Mumbai rock band Euphony. Photo: Courtesy of the artist
Mumbai’s eight-member rock band Euphony turn on the charm with “Theher Ja,” the third single off their upcoming EP Umeed.
The breezy pop song highlights the band’s signature multi-part harmonies, intricate beatboxing, and a few slick slap-and-pop bass moments—all wrapped into four and a half minutes.
Euphony have been steadily building their profile since 2015, rising through TV talent shows like India’s Got Talent and Dil Hai Hindustani, and making a name with covers, mashups, and corporate gigs. But putting out an all-original EP like Umeed once felt like a distant dream. Bassist and vocalist Joshua Rajan says it was tough to gather the funds and resources needed to produce the kind of music they truly envisioned.
“However, following our breakthrough moment with Dil Hai Hindustani (aired on Star Plus in 2017) and India’s Got Talent (aired on Sony in 2022), our journey took an unexpected and thrilling turn,” he says.
After winning Dil Hai Hindustani and making it to the quarter-finals of India’s Got Talent, Euphony gained a wave of recognition—along with some much-needed prize money. Rajan says the support allowed them to take a break from constantly booking shows just to stay afloat. “This gave us the invaluable time and space to focus solely on our music,” he adds.
In 2024, the band launched Umeed with singles like “Muraad” and “Khoye Khoye.” Lyricist-composer and vocalist Sanish Nair shares that each song explores a distinct emotion, contributing to a larger narrative about “the journey of emotional growth.”
Euphony’s own growth story as a band has been shaped by hard-earned lessons in the music and entertainment industry. Nair compares navigating the scene to “trying to surf a wave that never stops moving.” He explains, “One minute, you’ve got it all figured out; the next, you’re back to square one. Last-minute changes? Constant. Starting over? Pretty much a daily thing. But hey, that’s part of the thrill, right?”
Even with a decade under their belt and several primetime TV appearances—including a special segment on Kaun Banega Crorepati in 2017—Euphony recently addressed the ongoing issue of being asked to perform for free or “for exposure” by unnamed promoters. In a lighthearted Instagram Reel, the band called out the practice, but the message was loud and clear.
Guitarist-composer Rupesh Shirsat says the video may have been humorous in tone, but it “carries a deeper truth that many musicians and artists know all too well.”
He admits that Euphony themselves have “fallen victim” to the exposure trap in the past, believing it was the only way to get ahead. Over time, however, they realized this mindset was unsustainable. “In a country where art is undervalued and misunderstood, people fail to recognize the cost of an artist’s dedication—the time, the practice, and the financial investment in both skill and instruments,” Shirsat says.
His advice: “It’s time to stand up. It’s okay to say no to opportunities that don’t respect your worth.” Instead, Shirsat encourages artists to make music in the knowledge that “there’s an audience for every form of art.” He adds, “Once you build your own following, you’ll find yourself performing for those who truly value your art. That’s when you’ll earn the respect and the compensation you deserve. The world must understand: art is not free, and neither are we.”
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