Avora Records

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Avora Records
Avora Records in 2020
Avora Records in 2020
Background information
Also known as
  • AR
OriginAizawl, Mizoram, India
Genres
Years active2012–present
LabelsK&P Records
Associated actsPangpari
MembersKhos Hmar
Ruata Renthlei
Stephen Hnamte
Sanga Ralte
CK Hauzel
Past membersMamaa Ralte
Hriata Renthlei
Melvyn Fanai

Avora Records (abbreviated as AR) is an Indian indie rock band from Aizawl, Mizoram formed in 2012 by Khos Hmar, Mamaa Ralte and Ruata Renthlei as a side-project to record songs. The group went through a series of line-up changes till it turned into a band with Stephen Hnamte, Sanga Ralte & CK Hauzel joining it. Since 2016, the band's line-up has been the same and in 2017, Mamaa Ralte parted ways with the band.

In 2018, the band released its debut singles Sunday & 23:00. In 2019, they released If You're Not Sweating To This Then Honey You're Not 90's and Waltz Of The Foolish Youth in 2020. The band's debut album, Comedians On Drugs[1] was released on October 1, 2020.

They gained nationwide attention after winning Sennheiser Top 50 Season 3[2][3] and Hornbill International Rock Contest[4][5] in 2017. The band has performed all across the country and shared the stage with prominent artists like Blackstratblues, Indus Creed, Karsh Kale, Mono, Parvaaz, Raghu Dixit, Thermal and a Quarter, and many more.

Career[]

2012-2016: History[]

The group was formed in 2012 by Khos (Lalkhawsiama), Mamaa Ralte (Vanlalmuanpuia) and Ruata[6] (Laremruata Renthlei) in Aizawl, Mizoram. It was initially formed as a side-project to record songs and upload them on SoundCloud and YouTube. Avora Records gets its name from Mamaa's father Marova.[7] Hriata Renthlei played the bass for the group till 2014 and in the same year, Stephen (Stephen Marcus Rualzakhuma Hnamte) joined the group to do the vocal sections. In early 2016, Sanga (Lalsangzuala Ralte) joined the group as the drummer and by October 2016, Avora Records became a performing band and in their initial years, they did local club & restaurant shows in Aizawl. The first song that they wrote together as a band was 23:00. Later in 2017, Mamaa Ralte who till then acted as the producer & manager for the newly formed band, left it due to a conflict of interest.

2017-2018: Initial years as a band, touring, Sunday & 23:00[]

The band's initial years have been touring and playing across India at various music competitions to open-air music festivals.[8] In 2017, Melvyn Fanai played the bass for the band but was soon replaced by CK (Lalchhuankima Hauzel). During this time, Khos Hmar wasn't actively touring with the band because of his job in Bangalore. Later in September 2017, the band went on to participate in Sennheiser Top 50: Season 3 and won the competition where they were judged by the famous Bollywood trio Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy, folk-rock singer Raghu Dixit and Bollywood playback singer Papon. This victory shot the band to nationwide fame, grabbing the attention of many fellow musicians, festival promoters, publications & a lot of listeners. Khos who wasn't actively touring and playing with the band decided to quit his job and finally returned to Aizawl to fully focus on the band. The band went on to do shows in Guwahati, Delhi, Aizawl, Hard Rock Cafe in Mumbai, NH7 Weekender[9][10] in Meghalaya,[11] Orange Festival[12] in Arunachal Pradesh. By the end of 2017, in December the band participated in Hornbill International Rock Contest in Nagaland and won the competition. They were judged by Uday Benegal from the Indus Creed and others. The number of achievements in the year 2017 cemented the band's place as a prominent face in the northeast Indian rock music scene. In 2018, the band toured across North-east India with multiple shows in Aizawl, Dimapur, Guwahati, Jowai and Shillong.[13] They also performed at Hard Rock Cafe Mumbai, Ziro Festival[14][15] of Arunachal Pradesh[16] and Hornbill Festival of Nagaland. The same year, the band released their debut single Sunday[17] and 23:00 - the first song they wrote together as a band in 2015. Rolling Stones India featured the music video of Sunday in their ‘10 Best Indian Music Videos of 2018’ article.[18]

2019-present: IYANSTTTHYN90's & Comedians On Drugs[]

The band went to perform at Udaipur World Music Festival[19][20] in Udaipur, NH7 Weekender[21][22] at Meghalaya,[23] concerts in Assam, Delhi, Mizoram and Meghalaya. They released their third single If You're Not Sweating To This Then Honey You're Not 90's[24][25] (abbreviated as 'IYANSTTTHYN90's') in August 2019 and their fourth single Waltz Of The Foolish Youth in May 2020 featuring Pangpari from Flowerpot. Their debut album, Comedians On Drugs was released on October 1, 2020,[26][27][28] which was recorded at Kings & Prophets Recording Studios in Aizawl, Mizoram. The band had planned for an India tour to promote their debut album but it was eventually cancelled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in India.

