In Conversation with Aanchal Bordoloi | Edits & Visual Formatting: Oshin
Aryaman Singh aka Sunflower Tape Machine has been at the forefront of youth music subculture, whether by taking independent music platforms and magazines by storm, spinning vinyl at Chennai’s coolest cafés, or gracing the stage at Lollapalooza India this year.
Grounded in nostalgia, his music is fresh, and is set to move audiences world-wide. Tune in for a quick chat I had with the rising pop sensation.
Congratulations on playing at Lollapalooza India this year! How did it feel to perform your set on such a big stage?
Where do I even begin? It was the culmination of all the work me, the band, and my entire crew had put in over the last year and boy, did it pay off. It was our first show in over a year and for it to be on the main stage at that scale was more than we could’ve ever asked for. The crowd showed up and for those 30 minutes we were in an absolute flow state. It was the most fun I’ve had on stage, ever. Just epic.
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You’ve established yourself firmly within India’s music circuit, and you’re based in Chennai. How has Chennai, as a city, become both a home and a creative base for independent singer-songwriters and producers who perform in English, such as yourself?
I love Chennai. I was born and raised here and I’ve lived here all my life. I think more than anything, it’s the slow lifestyle here that really allows you to focus on your art and be creative. Over the years, we’ve come a long way in terms of the independent scene. People like Srikanth (@thechennaiscene), Circle Of Love, and venues like Palomar have been big pillars of support for independent artists and creating a community. That being said, I think we still have a long way to go in terms of resources and the general outlook of the public actually coming out to consume art. Definitely closer than ever though.
Indie, shoegaze, and psychedelic rock are some of the genres you dabble in. How would you describe Sunflower Tape Machine’s sound?
The underlying theme for most of my music has always been nostalgia. With my unreleased material, I don’t really see myself sticking to a formula. I’ve grown up listening to (and enjoying) literally every genre of music imaginable. One day I’m making alt-rock, the other I’d make something super electronic. If I were to tell you what I’m really enjoying right now? I’m definitely making a lot of alt-rock. But my sound itself? I’d say it’s ever evolving.
The things I go through, the media I consume, the room I’m writing in, everything changes my “sound” ever so slightly.
In which city/cities or venues have you enjoyed playing the most?
It’s always a party in Pune, Bangalore, and Bombay.
What’s coming next for Sunflower Tape Machine—in terms of new releases/tours and fun projects?
So much new music that I’ve been working on during my time away. Also, I cannot wait to get this new set that we debuted at Lollapalooza on the road.
It is a party from start to finish, the band is tighter than ever and the visuals are stunning. It looks and sounds better than ever. Everyone involved in making it happen really outdid themselves.