Jjust, a virtual band from Bengaluru is set to release its first album titled Unarvugal on May 1. Their idea of ‘virtual’ is that people can access their music only through electronic means like CDs, Internet and FM, etc. “This is our way of saying no to piracy. If you like one of our songs, the only way you can get it is through us,” says K Jawahar Raj, the music composer and lyricist of the band.
Jjust is an abbreviation of Jawahar, Judah Sandy, the vocalist, Unarvugal, the album, Sai Vamsi, a vocalist and Tony Thomas, the lead vocalist. “All the songs are in Tamil and have a deep meaning behind it. The lyrical content is deep but the music is very catchy,” says Tony.
These 21 and 23-year-old creative brains have intense ideas. The album is about love and the various facets of it. Unarvugal in Tamil means feelings and love. The songs in this album deal with issues like artiste’s exploitation, piracy and the like. “Our message to people is that you have to come out of your comfort zone and work hard to be successful,” says Jawahar. These Bengaluru residents juggle between college and music.
The band insists that they are not restricted by any genre. Jawahar says, “Love has no boundaries and even we don’t have boundaries when it comes to music.”
On May 1, the album will be launched in India, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Canada. The official launch will happen in Chennai and then the team will tour the country first and then the rest of the world. The band’s fan following across the globe is waiting for this release with bated breath, especially after giving the trailer a listen. Megha KC, a student says, “It very refreshing to have a band that plays Tamil songs. I am not a Tamilian but a lot of my friends are. If I don’t understand the lyrics, they explain it to me. But the tunes are very catchy and peppy.”
The factor that contributes to their songs clicking is that their songs are relatable to today’s youth. Senthil Nadhan, a revenue service officer says, “Raj has always intrigued me. He is part of the crowd he wants to connect to. The band understands what today’s youth requires.”