Kastadyne is busy with recording and finalizing their second album
Kastadyne news
JUNE 2009
Like the rest of the civilized world, Kastadyne moves on to Twitter.com. So you may more closely follow the daily shenanigans of your favourite band.
www.twitter.com/kastadyne
Speaking of which, some people are already twittering (tweeting?) about Kastadyne - an Australian for a start. Here goes Dave Beynon on Twitter who plays Asian rock at PBS 106.7 FM in Melbourne. He is commenting on the music being played at the IPL in South Africa and wants it 'better'. He recommends music from Indian rock bands like Kastadyne and Vinapra.
Again, here is Christy Sturza of Los Angeles whose bio reads "Actor, TV host, chef..." and is obviously in a mood to rock with Kastadyne.
We always assumed, when a Kastadyne CD or two was bought at cdbaby.com or downloaded from any number of (legit) international websites like amazon.com or iTunes - we assumed Indians living abroad were buying them. Now with comments like the above and the Japanese incident last month (see below), we know that it's not just our brethren. The WORLD is listening, folks. Cheers.
MAY 2009
Exams done and dusted. Re-work on the second album started. Older songs junked without pity. Newer songs begun. Studio meter ticking. And then... this.
Kastadyne plays on a Japanese website. What the... ? It's true though. Asian Rock Rising is a web radio station run by Kazuo Ogasawara and plays the latest rock songs from Cyprus to Singapore to Hong Kong. A cool concept, actually. When last heard he was playing "Raise your hand" by Kastadyne (after writing to us, of course). We always knew Indian rock rocks - but nice to get some real world proof from distant Japan.
Although, just for a moment, picture a lot of Japanese tuning in and rocking to the strains of an Indian Independence song... Hmm. Stranger things have happened in the world, we guess.
FEBRUARY 2009
What? Kastadyne doing a love song? If you've ever wondered how it would be if Kastadyne did a love song, you may stop wondering. Because Kastadyne already did. Going by the staggering response from listeners at tempostand.com where it was released, You are the Light has touched an appreciative chord or two among Kastafans.
Although this is as romantic as the band is probably ever going to get. Who knows?
Check it out. You are the Light is also available as a free download to registered users of this site. (Registering is free and easy. So please show some support in exchange for a handful of free, totally cool Kastadyne songs. Come on, you know it's a good deal.)
JANUARY 2009
Toto Funds The Arts (TFA), a philanthropic organization based in Bangalore, was set up to honour the memory of Angirus ‘Toto' Vellani, a young man with a variety of artistic talents that were left unfulfilled. The fund has been recognizing and nurturing the artistic works of young people who demonstrate flair and promise of the kind that Toto displayed at an early age. Hats off to a one-of-a-kind institution like that!
Mumbai-based Counter Culture Records, an independent record label, has done a great job of spreading awareness about the TFA Awards in the last few years.
For a young band like Kastadyne it was an honour to be accorded a Special Jury Commendation by the 2-member jury of Radhakrishnan Nair (editor, Rolling Stone India) and Uday Benegal (front man of the pioneer band Indus Creed). They found Kastadyne's music "up there with the best. Extraordinarily different, yet effortless. Good writing, very nice sonic ideas."
Thank you, TFA. And congrats to the winning metal band from Delhi, Another Vertigo Rush. They must have rocked!
DECEMBER 2008
Joe Lanong RJ of Oohlala FM in Shillong requests Kastadyne to do a song for Christmas for airplay. Kastadyne responds with the song "All alone this Christmas". Joe loves it. Hopefully the Shillong listeners too will when it is aired shortly. And if you aren't from Shillong here it is. Enjoy.
NOVEMBER 2008
Obama wins. Songs for the album are becoming clearer - what to keep, what to drop. Much mixing yet remains. Yes, we can.
OCTOBER 2008
College exams managed. The band hooked off to distant Uttan, 70 km from Mumbai for a week. Came back refreshed with two more brand new songs in the bag. Eight down, four or five more to go. Aiming for start 2009 release. It can be done, it can be done... Pics of Uttan recording over here.
SEPTEMBER 2008
The second album work has been revised, re-edited and brought into some shape. Six songs down for the most part - a lot of fine tuning remains but the major part of composing and laying down tracks all done. A few more overdubs are certain to follow.
Kastadyne's "I love Indian rock" t-shirt SOLD OUT! Just four or five tees held back by the band - just in case. Let's see for how long.
AUGUST 2008
Last year for Independence Day 2007, Kastadyne made the song "Forget the Government". This is becoming a habit.
The band composed "Raise your hand" for Independence Day 2008. Submitted for an online contest, the song won the first prize (tempostand.com).
Going by the hits on this website and the messages on Orkut, the song has been received very well.
