MUSIC INTERVIEW: MIDNIGHT RADIO

 

Born out of a Los Angeles area Film School, Midnight Radio is a Neo-noir, Electro-rock band that blends genres to tell epic stories. The five-piece outfit is a potent brew of cinema, art, and music, driven by story and epic soundscapes, and always experimenting with form and content.

 

“There is no aspect of our music that is not informed by story, so it's fitting that we are called Midnight Radio,” lead singer Dalit Diva told Buzzine in an exclusive chat.

 

Taking their name from the pulp stories of late-night radio, the band is inspired by the stories that take place in this realm of fantasy. From detective stories, time travel, aliens, and robots, they love to create songs that tell the human side of these fantastic elements.

 

Midnight Radio draws from the sounds of modern rock and pop, including Metric, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sade, The Pixies, MIA,  Siouxie and the Banshees, and MGMT. The group created quite the local buzz from playing tirelessly at venues throughout Southern California, in addition to a headlining spot at the 2010 Indian Film Festival.

 

Being featured in Indian, British, and American press, Midnight Radio has continued to build its international fan base from partnering with much-hyped startup StageIt to broadcast a live performance to hundreds of fans across the globe.

 

“We are definitely a global band; we are multi-racial and intentionally mash-up genres to have fun and reflect our eclectic and technically savvy fan base,” Dalit Diva added.

 

The 3D music video for "Blood & Glory," shot at downtown L.A.’s Museum of Neon Art, echoes the retro-tinged, surf rock sound of the track. It is also one of the first 3D Music videos featuring a Desi Artist.

 

“It’s exciting to have been one of the first Indian artists to have a 3D video. At the time, I didn’t realize how historic it was, but as a desi woman who is a rock and roll artist and a 3D film director, it is inevitable that some records get broken,” Dalit Diva told Buzzine in an exclusive chat. “This video was a technical and creative challenge because, as both director and one of the performers, I had to switch back and forth between the intense concentration required by shooting in 3D, as well as perform for the camera. Luckily we were supported by an amazing crew, the majority of which were women! So its definitely a first on a lot of levels. We were also very lucky to have the support of the Neon Museum of Los Angeles.”

 

The mellowed melodic lead single comes from the upcoming Midnight Radio EP, a neo-vintage record that reflects the band’s aesthetic and is a journey of love through multiple genres.

 

“It’s a song about break-ups and moving on, but not with anger but with love--always with love. It’s a point of view that is not often heard of from Indian women, and Midnight Radio loves to explore this complex emotional terrain,” Dalit Diva added.

 

Led by the enigmatic Dalit Diva (Thenmozhi Soundarajan), Midnight Radio is set to take the rock scene by storm with a classic sound infused with electronics, interactive VJ exhibits, and bubbles.