Interview – Elephant Stone
Not content with reviewing the live band, and then the latest album The Three Poisons, Katie Grimason has completed the whole set and gone for a quick Q&A session with Elephant Stone front man Rishi Dhir. As you can see he is a man renowned for being succinct and to the point:
KG: How did you form and what do you count as your biggest achievements so far?
RD: I guess this band began as a result of me looking for meaning in my life. I wanted to see if I could give anything to the world… and music seems to be it. My biggest achievement was probably the first time I wrote a song that I was happy with… I think it was Blood From A Stone off of The Seven Seas.
KG: Who are your main musical influences for your music?
RD: The Beatles and the Beatles and … theBeatles.
KG:Favourite band right now?
RD: Tame Impala
KG:What advice do you have for local/up and coming bands?
RD:Refine your craft.
KG:What is the most beautiful place you have been on tour to?
RD:I really loved Lausanne, CG
KG :When can fans expect some new material to be released?
RD: The album just came out! You can’t rush creativity…
KG :Can you share with us the story behind the name ‘Elephant Stone’?
RD: I have a sandstone statue of Ganesha (the elephant god of new beginnings and prosperity) that I brought back from my honeymoon in Indonesia… and I like the Stone Roses.
KG :How did the album art for The Three Poisons come about?
RD: I reached out to my great friend/artist Chiraag Bhakta . He’s done artwork for two of my previous releases… I wanted to base the artwork on the buddhist cycle of life (the three poisons) represeneted by a pig, snake and bird. He decided to go with snakes… a lot of them…
KG :What does the immediate future hold for the band?
RD: The unknown.
KG :Finally, when are you playing in Birmingham, UK again? I really loved your show at The Oobleck!
RD: Hopefully in 2015!
The new album from Elephant Stone, The Three Poisons, is due for release October 27th via Hidden Pony Records
Questions: Katie Grimason