After years of writing and performing in bands, Melbourne artist Lalchand (aka Jordan Lalchand) is emerging into a brand new phase making his debut as a solo artist armed with a stunning prog rock delight in the form of his debut single Feast.
Yielding tangled instrumentation with jubilant heavy undertones, Feast marks a huge starting point for Lalchand who previously journeyed in the musical world playing in Shepherd (formerly Maker Resonate) and sharing stages alongside the likes of Ocean Grove, Alpha Wolf and The Getaway Plan. And while a solo project for Lalchand, for his first adventure he's teamed up with fellow musos Ryan Wilson on vocals, Micah Barnes on drums and Isaac Naylor on bass to round out the simmering beauty behind Feast that at times calls to mind fellow Aussie prog kings Dead Letter Circus and Karnivool - but with Lalchand's own unique twist.
Now currently well underway working towards a debut EP set to drop in 2020, this is only the beginning of an exciting new phase for Lalchand. And with his brand new tune premiering today on The Soundcheck what better time to catch up with this severely talented new artist! For your listening AND reading pleasure today, you can check out Lalchand's incredible tune Feast below. plus get to know this incredible artist as he chats concepts, inspiration and the musical journey that led to this particular endeavour. New tune and interview below!
FEAST (LALCHAND)
TIANA SPETER: Hi Jordan and thank you so much for chatting, particularly on the brink of you unleashing your solo endeavour as Lalchand. Obviously you’re no stranger to the musical world, but what really drew you into branching out as a solo artist?
JORDAN LALCHAND: No worries! I think there are a couple of reasons. I was previously playing in a local band and unfortunately, we all got too busy to really commit to being a band. For me I know that writing and performing music has been a huge passion and I couldn’t rely on just being in a band to do that. I didn’t want to make any excuses and the only logical option seemed to be start a solo project, so here we are!
TIANA: And to debut, you’re kicking off with a bang with Feast, a totally gorgeous tune that draws on some stunning riffy ambience. With this project, obviously there are some nods to your influences like Dead Letter Circus, Karnivool and Alter Bridge (what a trifecta!)…but did you come into this with a clear-cut “mission statement” of the Lalchand sound? Or are you happy for it to evolve along the way?
LALCHAND: Thank you! I suppose with this particular release I wanted it to showcase a range of my influences. I love melody and I think that’s the most important thing to keep in mind when writing but I do love a good riff too! I do think future releases will evolve. Some may be heavier than others while some may have more of an ambient/post rock kind of vibe depending on what I feel like writing at the time. I do have a stockpile of ideas though so I will likely be moving through them in terms of releasing new material!
TIANA: On the topic of Feast, it’s a soaring, immersive track sonically, but it also wields some pretty large narrative concepts…and while the whole finding meaning in life and disillusionment with reality is quite heavy-hitting, the end realisation that the ability for meaning and fulfillment was there all along is really reflected in the upbeat tones kicking around throughout the track. Are you finding it cathartic to explore some of these concepts?
LALCHAND: I actually specifically asked Ryan (the vocalist) to write lyrics on an experience he had himself. I’m not a lyricist so it’s not necessarily cathartic for me but I do like the idea of exploring these themes in a song format as it’s a good reminder for myself to reflect on the words as well!
TIANA: And while Feast is just the beginning for you, is it a pretty solid indication of what’s to come for Lalchand with future releases?
LALCHAND: I’d say so! It will likely be me writing music and getting someone to sing over it as I have NO vocal talent whatsoever. I’d also expect more collaborations with other artists as well!
TIANA: You’ve clearly got a knack for crafting songs with a heap of captivating light and shade….and we get to hear your guitar skills at play in particular on Feast. Did you find a love for music from an early age? Was there a particular moment that got you seriously considering pursuing music professionally?
LALCHAND: I suppose my love for music came when I started playing guitar at my mum’s recommendation. I moved to Australia at the end of 2004 and started year 3 the following year. My mum thought it would be a good idea for me to learn guitar as my school had guitar lessons available. I remember growing up watching my dad play guitar before he went to work for my siblings and I, and that was part of the reason I decided to take up the instrument. I grew up (and still am) a shy and introverted person and playing the guitar is a good way for me to express myself. I took lessons in primary school but didn’t learn too much besides Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. I really got serious about it in early high school when I started learning classic rock songs and got into bands like Alter Bridge. I remember their lyrics and music really speaking to me and I thought it would be amazing to have that same effect on people through music that I write.
TIANA: Your influences in this project hint at some of your musical journey…but what bands or artists did you actually grow up listening to, was it always stuff slightly heavier or did you have those one or two gateway artists and bands that led you into slightly heavier waters?
LALCHAND: I actually grew up on a lot of hip hop and rap music as well as boybands like Backstreet Boys and Nsync. In high school through the influence of my cousin back in Malaysia, I got into Gun’s N Roses and Slash pretty heavily. That lead to more classic bands such as AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, Hendrix, Van Halen etc. But the band that really got me into the music I write nowadays would be Alter Bridge. Their mix of heavy riffs, ballads and epic soundscapes really influenced me in how I write. Not to mention their guitarist Mark Tremonti is a beast of a player (I actually used his signature guitar on the recording of Feast!). Alter Bridge was the gateway to heavier bands for me like Killswitch Engage, Periphery and Karnivool.
TIANA: As a Melbourne artist, what’s your take on the current music scene there right now? Do you feel like it’s a supportive place for emerging artists?
LALCHAND: It seems like there are extremely talented bands/artists stepping out from Melbourne which is fantastic. I do think there are plenty of opportunities for emerging artists to take advantage such as the GRID series which is a program my old band (Shepherd) was a part of and it really helped us get our foot in the door. I do think the scene is quite supportive and it makes me feel proud to be a part of it!
TIANA: Now while it’s early days for Lalchand, is there anything you can reveal about what’s to come in the near future? Or do we just have to wait and see….?
LALCHAND: Definitely feeling the next release will be a heavier one which should be out in the not too distant future so keep an eye out…
TIANA: And finally – in honour of your new tune Feast about finding meaning and fulfillment in life – what are some of the most important things in your life that help reaffirm your own meaning and fulfillment?
LALCHAND: For me personally I’m a Christian and my meaning and fulfillment comes through serving God, my church and others as well as knowing my identity through Christ. Through that I know music is a desire placed on my heart and my hope is that music I put out can bless and speak to people wherever they are at in life.
LALCHAND'S DEBUT SINGLE FEAST IS OFFICIALLY OUT TOMORROW VIA ALL THE USUAL STREAMING SUSPECTS, AND FOR MORE LALCHAND INFO, HEAD HERE.
BY TIANA SPETER