Coshish
{{Short description|Hindi progressive rock band}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Coshish
| origin = Mumbai, India
| genre = Progressive rock, progressive metal
| years_active = {{Start date|2006}}–present
| label = Universal Music India
| website = {{url|coshish.com}}
| current_members = Mangesh Gandhi
Shrikant Sreenivasan
Hamza Kazi
Anish Nair
}}
Coshish is a Hindi progressive rock band from Mumbai, formed in 2006.{{cite web|last1=Mustafi|first1=Ahana|title=Pick of the Week : Coshish|url=http://eightoctaves.com/interviews/pick-week-coshish/|website=www.eightoctaves.com|accessdate=8 October 2013}} Their debut album Firdous was released via Universal Music India and they are currently working on a box set, which will be released later this year.{{when|date=February 2019}} The band believes that their music should have mass appeal and yet showcase their musical dexterity.{{cite web|last1=Dodgin|first1=Rich|title=Interview with Coshish|url=http://allabouttherock.co.uk/interview-coshish/|website=www.allabouttherock.co.uk|accessdate=16 April 2014|date=2014-04-16}} Their songs are as simple as they are complex and carry strong social messages, delivered through Hindi lyrics.{{cite web|last1=Savic|first1=Nikola|title=COSHISH: Creative Freedom|url=http://www.prog-sphere.com/interviews/coshish-interview/|website=www.prog-sphere.com|accessdate=10 February 2014|date=2014-02-10}} The members endorse Mapex Drums, Paiste Cymbals,{{cite web|title=Paiste Artists|url=http://www.paiste.com/e/endorser_det.php?page=image&endorserid=5572|website=www.paiste.com|accessdate=25 August 2014}} Blade Guitars,{{cite web|title=Blade : Artists|url=http://www.bladeguitars.com/artists/|website=www.bladeguitars.com|accessdate=25 August 2014}} ESP Basses and Laney Amplifiers.
History
In 2006, Coshish started out as a singer/songwriter duo consisting Mangesh Gandhi (guitars/vocals) and Shrikant Sreenivasan (guitars).{{cite web|last1=Savic|first1=Nikola|title=Progstravaganza Questionnaire: Coshish|url=http://www.progstravaganza.com/progstravaganza-questionnaire-coshish/|website=www.progstravaganza.com|accessdate=9 January 2014|date=2014-01-09}}{{cite web|last1=Schiffman|first1=Andreas|title=Interview mit Coshish (13.10.2013)|url=http://www.musikreviews.de/interviews/13-10-2013/Coshish/|website=www.musikreviews.de}} They recruited a drummer and bassist from the local rock scene to form an alternative rock quartet and began competing at band competitions at various colleges. By early 2008, after a couple of line-up changes, Coshish was joined by Hamza Kazi on drums and Anish Nair on bass, becoming a progressive rock outfit.
Coshish's performed frequently at various clubs and released HD quality live videos of their performances and that eventually lead them to album deal with Universal Music India.{{cite web|last1=Tagat|first1=Anurag|title=Coshish To Release Debut Concept Album|url=http://rollingstoneindia.com/coshish-to-release-debut-concept-album/|website=www.rollingstoneindia.com|publisher=Rolling Stone|accessdate=30 August 2013|date=2013-08-30}}{{cite web|author=Renu|title=Coshish release debut album 'Firdous' on Universal Music India|url=http://www.nme.in/coshish-release-debut-album-firdous-on-universal-music-india/|website=www.nme.in|accessdate=17 September 2013}}{{cite web|title=Coshish launches debut album Firdous|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/coshish-launches-debut-album-firdous/1171283/|website=www.indianexpress.com|publisher=Screen|accessdate=20 September 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://mumbaimag.com/launchpad-mumbai-band-coshish-launches-album-firdous-and-announces-tour-dates/|website=www.mumbaimag.com|publisher=Mumbai HQ|accessdate=2 September 2013|title=Launchpad: Mumbai Band Coshish Launches Album 'Firdous' And Announces Tour Dates}}
Their debut album Firdous was released on 2 September 2013, after being in the making for about four years. It was recorded, mixed and produced by Zorran Mendonsa from New Zealand and mastered by Jens Bogren at Fascination Street in Sweden. The album artwork was a collaboration between Bernard Dumaine from France and Daeve Fellows from Canada with additional packaging photography and graphics by Bharath Chandrasekhar and Imran Ladak from India.{{cite web|last1=D'Silva|first1=Alden|title=Coshish Attain Firdous|url=http://popsplat.in/2013/09/09/coshish-attain-firdous/|website=www.popsplat.in|accessdate=9 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826123137/http://popsplat.in/2013/09/09/coshish-attain-firdous/|archive-date=26 August 2014|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Mumbai's Hindi Progressive Act Coshish Release Debut Album Titled Firdous|url=http://www.rsjonline.com/buzz/mumbais-hindi-progressive-act-coshish-release-debut-album-titled-firdous.html|website=www.rsjonline.com|accessdate=3 September 2013}}
