Euphoria (Indian band)
Euphoria (Hindi: युफ़ोरिया) is an Indian pop rock band formed by Dr. Palash Sen in 1988 in Delhi, India. The name "Euphoria", is a term used in Psychiatry to describe a feeling one gets in the state of Mania, was decided upon by Palash, who at the time was a student of medicine at the University College of Medical Sciences, Delhi.
Euphoria | |
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 Euphoria at the filming of their video Alvida, in April 2018 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Delhi, India |
| Genres | Indian pop rock • hind rock • pop rock • pop • indie pop |
| Years active | 1988–present |
| Labels | Archies Music • T Series • Saregama • Universal Music India • Universal Music Group • Dhoom Records |
| Associated acts | Shubha Mudgal • Junoon • Strings • Shreya Ghoshal • Akriti Kakar |
| Website | www |
| Members |
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Initially rooted in English rock the band through its various line-up changes, found its calling in the sound of fusion rock music arrangements with Hindi lyrics and melodies. With the release of their debut album “Dhoom” in 1998, Euphoria was the first indigenous band that became a household name.
Euphoria has released 7 studio albums and are one of India's highest-selling artists and the highest-selling band ever. They have released 16 singles by adopting the DIY method, and embracing the digital revolution in the music industry. They were inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2012 by the Indian Recording Arts Academy at the Palm Expo in Mumbai.
Early years and the first album Dhoom (1988–1999)
Euphoria was formed in 1988 by a then medical student Dr. Palash Sen and his friends.[1] Bass player Debajyoti Bhaduri joined hands with Palash in the early nineties. Moving through several line-ups, the band kept searching for their elusive break. It came 10 years after their inception when Euphoria released their first studio album titled 'Dhoom' in the October 1998 to critical acclaim and commercial success. They became the pioneers of 'Hind Rock' or rock music in Hindi. Their first single was titled 'Dhoom Pichuk Dhoom' – and it became the most popular video to hit TV screens in that decade. Directed by ad-guru and filmmaker Pradeep Sarkar, the video became a benchmark for non-Bollywood music videos. Two other videos were shot and released for the songs "Tum" and " Sha Na Na" the same year. During this time the band even included the legendary Gussy Rikh, whose musical dexterity helped improve the band's often one-dimensional sound.
Phir Dhoom and Mantra (1999–2002)
After the success of 'Dhoom', Euphoria started work on their second studio album 'Phir Dhoom' and delivered hit singles such as 'Phir Dhoom', 'Rok Sako To Rok Lo', and 'Pyar Hi Tha'. But it was their first single 'Maaeri' (an instrumental launching the career of Rimi Sen) which became their most successful song and their trademark tune. It was during the recording of this album, that Palash asked Tabla Player Prashant Trivedi and Percussionist Rakesh Bhardwaj to join the band. Two back-to-back hit records had already cemented Euphoria as a powerful musical force. The band toured heavily this time, to promote the record and also played at the prestigious Beale Street Music Festival in Memphis in 2000. In 2001, Euphoria became the first ever band to play inside the United Nations General Assembly along with Junoon from Pakistan. After returning to the country, the band released "Mantra", India's first ever standalone single release, independent of an album.
‘Mantra' established their unique hind rock resonance which was an eclectic mixture of Indian and global sounds. It was during this time that front man Palash shot for the film Filhaal, which was released the same year.
Gully (2003–2006)
Changes
Mehfuz, REDhoom, Best of Luck and Line Up Change (2006–2010)
In 2006, the band's fourth studio album 'Mehfuz' surprised critics and fans alike. The new sound and the maturity in the songwriting won a lot of hearts and made Euphoria the only force in Indian music which could commercially take on Bollywood. Four music videos were released for the songs 'Soneya', 'Mehfuz', 'Bewafaa', and 'Rab Jaane'. Mehfuz was the first album that the band recorded in their newly made studio "The Clinic". The band's current drummer, Ashwani Verma, joined the band during this time.
In 2008, the band completed 10 years of their recording career and released 'Re Dhoom'a commemorative compilation album consisting of 12 of Euphoria's biggest hits with a music video of the song 'Bhoola Sab'.
Following personal differences and misunderstandings, Palash asked the then guitarist and keyboardist Hitesh Madan and Benjamine Pinto to leave the band.
