Indie band Fallen Letters on looking beyond luck

The Hindu

15-05-2025

Progressive rock/metal band Fallen Letters formed in 2023 by vocalist, guitarist and keyboardist Vishal Naidu and guitarist Aditya Ramesh, are among the newest acts on the block.
At a time when it is all about going digital-first in the music industry, the band has found an audience globally and locally, with their debut song 'Remain A Memory' accruing a massive fan following on streaming platforms with over a 120,000 streams on Spotify and over 11,000 views on YouTube.
Their second single 'Relapse' carried forward that momentum, gaining over 18,000 views and while these might seem like smaller numbers compared to the industry-backed, trend-friendly hip-hop or pop artists, it is a big deal for an Indian progressive rock and metal band who are existing in a niche. Thankfully for them, they have a strong, loyal audience.
Vishal says, 'Considering we were a new band that no one had heard of, even in the local scene, getting our first single out there was a serious challenge. There was no luck involved. It was hours and hours of focused effort from Aditya and me.'
Having built the artiste promotion platform Sinusoidal Music and test-running it on Vishal's solo project, they had a 'structured strategy' of finding curators, applying to playlists across the world and running Google and Meta ads for their 'Remain A Memory' music video.
'On top of that, we reached out to blogs and reaction channels to get people talking about the track. It's been a grind from day one, nothing happened overnight; and it is still as challenging. But it's rewarding to see that kind of response to something you've built from the ground up,' he recalls.
Now, with a steady audience, the band are an EP old, Forlorn Pages came out in 2024, and are prepping for their debut album, Mindfractures to release in September this year. The first glimpse arrives in the form of the single 'Distant Lines' (released on May 14 on streaming platforms) and a launch gig at Barbarous Sessions on May 16 at Fandom at Gilly's Redefined, alongside a diverse lineup ranging from death metal favourites, Gutslit, prog band Lotus and thrash metal act Amorphia.
Vishal recalls that their new song draws from progressive band Katatonia's album Last Fair Deal Gone Down, but a quick listen can tell you this is also for fans of acts such as Opeth and Agalloch, plus the likes of A Perfect Circle and Deftones.
The vocalist adds, 'Our drummer, Mukund, listens to a lot of black metal and Belphegor and Death, so I'm sure that has shaped our sound. Aditya is into similar bands as me, as well as some synthwave and death metal. Abhay loves his 2000s alt metal and Children Of Bodom; we all bring different flavors which adds variety to our tracks.'
Fallen Letters wear their influences on their sleeves, more so on 'Distant Lines,' whose opening riff intro was crafted by guitarist Aditya sometime in 2024. Vishal says, 'From the very beginning, we knew we wanted this track to be a bit of a tribute; a love letter to the sound that shaped us. That early 2000s melancholic vibe is something we've always connected with, and 'Distant Lines' was our way of channeling that feeling; but with the weight and emotional tone that defines Fallen Letters.'
That emotional urgency, for Vishal and the band, comes from 'everyday struggles'. He explains, 'I believe everyone has a shadow self, and music is how I process and give shape to mine. 'Distant Lines' is open to interpretation, but at its core, it was sparked by the inner conflict between staying in a safe, familiar place versus pushing yourself toward something you are truly meant to do; even if that path looks uncertain or painful.'
For their concert this week, Fallen Letters will play three new songs including 'Distant Lines' for the first time, all from their upcoming album. 'We've curated a relatively heavier set this time because we're sharing the stage with Gutslit,' Vishal says.
Following this show, the prep for their album continues. Vishal promises a tour around the launch of Mindfractures in September this year and wants it to be where Fallen Letters can level up their live production, from visuals to lighting. The vocalist says, 'It's not just about playing the songs live; we want the audience to step into the Mindfractures world with us.'
Barbarous Sessions Vol. 2 with Fallen Letters, Gutslit, Amorphia and Lotus takes place on May 16 at Fandom at Gilly's Redefined, Kormangala. Tickets, priced ₹699 onwards, are available on District.