Latest news with #GirishandTheChronicles
New Indian Express
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
From Sikkim to global stages: Girish and The Chronicles redefine Indian rock music
This past weekend, Delhi's well-known rock haunt Hard Rock Cafe transformed into a scene straight out of the glam metal era, as the popular four-piece band Girish and The Chronicles (GATC) brought the house down with a set packed with tight riffs, soaring vocals, and unapologetically loud rock and roll. The Bengaluru-based group—featuring frontman Girish Pradhan on vocals, his brother Yogesh on bass, Suraz Karki on guitar, and Nagen Mongranti on drums—played to a packed house. Full venues are no novelty for the ensemble. 'The response was more overwhelming than usual, for sure! People knowing what you sing and singing along—it's what it's all about at the end of the day,' says GATC. Straight from the hills of Gangtok, Sikkim, the band has now taken over global stages too. Just last month, they performed on America's Got Talent (AGT) on American television—one of the world's biggest talent shows. Commanding the AGT stage with the same confidence they bring to every show, GATC made waves with a hard rock reimagining of English singer Adele's 'Set Fire to the Rain' that brought both the judges and audience to their feet. Transforming a melancholic pop ballad into a fiery rock rendition, the band says choosing Adele's 2011 hit was a bold choice. Widely considered a pop classic, the song felt like the perfect canvas for the band to 'fuse with the raw power of rock,' say the band members. 'Our aim was to honour Adele's brilliance while staying true to our sound. We also wanted to connect with a new audience and introduce them to our music—because we've always believed that building bridges like this is how you inspire the next generation of rock fans,' they say.
Hindustan Times
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Sikkim band GATC on America's Got Talent feat: Playing in front of Simon Cowell, Sofia Vergara was pinch-me moment
Indian hard rock band Girish and The Chronicles (GATC) made history by becoming the first Indian rock outfit to make it to the next round of America's Got Talent. The four-member band from Sikkim performed a reverb-drenched cover of Adele's Set Fire to the Rain that left judge Simon Cowell visibly stunned and Mel B declaring it her favourite performance of the season. 'For a rock band that started in the hills of Sikkim being seen and celebrated on such a massive global stage is both surreal and humbling. The Northeast has always had a deep-rooted appreciation for rock music. So when a platform like America's Got Talent shines a light on us, it naturally brings attention to the whole ecosystem. We started GATC at a time when everyone was chasing newer subgenres in the country, but we stuck with the sound we loved: classic hard rock. That choice set us apart, and maybe that's what made moments like this possible. So yes, the spotlight does feel more intense – but it also feels like a celebration of staying true to who we are, and where we come from,' says vocalist Girish Pradhan. A post shared by America's Got Talent Auditions (@agtauditions) Ask if they saw it coming, and GATC bassist Yogesh Pradhan adds: 'Seeing Steel Panther on America's Got Talent a couple of years ago definitely planted the seed in our minds, but we didn't expect it. It all began with a message on Girish's personal Instagram from one of the producers of America's Got Talent. They had come across a soundcheck reel he posted from their performance at Independence Rock, and it clearly struck a chord.' Sharing how making it to the next round of AGT felt like, guitarist Suraz Karki says, 'America's Got Talent is one of the biggest stages in the world, and when the opportunity came along, it felt like the right time to bring our music to a broader audience. We've toured across Europe and Asia over the years, but this felt like a rare opportunity to share our music with an even wider audience in the USA. Standing there, playing our hearts out in front of the audience, Simon Cowell, Sofia Vergara, Mel B and Howie Mandel – it was nothing short of a pinch-me moment for us.' Ask how they plan to prepare for AGT, and drummer Nagen Sarki shares, 'Our aim is to be ourselves and express that authentically through our performances. At the same time, we're working quietly behind the scenes to stay ready for whatever this journey has in store for us. Maintaining that balance will help us give our all on the America's Got Talent stage.' Assam's Binita Chetry became the first Indian to reach Britain's Got Talent finals recently. And now GATC. Mention how the Northeast seems to be on a roll, and Girish says, 'It's amazing to see artistes like Binita Chetry, Maya Neelakantan, and now us making it to global platforms like Britain's Got Talent and America's Got Talent. It's a proud moment not just for the region, but the entire country. It shows the world that India is bursting with creativity and passion. We're proud to carry that spirit forward and hope it inspires many more artists to dream big and break barriers!'
