‘Home Is Our Anchor Of Comfort And Discomfort,’ Say Gen Z Boyband Outstation

In the late 90s, boybands reigned supreme, particularly in Western countries. However, Indian-American producer and composer Savan Kotecha set out to create the first Generation Z boy band from India, known as OutStation. The quintet was formed by five boys from across the country, auditioning in a Goa Bootcamp. The members are Bhuvan Shetty (from Udupi/Karnataka), Hemaang Singh (from Prayagraj), Mashaal Shaikh (from Goa), Kurien Sebastian (from Delhi/Kerala), and Shayan Pattem (from Hyderabad). The boys are in their 20s, with Bhuvan being the oldest at 22.

The band recently released their debut EP 'Homecoming' after a 12-city tour across India. After the performance at antiSOCIAL, Lower Parel, the band spoke to Verus Ferreira about their latest EP, 'Homecoming', their definition of home, their journey so far, and what lies ahead.

OutStation came together when the five boys, hailing from different parts of India, saw an audition for the Greatest Indian Boy Band. They felt it could be the start of something new for Indian music, so they decided to audition. They were shortlisted for the Goa bootcamp, where they competed in various events, and after several rounds, they were chosen.

Coming from different backgrounds, the band members' hometowns have shaped their music and OutStation's identity. Bhuvan, Hemaang, Mashaal, Kurien, and Shayan have all grown up around different rhythms, sounds, and cultural influences, which are reflected in their music. Their diverse experiences help them experiment freely, and the band's identity is a blend of these unique influences.

Life has changed for each of the band members since becoming OutStation. Shayan mentions that the possibilities have become limitless, and they believe they can achieve their dreams through the band. Hemaang jokes that the Homecoming music video is a glimpse into their alternate reality, while Bhuvan compares their lives to those of his character stuck in a nine-to-five job.

One song on the album that resonated more with the band members was Kho Sa Gaya Hun. Initially not part of the original release plan, it gained mass appeal from a controversial show with a massive reach. The unplanned decision to include it turned out to be one of the best things for Outstation.

The album title and song Homecoming are deeply personal to the band members. Bhuvan describes home as an anchor of comfort and discomfort, as it represents the constant yet ever-evolving nature of their lives while growing up in different parts of India. Each song on the five-track EP tells a different story, with Homecoming representing a journey of various emotions, experiences, and stages of growing up.