Rhythm of Love: in conversation with Version 2

A newly formed band “Version 2” is composed of members who have been in the music scene for some time. The band is an offshoot of two other bands namely Inyiushong and Echoes Hill. Echoes Hill is a country music tribute band, a genre for both young and old while Inyiushong plays various musical genres from folk to rock. 

The members of the two bands decided to play together for the love of rock. By their admission, their objective is to ‘bring back’ metal music as a mainstream music genre again.

Read on to know more about Version 2.

 

Eastern Mirror: How did you come up with your band name?

Version 2: We are an offshoot of Inyiushong band and Echoes Hill band members. And hence, the idea came up that we decided to call ourselves as VERSION 2 of the other two bands involved with different genres.

 

Eastern Mirror: Talk us through your creative process. What is the genre of Version 2. Is it different from the genre with the band that you were involved with?

Version 2: Like most other artists/bands we initially work on structure of the song before the vocal inputs. Once we come up with the main riff section, the shaping of the song takes on from there. Version 2’s genre revolves around the modern metal world; it’s a blend of alternative metal and groove metal.

Speaking of the other bands we’re active and involved with, Echoes Hill is a country music tribute band, a genre for both young and old. And Inyiushong is a folk-fusion/tribal, rock/metal band.

 

Eastern Mirror: What drove you to form a metal band?

Version 2: Right from our early years, ever since we picked up our instruments we were always driven by the strong, direct, honest sound and message delivered by metal music and the raw talent of it. Metal is one genre which never gets old. And we are glad to learn there’s a massive fan base of metal music even in our state, so an  effort from our end, along with the same genre bands around, we intend to bring back Metal as mainstream music.

 

Eastern Mirror: How long have you all known each other? What inspired you to make music together?

Version 2: Some of us have known each other for a good number of years and others for about a year now. We met at a musical platform through mutual friends and decided to jam one fine afternoon as we shared the love for the same genre of music it led to the inception of Version 2 with a debut performance coinciding World Music Day 2019 at RCEMPA, Kohima and August Rush Event recently.

 

Eastern Mirror: What are your song contents and do you have any upcoming projects down the line?

Version 2: Our song talks about building courage within oneself, self motivation to break the chains of fear, depression and on social issues as well. At the moment, we are working on our second original and preparation is on for the upcoming Arju Autumn Fest Tuli – Battle of the Bands.

 

Eastern Mirror: What’s your ultimate direction for your band? Are you seeking fame and fortune?

Version 2: Our direction and motive is to create and enjoy the music we love, and also to share and spread our music to people especially in today’s generation where a lot of youths are torn down by social anxiety, depression and spread the message of rebuilding oneself. Regarding, fame and fortune, these aren’t the primary goals but it would be unwise to say that we totally deny those because in order to let people hear your work, you need that spark to start it all.

 

Eastern Mirror: How do you want people to reach out to your band?

Version 2: Well obviously no doubt, social media stands the utmost means of reaching out to the large section of people. Like any other band we also have Instagram page as of now.

Having said that, creating good music and winning the hearts of the audience/musicians or music lovers and they recognizing us through the music is definitely what we feel the best means of people reaching out to the band. To sum up: ‘’create good music and let music do the rest”.

 

Eastern Mirror: What is your favourite part about the line of work? Your least favourite and why?

Version 2: Hmmmm favourite part, performing live and behind the scenes that willingness where each one of us are all in for the band’s practice/rehearsals anytime of the day, and this keeps us going for more…it’s like nothing can stop us to learn more and work more, like the saying “Hard work definitely pays off”.

We are all humans, likewise to counter the favourite part, there may be the least favourite ones too hahaha. Ok coming to that, well we haven’t found one yet…. (apart from the band’s other usual difficulties where one has to ride herd on their own gadgets and move them around for gigs). Oh well, the drummer keeps complaining ‘why me’ because he’s got the biggest and the heaviest bags of goodies to carry along during shows…hahaha that’s a joke…there’s no least favourite.