Rainburn are a progressive rock band from Bangalore, India. 

 Please list all of your band members and their roles in the band.

VATS IYENGAR - lead vocals, guitar
TOSHIMOA JAMIR - guitar, vocals
SHISHIR GUPTA - bass, vocals
PRAVEEN KUMAR - drums

For starters, what bands were you guys a part of prior to Rainburn? How long has the band been around?

Praveen, our drummer, also plays for a cross-continent power metal band called Blood & Iron, currently signed to Pure Steel Records. I (Vats) was briefly in a UK-based metal band called Silent Prophecy. Rainburn has been around for 3-and-a-half years now and we have just released our debut EP, titled 'Canvas of Silence'.

What’s the origin of that name and have you changed the band’s name before?

We wanted a name that conveyed a sense of opposites in terms of meaning, to suggest that we cover a broad spectrum of music, several shades of light and dark and everything in-between. I suppose it's the same sort of thinking that inspired names such as Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath.

Who writes your songs? What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs and do you think these topics will change over time?

I write all the music and lyrics. Most of the themes are introspective, inspired by personal thoughts and experiences, but they also describe universal thoughts such as dealing with loss, coming to grips with your mortality and struggling to communicate with other people. In future, I'd like to touch a little less upon self-centered topics and use themes that are more inspired by other people's stories than my own. Oh, and also write more "happy" music.

What bands are currently inspiring the music that you’re making?

I haven't actually listened to much music for a long time, mostly because I'm so busy making, playing and promoting my own that at the end of the day, when I'm trying to unwind, I like to do something that has nothing to do with music. But one band we all totally dig these days is Animals as Leaders.

Was there a particular band/artist or concert that inspired you to start a band?

There wasn't any one in particular but the main reason I wanted to be in a band was the same as most people - to be one of the cool kids and get to meet girls!

What do you do to prepare for a show? Any flexing, exercises, ect …

I like to jump around and be active and also take deep breaths. Sometimes I do some visualization. Our drummer Praveen always has an energy drink before going up on stage.

What has been the biggest highlight of the band’s career so far?

I think releasing this EP because it was a real uphill battle. There was so much to overcome, both personally and musically, and I came close to quitting at least a couple of times. I'm glad to be on the upside of it now.

If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and why?

I'd love to go on tour with Dream Theater some day, it would be totally inspiring. We sometimes cover their song 'Under a Glass Moon' during live shows and it'd be fun to actually get to sing that with DT one day, even if it's during a soundcheck!

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Please visit our website www.rainburn.com and listen to samples of songs from our EP. If you like what you hear, I hope you will buy the album (buy links are on our site as well) and support us...and generally, good independent art.