The anticipation for Firdous was so high that they set a record number of pre-orders on Flipkart, India's premiere E-tail website.{{citation needed|date=February 2019}} It eventually made it to No. 8 on iTunes India{{cite web|last1=Shashidhar|first1=Ajita|title=Freedom Song|url=http://businesstoday.intoday.in/story/india-music-industry-non-bollywood/1/200971.html|website=www.businesstoday.intoday.in|date=7 December 2013 |accessdate=22 December 2013}}{{cite web|author=Pravin|title=Coshish's 'Firdous' Among iTunes India Top 10 Most Downloaded Albums; Band Tour Announced|url=http://www.indianmusicrevolution.com/latest-news/Coshish-s-Firdous-Among-iTunes-India-Top-10-Most-Downloaded-Albums-Band-Tour-Announced.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130918235015/http://www.indianmusicrevolution.com/latest-news/Coshish-s-Firdous-Among-iTunes-India-Top-10-Most-Downloaded-Albums-Band-Tour-Announced.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=18 September 2013|website=www.indianmusicrevolution.com|accessdate=11 September 2013}}{{cite web|title=Coshish's Firdous Among Top 10 Most Downloaded Albums|url=http://eightoctaves.com/news/coshishs-firdous-among-top-10-downloaded-albums/|website=www.eightoctaves.com}} and No. 28 on Nokia Music Store India.{{cite web|title=Coshish Releases Official Music Video of "Raastey" & Enters Nokia Top 30|url=http://www.radioandmusic.com/content/editorial/news-releases/coshish-releases-official-music-video-%E2%80%9Craastey%E2%80%9D-enters-nokia-top-30|website=www.radioandmusic.com|accessdate=29 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826115844/http://www.radioandmusic.com/content/editorial/news-releases/coshish-releases-official-music-video-%E2%80%9Craastey%E2%80%9D-enters-nokia-top-30|archive-date=26 August 2014|url-status=dead}}
A music video for their first single "Raastey" was released on the band's VEVO Channel on 25 October 2013. The concept of the video is a continuation of the story of Firdous, which can be decoded by the listener by putting together pieces of the puzzle that are present throughout the album and its packaging. The video was aired frequently on MTV India and MTV Indies since its launch in March 2014. "Raastey" was the song of the day on 1 April 2014 on MTV Indies and on 6 October 2013 on 8 Octaves, a local website focusing on Indie Music.{{citation needed|date=February 2019}} It was also listed in the "Top 25 Tracks of 2013" by Rock Street Journal{{cite web|title=Top 25 Songs of 2013|url=http://www.rsjonline.com/features/top-25-songs-of-2013.html|website=www.rsjonline.com|accessdate=10 January 2014}} and in "9 Impressive Indie Music Videos" by Soundtree Magazine.{{cite web|title=9 Impressive Indie Music Videos|url=http://soundtreemagazine.com/hotlist/9-impressive-indie-music-videos/|website=www.soundtreemagazine.com|accessdate=21 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313014807/http://soundtreemagazine.com/hotlist/9-impressive-indie-music-videos/|archive-date=13 March 2014|url-status=dead}}
Their second music video for their song "Bhula Do Unhey" was released on 19 March 2014. It acts as the final piece of the puzzle. A third music video for their song "Hum Hai Yahin", sponsored by Nokia India, was released on the same day as "Bhula Do Unhey". It was shot entirely on a Nokia Lumia 1520.
The band is currently{{when|date=February 2019}} working on a limited edition DVD Box Set, which will be released later this year.
In July 2015, they co-organized and co-curated (with Rainburn) the progressive rock music festival Progworks.{{cite web |last1=Tagat |first1=Anurag |title=Insight 2017: Progressive rock and metal might just be the best bet for promoters and fans |url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/insight-2017-progressive-rock-and-metal-might-just-be-the-best-bet-for-promoters-and-fans-3181576.html |website=Firstpost |publisher=Reliance Industries |accessdate=16 February 2019 |date=1 January 2017}}
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" |
| scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Nominated work ! scope="col" style="width:50%;"| Award ! scope="col" | Result |
|---|
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| 2013
| "Raastey" (music video) | VIMA Music Awards: Best Video and Best Rock Song | {{nom}} |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| 2013
| Coshish - Firdous (album) | Rolling Stone Jack Daniel's Rock Awards 2013: Best Band, Best Album and Best Drummer | {{nom}} |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| 2013
| Coshish - Maya (song) | Rolling Stone Jack Daniel's Rock Awards 2013: Best Drummer (Hamza Kazi) | {{won}} |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| 2014
| Coshish (band) | Radio City Freedom Awards: Best Rock Band | {{won}} |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| 2014
| Coshish (band) | UK's Progressive Music Awards: Anthem category and Limelight category | {{nom}} |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| 2015
| Coshish - Firdous (album) | GIMA: Best Rock Album | {{nom}} |
Line-up
= Current members =
- Mangesh Gandhi – vocals, guitar (2006–present)
- Shrikant Sreenivasan – guitar (2006–present)
- Hamza Kazi – drums (2008–present)
- Anish Nair – bass (2008–present)
Discography
- Firdous (2013)
Singles
- "Raastey" (2013)
- "Bhula Do Unhey" (2014)
- "Hum Hai Yahin" (2014)