released in 2020 captures the mojo of the band best, says one diehard Indian metal fan. Chaos is not just a thrash metal band, it has a voice of its own, he underlines.
The single goes like this:
“We’ll rise from the ashes of yesterday,
There’s hope and a promise in everyday.
Rise from the ashes of yesterday,
We’ll rise to take on another day.”
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