Mumbai Mayhem: Soundcheck, Chai, and a Million Mosquitoes
okay, where do i even start? mumbai. wow. just…wow. i’m elara, by the way, lead singer of ‘Static Bloom’ - you might’ve heard us, or you might not. we’re kinda underground, you know? touring’s a grind, especially when you’re lugging amps and trying to find decent vegan food.
we landed a few days ago, playing a gig at this…interesting venue. let’s just say the acoustics weren’t ideal. the promoter, this guy named Raj, promised us a ‘world-class stage’ but it was more like a slightly raised platform in a room that smelled faintly of incense and damp concrete. still, the crowd was energetic, which is all that really matters, right?
finding a place to rehearse has been a nightmare. every studio either wants to charge us an arm and a leg or is already booked solid. i ended up squatting in this tiny room above a spice shop - the aroma is…intense. it’s kinda inspiring, actually. like, imagine writing a song about cardamom and cumin. anyway, the owner, a sweet old lady named Mrs. Patel, doesn’t seem to mind too much, as long as i don’t disturb her afternoon chai.
and the weather! i just checked and it’s hovering around 29 degrees, feels like 28. pretty humid too, which is fantastic for my hair. not so fantastic for my ability to breathe. i’m sweating just thinking about it. the humidity is 35%, pressure is 1012, and sea level is 1012, ground level 1009. who even needs that info?
food’s been…an adventure. i’m trying to stick to vegan, which is surprisingly difficult here. lots of dairy everywhere. i did find this amazing little place in Bandra that makes these incredible vegetable samosas. seriously, go there. check out the reviews on TripAdvisor - apparently, it’s a local institution. someone told me that the owner’s grandmother invented the recipe.
mosquitoes. oh god, the mosquitoes. they’re relentless. i’m pretty sure they’re plotting my demise. i’ve been slathering myself in repellent, but it doesn’t seem to faze them. i heard that Pune and Nashik are just a short drive away if you need a break from the chaos.
we’re heading to Goa next week, which i’m desperately looking forward to. beaches, sunshine, maybe a little less humidity. i’m hoping to find a decent recording studio there too - i’ve got some new demos i want to lay down. i’m also checking out some local music venues on Yelp - apparently, there’s a thriving electronic music scene.
right now, i’m just trying to survive the next few days. need caffeine. lots of caffeine. and maybe a mosquito net. seriously, send help.
check out the official Mumbai tourism website for more info: https://www.incredibleindia.org/
and if you're into indie music, give Static Bloom a listen: https://staticbloommusic.com/
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