They describe themselves as a “band from the land of coconuts”. So what kind of music would you expect then? The four piece Kochi based band called When Chai Met Toast with Ashwin Gopakumar on vocals and guitar, Palee Francis on keys, Sailesh G Pai on drums and Achyuth Jaigopal on guitar and banjo, bring on a unique brand of infectious indie folk and pop rock, which transcends age, genre, and even language, performing not only in English, but sometimes in Hindi, Tamil and Malayalam. Their music videos are another highlight and add the magic that makes WCMT special.
The quartet came into being with their debut EP ‘Joy of Little Things’ (2017). A year later they released their sophomore 4 track offering ‘Believe’. The band’s first full length album ‘When We Feel Young’ (2021) propelled their worldwide listener base. The band has performed at most major music festivals in the country like NH7, Sulafest and other festivals, while internationally they have performed at the Singapore Grand Prix 2022, Expo 2020 Dubai to sold out tours across the US and the UK. Their third EP released in 2023, ‘LYTS’, was recorded in London.
The band talks about their journey, last EP ‘Love You The Same’ (LYTS), and performing for the second time at Sulafest (February 1 and 2, 2025) in Nashik.
Excerpts from the interview:
You are part of the line-up for Sulafest, how does it feel to be a part of this music festival?
The vibes are really nice at the Vineyards, it’s a beautiful venue and Sulafest always attracts a great crowd. On top of that, the production is top notch. We’re very much looking forward to welcoming back the festival after a five-year hiatus by putting on a great gig. We played Sulafest back in 2020 and so it’s always a fun festival to be a part of.
How the band was formed?
Looking back, it seems a lot like destiny. We all knew each other from the music circles of Kerala and united through mutual friends and a common desire to create original music.
What is the story behind your band name, When Chai Met Toast?
Sorry to disappoint, but there’s really no big story really. It’s a name we put for ourselves before our first ever gig and ended up sticking because it has a ring and it aptly represents the kind of music we make and the people we are.
Who does the song writing in the band?
All of us write together. Sometimes we plan writing camps where we head out to a destination to come up with new ideas. Writing also happens impromptu during sound checks and travel. Each song speaks about experiences and different phases of life. Mostly what’s present at that time. People and places play an important role in the honest authentic songwriting we do. We are always rooted.
Besides a few originals, you also do cover songs of other artists. Which songs do you usually like to cover?
We don’t cover any songs for our shows. Sometimes when we jam is the only time we play covers and it’s more just for the fun of it.
Toward the end of 2023, you released an EP titled ‘Love You The Same’ (LYTS). Tell us about the collection of four tracks – the production, arrangement and stylistic choices.
LYTS was an experiment for us to try stepping out of the country and recording with a producer based out of London. So a lot of the stylistic choices and instrumentation were influenced by the place and the producer. The songs were all recorded live at the legendary Rak Studios, which was an unforgettable experience for us.
What is the bond that has kept the four of you together for almost 10 years?
Well, technically 9 years.. Later this year, we will celebrate the 10 year anniversary with an album we’re currently writing and are stoked about. We think a lot of credit for keeping us together goes to our manager for sure. We do have our disagreements, but he’s always an objective voice that we turn to. Also, as people, we try not to hold on to grudges for more than a day. We just try to talk and sort anything that arises.
What is the USP of the band?
We don’t want to label ourselves, but the fact that we can bring together languages, connect with people of different age groups, and spread joy and positivity is probably the USP that has evolved over the years.
Do the band members really love Chai with Toast and has the band tried any toasts, be it in Kochi or anywhere else in the country or overseas?
Touring breakfast is nothing but chai and toast mostly while on road, be it nationally or internationally. Chai turns to coffee due to immediate availability or after early morning flights. French toast and sandwiches is the best breakfast ever. Add some eggs for protein, very important.
What are your plans for 2025?
Pouring all our hearts to make the best album we can.
