12th Main
12th Main is a six-piece multilingual band inspired by Indian ragas, reimagined with an alternative global sound.
12th Main is an Indian experimental rock band based in Namma Bengaluru. The band name is an homage to the famous Indiranagar 12th Main street where the band members met to discuss music over tea. The name is also a reference to the 12 notes in a musical scale, since most of the members have their roots in Indian or Western classical music. The six-piece multilingual band covers tracks mostly inspired by various ragas and treats them with an alternative approach. The band's music draws inspiration from across the globe, including music by Shakti, A.R. Rahman, ABBA, Balabhaskar (violinist), and other Indian classical and regional compositions. In a short span, the band has opened for artists and bands such as Agam (Carnatic progressive rock band), Pragati (band by playback singer K.S. Harisankar), and has performed at multiple venues across Bengaluru.
Meet the artists who shape the sound of 12th Main.
Aparna is trained in Carnatic music from a very early age and picked up Western music through her teens. She is well known for her ability to harmonize and improvise melodies, and is currently pursuing Hindustani vocal training with one of the leading musicians in the country.
Hemanth, the keyboardist of the band, is an upcoming music director in the Kannada movie industry. He started off as a drummer and was honored with the prestigious Karnataka Ratna Award for his exceptional drumming skills. His independent track also won at the Awardio Music Awards 2023 in the best song category.
Arjun is a multi-percussionist trained in both Indian and western percussions. A big proponent of introducing niche percussion sounds and intricate drum patterns into fusion, he has played sessions for various artists in Bengaluru.
Ram is a violin virtuoso who plays both Carnatic and Western violin with equal ease. An outstanding composer, he has opened for leading names in the Indian music industry at venues across Bengaluru.
A fan of the Blues and Funk, Kaushik brings interesting bass lines into the experimental music that the band plays. The Carnatic swaras that he replicates on the bass are a treat to one's ears.
Sanjay is a trained guitarist and teacher who has been playing from a very young age. The metalhead in him complements the band's classical experimental sound extremely well.
