SundogProject’s Rahul Das. Photo: Karan Takulia
New Delhi experimental act SundogProject—led by founder, producer, and singer-songwriter Rahul Das—has resurfaced with a new song “Sheep,” offering a sharp commentary about the content creation age.
Although nowhere near as heavy as Sundog’s last release, 2021 industrial rock/metal EP 1999, there’s plenty of acerbic energy concocted in the eerie, acoustic guitar-driven “Sheep.” Written during the peak of the pandemic-enforced lockdown in 2020, when our digital lives overshadowed our real-world interactions, the song questions what this hyper-connected existence has led us to. Das sings, “Blame it on the algo/I’ll never reach you.”
Das was looking at “polarizing discourses on the Internet” and made that the basis of “Sheep.” He says, “Taking imaginary sides on social media, pushing ourselves into social media narcissism, losing ourselves to engineered discourse, going mad (in trend). Who is taking who for a ride? Which side are you on? And is that where you want to be? Is there any ‘side’ at all? Is there no truth at all? Is everyone just making content? — these were some of the overarching themes.”
The song—part of SundogProject’s upcoming album This Revolution Is Telepathic slated to release later this year—comes with a music video shot in Tokyo, Shanghai, and New Delhi with filmmakers Karan Takulia and Shelley Mae Alingas. Das, donning headgear that looks like a combination of wolf and sheep, roams through the streets of Tokyo, with superimposed graphics appearing and disappearing.
Intended to be surreal and deliberately disorienting at times, “Sheep” is just one piece of the larger sonic puzzle that is SundogProject’s new album. Das admits the album has been in the works since 2019—“at least concept-wise,” he adds. Still in the process of finalizing the track list with either eight or 10 songs, Das says the album ranges from the dark acoustic sounds of “Sheep” to minimal synth, alt-rock and industrial elements, plus “Seventies-style guitar music” and “dark trippy stuff.” He adds, “Every track is absolutely different than the other, but still holds a central theme and vibe. It’ll be full of surprises for sure!”
In the meantime, Das is also taking the act back on stage for the first time since 2019, performing on Apr. 18, at gig series Metal Day Out (by organizers Outrage Festival). While it marks the EP launch show for Hyderabad/Shillong/Bengaluru thrash/death metal band Godless’ Genesis of Decay, SundogProject remains a big draw as well. Das has enlisted drummer Rijul Victor aka Corridors, guitarist-producer Vaibhav Bhutani (from post-rock band Ioish), and bassist Sumant Balakrishnan (guitarist for rock bands Barefaced Liar, NokNok and Dastaan Live). Das adds, “I am really excited about this outfit as we have changed things around. This band is now raw, powerful, and visceral with an improvisational edge. Most of the set is new stuff and I’m really excited for all of you to hear it.”
SundogProject and Godless perform at Metal Day Out on Apr. 18, 2025 at Saket Social, New Delhi. Get tickets here.
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