Thaikuddam Bridge’s Ashok Betty Nelson says that as a multi-genre band, it is most challenging to hit target audience

Kozhikode: What began over a decade ago in the South as a spark of sound has erupted into a full-blown musical empire. Today, this 15-member powerhouse unleashes sonic storms that make heads bang and hearts race across India and far beyond.

Yes, that is Thaikkudam Bridge, a multi-genre Indian band which is all set to entertain the city of Nawabs, Hyderabad, on June 28 at the live music bar, Odeum By Prism.

The band has 15 members, musicians from various parts of India, who contribute their style and blend harmony into tracks. Mathrubhumi spoke to band member Ashok Betty Nelson, a rhythm guitarist and sound engineer, to know more about the band’s creative process and the magic they create on stage.

Nelson, the band’s electrifying lead guitarist, began his musical journey far from the limelight. He spent his formative years in Delhi, studying at KV Gol Market and learning Mridangam from the renowned Sri Prem Kumar—a discipline he continued under Suresh Kumar in Trivandrum. By the age of four, rhythm was already stitched into his soul.

It was during his years at the Government Law College in Trivandrum that the guitar entered his life—and altered its course forever. What started as a casual curiosity soon became an all-consuming passion. Music took precedence over everything else.

After years of performing with his college band, Nelson made a bold move—leaving behind the world of law and relocating to Chennai with nothing but talent, tenacity, and a dream to make music his life’s calling. From 2008 to 2012, he had the rare privilege of assisting the acclaimed music director M. Jayachandran, honing his skills in the heart of the industry.

His journey then took him to stages across the world, as a member of the celebrated Solid Band, performing alongside the virtuoso Stephen Devassy in over a hundred concerts, both in India and abroad.

Excerpts from the interview:

1. Thaikkudam Bridge, Arivu, and 8EEN MUSIC performed in Doha on April 25. How was it performing there? Was the audience a bit different from that in India? How was the response?

The audience was predominantly Indian, and the thing about Indians who live far away from their motherland is that they get nostalgic and extra energetic when they attend a music show of an Indian band. That is what happened at the show in Doha; the vibe was energetic and thrilling, to say the least.

2. What are some of the favourite genres of your band?

We are a 15-member band and every member has their favourite genre. It is like ‘to each their own’. For example, I am more inclined towards rock music but appreciate music across genres. I try and listen to music from all genres and appreciate the best of them, and that is something my bandmates also practise—they have their favourites but respect good music from any genre. The best part is that we can constructively criticise each other. For us, making music is like cooking a meal- the moment we know the salt content is high, or the proportion of sugar is low, we alert each other. It's the synergy of ideas thriving among us that makes us special.

3. Do you all sometimes face creative blocks as artists? How do you deal with them?

Fortunately, to date, we have not gotten to a point where we have had to face artist's block. It’s Govind Vasantha and Siddharth Menon who spearhead the creative process, and thanks to them that we haven’t landed in a soup yet!

4. Which are some of your favourite Indian bands?

India has had an extremely rich history of music bands, including IndusCreed, 13AD, Moksha, Parikrama, and several others. One thing to note is that the industry has been more fertile than ever in the past few years. Some great bands like Agam and Local Train, have come up among others, and it is enlightening to see that talented people are filling up the independent music genre.

5. What is the band’s message to aspiring musicians who want to create a band in today’s India?

Focus more on music, be more individualistic, and create your own style of songs. This is easier said than done. However, I believe that when musicians get together and are honest in portraying what they want to communicate through their music, there is no holding back. Multitasking is essential, but not the primary call. It is secondary, and one must prioritise musically.

6. What are the challenges of managing a multi-genre band in today’s economy?

The most challenging factor of managing a multi-genre band is hitting the target audience because each song in an album has a different genre and fan base. So an entire album cannot be targeted towards one set of audience, and we have to find out which song suits which base. Unless you know where to sell the music, it is difficult to progress.

8. What are you working on currently?

Currently, we are working on our next album, and that should be out soon. Since we are touring a lot, it is hard to find time and get together, but we are confident of getting out this brilliant album as soon as possible.