During a brief hiatus that the band took from playing live, Euphoria created music for the Malayalam Film "Best of Luck" released in late 2010. Indian Guitar Legend Kalyan Baruah played guitars on the songs. Kalyan also appeared live with Euphoria on 2 occasions, and later also guested on their 2011 MTV Unplugged appearance.
Axeman Amborish Saikia and Keyboard player Vinayak Gupta completed Euphoria's line up and brought about a total change in Euphoria's sound with their cutting edge nu age musicianship. Euphoria was sounding younger, better and more aggressive than ever.
Item (2011)
In 2011, the band released their fifth studio album titled "Item" and embarked on a 10 city tour of USA to promote it. Euphoria also made an appearance on MTV Unplugged's Indian edition the same year and performed "ITEM" and "C U Later" from the new album, along with their other hits. In the first week of May, Euphoria released the second single "C U Later" from Item in two languages, Hindi and English. A music video to support the promotions was also created in both languages, making it India's first bilingual single. The single went on to peak at number 5 on VH1 India's Top Ten charts. Item was released worldwide by Universal Music India.
Sharnaagat (2012 Onwards)
Euphoria launched their 6th studio album titled "Sharnaagat" in 2012, surprising critics and fans with a new direction. Sharnaagat was the band's first spiritual record, with influences of pop, folk and blues. Frontman Palash's late father, Dr. Rupendra Kumar Sen, had composed 3 out of the 7 songs featured on the album. A music video was shot for the title track "Sharnaagat" in the premises of a Temple, Mosque, Church and a Gurudwara in Delhi with an attempt to portray the universality of God and religion. Palash directed the video with the entire band and its support staff doubling up as the production crew. Sharnaagat was released worldwide by Times Music Spiritual.
Music Video Halla Bol (2016)[2]
Euphoria launched their brand new single on 21 June 2016, co-written by Palash Sen and Deekshant Sahrawat, Halla Bol, also composed and led by as vocalist by Palash, describes the song as “the war cry of the meek, the quiet and the non-pretentious common man.[3] This almost six-minute song features the band’s commentary on India’s various issues with spoofs on Arvind Kejriwal, Arnab Goswami, Vijay Mallya and Aamir Khan’s ‘PK’.[4]
Films
The band has composed the soundtrack for a Malayalam film named Best of luck (2010).[5]
Albums
Albums and Singles of Euphoria is listed below:[6]
- 1998 – Dhoom
- 2000 – Phir Dhoom
- 2003 – Gully
- 2006 – Mehfuz
- 2008 – ReDhoom
- 2011 – Item
- 2012– Sharnaagat
Singles
- 2001 – Mantra
- 2017 - Halla Bol
- 2018 - Alvida
Songs
- Dhoom Pichak Dhoom
- Sha Na Na
- Maeri
- Phir Dhoom
- Raja Rani
- Ab Naa Jaa
- Aana Meri Gully
- Sone De Maa
- Soneya
- Mehfuz
- Bhoola Sab
- Ram Ali
- C U Later
- Kabootar
- Item
- Sharnaagat
- Prabhuji
- Sheranwali Maa
- mola mere mola
- Halla Bol
Collaborations
- 2004 – Jeet Lo Dil feat. Strings
- 2010 – Delhi Meri Jaan. (for the Commonwealth Games 2010 New Delhi)
- 2019 - Saajna feat Akriti Kakar
Key facts
Dr. Palash Sen is also an actor, who acted in the Bollywood movie called Filhaal. Also, Palash has starred in a film called Mumbai Cutting, in which he plays the lead role. Euphoria created the background score to this movie.
References
- Kumari, Barkha (27 May 2018). "20 years of Euphoria". Bangalore Mirror. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
- Euphoria (21 June 2016), Euphoria – Halla Bol | Dr. Palash Sen, retrieved 22 June 2016
- Euphoria (21 June 2016), Euphoria – Halla Bol | Dr. Palash Sen, retrieved 22 June 2016
- "Euphorias New Song Halla Bol Trends as Twitter Struggles to Listen - NDTV Movies". NDTVMovies.com. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
- "Euphoria music in 'Best of Luck' – Malayalam Movie News". IndiaGlitz. Retrieved 29 December 2010.
- "Euphoria launches new album – Follow Your Dreams a music album in support of the 'I pledge to stop student suicides' movement". Archived from the original on 12 April 2010. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
External links
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