| Bombay
Vikings were
formed in 1994 in Stockholm, Sweden. Mats introduced Neeraj
Shridhar to Oscar Soderberg. This brought together three
very talented musicians- each experienced in his own field.
The band was born primarily because all the musicians shared
one interest in common –the love for Indian melodies-
be it in Hindi films or Classical Music. Neeraj
with his voice control, diction
and sheer range became sound vocals base. His ability
to pull strings on the guitar and to compose and write
songs – ranging from pop rock, jazz, hip-hop, soul
and reggae- took the band to a higher plane.
Mats
– the
man with tremendous lungpower-brought in the rich sounds
of the saxophone. Mats, a specialist in jazz, used this
knowledge to profit while composing for the new band.
Mats
& Johan Folke,
a Keyboard specialist used their years of exposure to
the different genre of music to work magic on the keys
of the synthesizer.
The band was soon
joined by Morgan
on the drums, Par
on the bass and Staffan as a Lead guitarist.
Bombay
Vikings were now
complete and begin performance live all over Sweden and
Norway. When all the musicians got together and began
jamming, little did they know that they would be coming
out with a new form of music. But the thirst to do something
creative for the India- the land of their preferred brand
of music – was always there.
For although Neeraj
had shifted base to Sweden his heart still swayed to the
music of Indian tunes such as Oh Mere Sona Re, Mere
Sapon Ki Rani, and Mere Samne Wale Khidki Mein played
constantly in his mind but soon he realized that though
the tunes rang clearly in his melodies the words came
with difficulty.
He was traveling
from Stockholm to Uppsala by train. Looking out of the
window he saw a car running parallel to his train. Flashes
of Rajesh Khanna and Sharmila Tagore
in Aradhana came in his mind, as did a clutch
of words from Mere Sapno Ki Rani suddenly, the
lyrics did a back flip in his mind, and became:
Give your heart
to me; I’ll be your lover boy
I’ll be
your sweetest candy and your huggy toy!
The words began
to come in a flow and the song was over reached the studio
and began, She’s A Heart Breakin’ Woman
- and the rest is history!
His album apart
from the above-mentioned songs had the title song “KYA
SURAT HAI” which made immediate recognition
with the youth. The album remained on the top of all chartbusters
for almost 11months. Thus increasing the popularity of
Bombay Vikings all over the world.
Bombay Vikings were back again with their
next album “Woh Chali Woh Chali.”
The video is all about how the sheer exuberance of the
music makes the crowd forget their blues and sway away
to the rhythm. Neeraj, the lead singer, gets
the crowd to groove to the title track, what with the
infectious enthusiasm that his singing emanates.
Woh Chali
again was on the Top 10 of all music channels for over
a year & is said to have sold more than over 7 lakhs
units & is still going strong.The popularity of Bombay
Vikings & the sales made the music company
to release another two videos of the album Woh Chali
on the tracks of Jambola & later on Angel
Eyes (Video shot in Australia). Both this numbers
made an immediate entry in all discs & parties further
lifting the sales.
Bombay Vikings
next album,"Hawa Mein Udati Jaaye"
was released recently at a swanky Mumbai night-club, on
September 12. Neeraj Shridhar gave a
small performance on the occasion and those present couldn’t
help but groove to his dance numbers.Neeraj,
alongwith Shivaji Gupta, vice-president A&R/Commercial,
Universal Music India, spoke about his new album and gave
a preview of the video and the tracks. He spoke about
his musical influences and how he misses India since he
lives in Sweden. Though comfortable with Swedish than
English or Hindi, he spoke extensively in Hindi, explaining
that he rarely got the chance to speak in Hindi otherwise.
He also sang a special ghazal that his dad had composed
for him.
The album has nine
new heart beating numbers. Two Videos Hawa Mein Udati
Jaaye followed by Tera Mera Pyaar Sanam
have already been released and have got mind blowing response
from all over the world.
|