Auster put an indie band from the suburbs of Humayunpur, a vinyl DJ from Himachal and an established author travelling from Holland together on stage for an interesting year-end special.

Let me recap it bit by bit…

Six months ago, Donnie was a homeless boy with big dreams caught up in that violent middle between ambition and anxiety. His only job ever had been as a record seller and that too he felt like he was not as good at as he could possibly be.

While he sold all those records by artists from all over – he secretly dreamt of being an artist himself.

Everybody lies sometimes,

but I do it every day.

Sincerity,

will never be a part of me.

oh i hate drugs at times,

but i still do it anyway.

hypocrisy, runs through me

but can you just pardon me?

After losing his job, he tried to purge the past even though he was still attached to it. A pool of friends plugged him into a concert at a café in Humayunpur. He was the underdog who nailed it and the relics of that day grew into becoming The Monschees.

Herschelle, the guitarist, is a skateboarder known for his interesting hairdo as well as for an attitude that oscillates either between delving in stark despair or calling everything ‘cool’ with a laugh that resembles a horse’s neigh. We met each other at an epic rock concert years ago and the circle of life is such that he himself has become a rockstar since.

Sang, the guitarist, is doing a Master’s in Sociology at the moment while dreaming of new notes to turn into songs. He has a taste for good indie music. Gabriel, the bassist, has a day job at a cafe, an air of silence astute to bass players, and an appetite for listening to underrated RHCP songs. He’s shy yet remarkable in his efficiency.

The boys are an interesting repository of tastes and talents. The 1975, Fontaines DC, Modern Baseball, Title Fight and Interpol are covered aplenty. Auster allowed The Monschees to do what they do best at its year-end event last December 21st where they were granted complete control as well as the resources to put on a great show.

The Monschees performed a series of originals as well as covers. The set shifted from acoustic to punk. There was Obstacle 1 by Interpol as well as Roman Holiday by Fontaines DC in their set. The audience went wild over a sound that was equal parts punk and equal parts vulnerable. The highlight was the original that the band keeps shelving the release of.

Maybe, I'll keep being a junkie.

unbothered and shitty,

I'll die in this city.

with shaky hands, the handshakes-

will be just for namesakes

just transactional-

just transactional

Some fans call it ‘Junky’ some call it ‘Transactional’, but the band insists on calling it ‘I Hate Cleaning Up’ – a song that is both a reminder as well as a plea.

The Monschees look like a group of school kids out on a bunk looking for thrills. On rented guitars, no money and a lack of releases – they have made a mark in the city – opening for Donn Bhat as well.

‘As he died to make men holy, let us die to make things cheap’ Cohen sang once…

‘Bro I will do it for free.’ Dharze says if you ever ask him to commit to a gig. He has been behind creating a thriving underground music scene in Himachal. He was a regular DJ at EDM Hostel in Dharamkot and a starter of multiple alternative communities in the hills.

His music draws inspiration from his mountaineering life and winter isolation in the high peaks. The sound blends music and mountains. His vision of techno transformed the venue into an electro dance floor.

Dharze has an expertise in creating emotional DJ sets where the soundscape defines the mood of space and time. He delivered a captivating set that kept the energy flowing throughout the night.

His sound was deep melodic techno. The mesmerizing power of it could be compared to a burning firewood in a forest. The tempo rises, falls, rises, falls… With 4 EPs in his belt, he’s no amateur.

His music reflects his journey through India inspired by the quiet birdscapes and thunderous storms of the Himalayas to the bustling street markets of Delhi while bringing novelty into the genre of techno.

The Monschees is hardly a few months old while Dharze has been DJing for years. This contrast of genre and experience was unified by the commonality of authenticity.

Abhimanyu who closed the night for Auster is a writer of much repute who loves to sing Dylan and quote Kerouac. As a journalist he has written for The Wire and has his own blog – ‘The Sunflower Collective’ as well. His book with Aletta Andre titled ‘The House of Awadh’ was published by Harper Collins in 2025. He also read from the book for the audience.

He oscillates between dangerously ferocious to warmly soft in a matter resembling Kerouac’s Cassady. He went from literature to music and music to literature in just such a way. It was performance art.

His renditions of Cohen were not only remarkable but full of great pain as well.

‘I love this song by Leonard Cohen, especially because it is based on a poem by Lorca, and it is my son's favorite lullaby. He likes it, I know, because every verse refers to death and like all children he likes a touch of danger. I hope once he grows up, he will realize the beauty of the words too.’

Abhimanyu spoke before breaking into the most painfully gorgeous cover of Take This Waltz which Abhinav Tyagi, a translator and academician from DU said was the highlight.

“Well, never mind, we are ugly, but we have the music.”
- Leonard Cohen, Poet, Writer, Singer, Artist

Auster’s year-end special was a meetup of subcultures, a place where veteran writers could share presence with aspiring musicians. There were people from all walks of life and everyone came around to know everyone. For a struggling artist, the biggest hurdle is bridging the gap between their art and an audience. Through mixing a pool of audiences by inviting artists across literature, music and more – there was almost a creation of a bigger pool of an audience.

Photo courtesy of @quirkymaximus / @fory0ureyezonly / extremegriefferjesus_ / studio.shambhala / _aavrit

auster

auster put an indie band from the suburbs of Humayunpur, a vinyl DJ from Himachal and an established author travelling from Holland together on stage for a year-end special.

auster