When Chai Met Toast
An Indian musical band that has captivated audiences with their unique blend of Indie Pop and Indian classical music
ABOUT
India's ever-evolving When Chai Met Toast (WCMT) balance their folk- pop roots with forays into indie rock and alternative rock. The band consists of vocalist Ashwin Gopakumar, guitarist Achyuth Jaigopal, keyboard player Palee Francis and drummer Pai Sailesh.
The quartet officially came into being in 2016 with their debut EP 'Joy of Little Things'. The collective made a swift rise following the release, with audiences taking to their unique style of songwriting drawing upon multilingual lyrics and infectious sing-along choruses, incorporating acoustic folk instruments like the banjo. Over the next couple of years, they crafted what became the 2018 breakout 'Khoj (Passing By)' from their sophomore offering 'Believe', achieving both critical and public acclaim.
The follow up to the two EPs, the band's first full length album 'When We Feel Young' (2021), features electric guitars, synths and a pop flourish while retaining some of their previous folk-indebted sound. Few of the songs from the album were also released as 'Nature Tapes’ versions - a series of videos where the band performs acoustically reimagined interpretations of their songs amidst nature. The Nature Tapes concept and its success was discussed in the All That Matters Festival (Singapore) and the title track of the album was featured as one of the top picks in the 'All That Matters 2021' music showcase.
Having headlined multiple major music festivals in India and with a growing international listener base, the band was invited to and
performed shows at the Esplanade Theater - Singapore and Expo 2020 - Dubai.
The band is also endeared by audiences for their groundbreaking music videos. "As much as we are storytellers through our songwriting, a visual medium helps us take it a step further. We are fortunate to have worked with very talented directors and cinematographers for our music videos, who have often given new perspectives to songs we have written" the band quotes. WCMT's YouTube channel currently stands at 300k+ strong, growing at a steady pace.
VIDEOS
- When Chai Met Toast - Khoj (Passing By)
- When Chai Met Toast - When We Feel Young (Nature Tapes)
- When Chai Met Toast - Yellow Paper Daisy feat. Kerala (Official Video)
- When Chai Met Toast - Break Free (Official Video)
- When Chai Met Toast - Firefly (Official Video)
- When Chai Met Toast - Kahaani (Official Video)
- When Chai Met Toast - Believe (Official Video)
- When Chai Met Toast - Nee Aara (Official Video)
Live in Dublin
Fri 19 May 7:00 PM - 10:30 PM at The Button Factory
When Chai Met Toast has released several popular singles and has performed at several music festivals in India and abroad. They have also been featured on many national and international music platforms like BBC Radio, Rolling Stone India and many more.
Their music is a reflection of the richness and diversity of Indian culture, and it has something for everyone – from those who are already fans of Indian music to those who are just discovering it for the first time. With their unique sound and style, When Chai Met Toast is taking the music scene by storm, and they're only just getting started.