Musical Influences[]

The band was formed during the time when alternative grunge, emo, indie pop & punk rock wave had reached India. The band members take influence from Angels & Airwaves, Blink-182, Death Cab for Cutie, Extreme, Fall Out Boy, Incubus, My Chemical Romance, Mutemath, Panic! At The Disco, Radiohead, The Beatles, The Used, also from Broadway Jazz and Disney movies.

Band members[]

Timeline

Discography[]

Studio albums[]

Comedians On Drugs (2020)

No. Title Length
1. "Imperfections" 6:05
2. "Sunday" 3:34
3. "Millenials" 4:06
4. "Walt Of The Foolish Youth
(featuring Pangpari)" 		4:34
5. "If You're Not Sweating To This Then Honey You're Not 90's" 4:13
6. "Artificial Sweeteners" 3:25
7. "Borders" 4:00
8. "23:00" 4:55
9. "After the After Party" 4:05
10. "Incidents" 3:48

Singles[]

Year Title Length
2018 "Sunday" 3:33
2018 "23:00" 4:55
2019 "If You're Not Sweating To This Then Honey You're Not 90's" 4:13
2020 "Waltz Of The Foolish Youth
(featuring Pangpari)" 		4:34

Music Videos[]

Year Title Length
2018 "Sunday" 4:13
2018 "Sides" 3:04
2018 "23:00" 6:00
2019 "If You're Not Sweating To This Then Honey You're Not 90's" 5:55
2020 "Waltz Of The Foolish Youth" 5:43

Other releases[]

Year Title Length
2014 "All This Could Be Yours" 3:30
2015 "Time" 3:40
2016 "Anna's Anthem" 3:20
2017 "Sides" 2:30
2017 "We Happy Few" 3:47

References[]

  1. ^ "The Groovebox Jukebox: From Avora Records' latest to Arijit Singh's Rihaa, new Indian indie music to check out". Firstpost. October 26, 2020. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  2. ^ "Sennheiser Top 50: Avora Records Takes the Crown". Rolling Stone India. September 28, 2017. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  3. ^ "Sennheiser Top 50 season 3 Grand Finale ends with a bang! Avora Records announced the winner!". Bollywood Dhamaka. September 27, 2017. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  4. ^ "Mizoram sweeps Hornbill International Rock Contest 2017, Avora Records rule". The Indian Express. December 9, 2017. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  5. ^ "Avora Records from Mizoram takes home Hornbill Rock". Eastern Mirror. December 8, 2017. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  6. ^ "Meet Ruata Renthlei of Avora Records, a guitarist par excellence". EastMojo. June 25, 2019. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  7. ^ "Band of the month: Avora Records". The Indian Express. November 20, 2017. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  8. ^ "Redefining music Avora Records style". EastMojo. December 7, 2019. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  9. ^ "Nh7 Weekender returns to Meghalaya; list of performers include Amit Trivedi, Indian Ocean". Firstpost. October 27, 2017. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  10. ^ "Thadlaskein, near Jowai, to host Meghalaya edition of Bacardi NH7 Weekender". The News Mill. October 4, 2017. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  11. ^ "Line-up for the Meghalaya edition of Bacardi NH7 Weekender 2017". The News Mill. August 24, 2017. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  12. ^ "Festival Review: Orange Festival 2017". Rolling Stone India. January 19, 2018. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  13. ^ "Shillong all set to host Autumn Festival in picturesque Umïam". Northeast Now. October 20, 2018. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  14. ^ "Festival Report: Ziro Festival of Music 2018, Arunachal Pradesh". Rolling Stone India. October 16, 2018. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  15. ^ "Japanese Veterans MONO to Make India Debut at Ziro Festival of Music". Rolling Stone India. August 13, 2018. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  16. ^ "Arunachal: ZIRO Music Festival begins". NorthEast India24. September 27, 2018. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  17. ^ "TNT's List of Top Artists from Northeast India in 2020". The Northeast Today. January 2, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  18. ^ "10 Best Indian Music Videos of 2018". Rolling Stone India. December 26, 2018. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  19. ^ "Festival Review: Udaipur World Music Festival 2019". Rolling Stone India. February 21, 2019. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  20. ^ "'Udaipur World Music Festival 2019': All you need to know". The PinkCity Post. February 13, 2019. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  21. ^ "NH7 Weekender Shillong 2019: Happiest Music Festival in Meghalaya". The Sentinel. October 30, 2019. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  22. ^ "BACARDÍ NH7 Weekender Concludes at Meghalaya". The Sentinel. November 4, 2019. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  23. ^ "How NH7 Weekender reverberated in Meghalaya's undulating hills". EastMojo. November 4, 2019. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  24. ^ "New Music: From New Delhi Electronica To Aizawl Indie Rock and More". Rolling Stone India. September 9, 2019. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  25. ^ "Avora Records Brings The Groove On Their New Single". Rock Street Journal. September 9, 2019. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  26. ^ "Avora Records' Debut Album "Comedians on Drugs" is Everything Their Fans Asked For". The Indian Music Diaries. November 9, 2020. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  27. ^ "#ReviewRundown: October 2020". Rolling Stone India. November 1, 2020. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  28. ^ "Avora Records combine youthful vulnerability with high energy on their long-awaited debut album". A Humming Heart. October 9, 2020. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
Retrieved from ""