A euphoric Palash Sen reveals, “We are performing on June 14 and 15 in Karachi. On June 14, we are doing the finale for a popular music awards ceremony, followed by a public show the next day. We are the first-ever foreign band to perform in Pak. This is nothing short of history, as they have resisted Indian bands for years.”

But how did this development come about? “The music awards organisers have been inviting us for the past two years now. But there have been visa issues and some resistance due to which we haven’t been able to go there till now. However, this time round, Pakistan’s foreign ministry has sent us an invite and our visas were issued in a day!”

Has Euphoria’s visit to Pak got anything to do with Junoon striking a chord in the Kashmir Valley recently? “Pakistani bands are the ones that sell in that country and there was some resistance from them regarding our going there. Pak bands come to India all the time and this musical exchange is going to be complete only if it is mutual. We’ve been good hosts till now and it is time that Pak opens its doors for us. We’ve performed with Junoon and Strings in India and abroad but we’ve never shared a stage with them in their country – we want that to happen. When we play together in India, it is a huge message to the audience here, what about the audience there?” asks Palash, adding, “Junoon playing in Srinagar is the peace process that Junoon and Euphoria started in 2001 coming a full circle.”

The bands had together started a series of concerts to give a message of peace. Says Palash, “We started playing together in concerts to start the peace process. We played in India, Dubai and the UN General Assembly. The concert at the UN was organised by Shashi Tharoor and it was big. All the concerts were just after the Kargil war and 9/11 attack. I feel those concerts made a contribution in their own way towards normalising the relations between the two countries.”

Is Palash or his band worried about safety and security issues? “All of us are just excited. This is history.” And is he looking forward to Mush as one of the guests? “Yes, he has been invited as one of the guests on the first day. I’m looking forward to his compliments!” smiles Palash.

Source: Times of India