Inyerview with Ghandis Cookbook

 GANDHI’S COOKBOOK –DUBAI [UAE]

Interviewed by: Fonda

This band hails here in Dubai and Sharjah (UAE), and their music is a mixture of punk,ska and reggae. I must say, I have seen them perform (bloody enjoyed it) and they are making a mark here in the UG scene. And I am telling you, no matter how young these guys are, I am impressed by their broad beliefs of how fuck-up this society is, and well-diverse they are when you get a chance to have a discussion with them on many things. The members are:

Martin-vocals
Scott-guitars
Adarsh-bass
Chris-drums

Now check out my interview with these guys:


Hails GCB! So how’s life, how’s the band, how’s the recording.. and the groupies (hehe).
We’re great, as far as recording goes – done! We are just finishing up artwork/mixing; the EP titled ‘In the Cesspool of Culture’ will be out very soon!

Cant wait to check that EP also! I already know why your band name is Gandhi’s cookbook, but do tell our NBzine readers the reason behind it (I’m really impressed with the explanation behind the band name).
The name 'Gandhi's Cookbook' is a commentary on the laziness, ignorance, and greed of mankind - everyone included. Gandhi was obviously a really great man, and a figure for peace and diplomacy - many people would like to be seen as making a change in the world like he did, and they aspire to be a huge icon, but are too lazy to do anything that requires any work or determination. These would much rather to have a nice handy little pocket sized book that tells them what to do to be a huge figure like him, which they can read at their leisure; basically a little cookbook.

Well said. From which school are you here in UAE? What grade are you in and do tell your age
¾ of the band are in Jumeirah College in Year 11 and Martin (Vocals) is a sophomore at the American University of Sharjah. Martin is 18, Scott is 16, Adarsh is 16 and Chris is 15.

So basically you guys also grew up in the Middle East like me. When did the band started? How was it formed and was your genre of music the same since the beginning?
A few years ago, Chris, Scott and our old bassist Rob were all into the same kind of music bands and so we used to play some punk songs together and eventually we started writing originals and Martin joined the band on vocals. Then Rob left and Adarsh joined on bass.


Is there any specific person in your life who influenced you? Besides Gandhi, any icon you idolizes as well? (like from a band or politicians).
We don’t feel idolizing/worship is very healthy, but I’d say people such as Ian Mackaye and Jello Biafra. I wouldn’t say we support any certain politicians; because as soon as they’re in power, there’s no more ‘we the people’ (see: ‘Sheep and Leaders’, track 3 on the upcoming EP ‘In the Cesspool of Culture!)

Fuck politics I usually say. So who writes the lyrics, conceptualize the tunes and who decides the outcome of the song if it is “sounds great” or “damn, more substance”.
We all work together on the music, combining ideas and deciding on the outcomes of the songs as we’re pretty much all on the same page musically. The lyrics are mostly products of Chris and Martin combining ideas.

Everything you guys makes sense. Just wondering, are you guys SXE? Because your beliefs & virtues sounds like one (besides the drinking, I know you are minors, +)
We drink so I wouldn’t say we’re straight edge, but come to think if it, I guess we do subscribe to parts of straight edge ideology, but we wouldn’t really just sit and go ‘Oh guys, let’s be straight edge now’. The basic ideas are really just common sense, and a set of beliefs on how to treat yourself properly and not be a liability to others, and just plain not be a fuckhead.

Hehe, love that answer. Have you been to rallies? Any org. that you support?
There really aren’t any rallies/legal trade unions etc. here. Just charities, which normally end up being just high-society people sipping wine at an event like a horse race; comparing who donated more.

Haha, well this is Dubai, don’t expect them to roam around and bring food to the poor. How long have you been here in UAE? What can you say about the UG scene here?
Martin has been here 7 years; Scott for 4 years, Adarsh has been in and out of the Middle East for about 10 years. And Chris has been here for 10 years.

Whoah, pretty long, I didn’t expect that. What can you say to those racist/ fascist/ sexist and all? Can you say that it exist widely here in the Middle East?
I’d say sexism and racism are definitely rife here; race and gender definitely dictates what job or position in society you will get here. However sometimes, the gender discrimination works in favor of … As far as fascism goes, in the sense of oppression; it certainly exists towards the workers and/laborers here.

It exist basically everywhere, but yeah, it happens widely here in the Middle East. Do you agree that Oi punk and Ska punk collides?
Apart from the concept of unity, they’re not very similar in the sense of ideology. When it comes to music, the sounds of both genres are quite different. I’m not sure what you mean by “collides”, but that’s basically what we feel about both genres. The only two ska-punk bands that actually influence us are Operation Ivy and Choking Victim. And we really don’t like oi punk/street punk at all.

Collides as-in they don’t really like each other, which you guys said it yourself! =) Mostly people have a bad perception of Punk. How do you stand in making them realize that it’s all balderdash?
Well, the typical image of ‘punk’ or ‘punks’ are ultra-fashionable kids with spiked coloured hair who are out solely to offend… that’s bullshit. Punk is about ideology, about what you have to say, not how you look. It’s fine if you’re doing/saying something you believe in. and it just so happens to offend people, but if you are doing/saying something for the sole purpose of controversy, it’s useless. This is our beef with the Sex Pistols/Malcolm Maclaren.

Everything is becoming a fad these days. Let’s talk about the war here in the Middle East. Do you believe the intervention of USA or other countries made it worse?
To us, the main purposes for a country to intervene into wars are to stimulate the economy and to spread their beliefs to indoctrinate more people. We believe US Government and it’s allies’ decision to become world police and do ‘what god would want’ was not to improve the situation in Iraq but to attempt to establish democracy and take control of the oil reserves; making more of a mess than before.

I totally agree with your statement there! Hey, If given a chance, which country you guys want to perform? (Don’t forget to drop by Phil ok?)
We’re taking to various people right now about planning a possible tour in Summer 08’, made up of a bunch of shows in South India. We’ll see how that rolls out, and it would be awesome to go over to the Philippines at some point, we have listened to some pinoy hardcore from the 80s (bands like Philippine Violators, Dead Ends etc.) and it sounds pretty awesome!

Damn, I am impressed you know those bands! We will bring you to the Phil. when we get back there! Ok, this is the final blow: say anything you want! Promote your band to NBzine readers and why do they need to check your band. Thanx for the time! Cheers!
We update our myspace page a lot, so check www.myspace.com/gandhiscookbook for future shows, any news, and to hear a handful of songs from our upcoming EP ‘In the Cesspool of Culture’ which will be released in early 08’, we are going to try to set up a mail order so we can get the physical release out internationally. Thanks a lot for the interview, take care!

Band email: gandhiscookbook@gmail.com
Band site: www.myspace.com/gandhiscookbook