The Total Sound Of The Undergound

Lelahel Metal

With over 2000 tracks and 100+ releases since 2019, Philojain—led by Amit Jain—fuses unpredictability, genre fluidity, and raw experimentation into a vast, ever-evolving sonic universe.

1. Amit, you've described your music as unpredictable and full of sonic surprises. How do you approach songwriting to maintain that sense of unpredictability across over 2000 tracks?

Me and team Philojan Music Muse Label have experimented with various approaches to the said tracks time and again over a few years each, and have the stated approaches saved within our collective system as data; as delaying releases per time taken permits the same to be modified at a later date when we have the next big brainwave moment. We consider ourselves to be fluid genre fusion specialists given the narrative of direction and don't ideally limit ourselves with just the guitar and at times fill that in later; so that's our secret!

2. Coming from a rock/metal background and diving deep into experimental and electronic textures, how do you balance aggression and ambience in your compositions?

As mentioned within the previous insight, the electronic nature of experimental music these days has a lot to do with programmatic possibilities and the electric equipment in question needs to let everything be; while we worship the guitar beyond a given point, the endless possibilities of it all coming together plausible perhaps considers the probability of rehearsed theory opposition to the point of it all becoming a free flowing endeavour. If we are to allow creative freedom, the same needs to be captured via any given means; that's electric vs electronic of late!

3. You’ve created 18 albums and more than 100 releases since 2019—what fuels this immense creative output, and how do you avoid creative burnout?

As with every endeavour that starts as a hobby, the correct thing to do is take regular breaks and surround yourself with likeminded people that support diverse viewpoints and give the same time to materialise in fresh collective perspectives every now and then, and surprisingly that is the way to every song being a zone in itself; and very much it's own special place in our hearts to better with time!

4. As someone who isn’t formally trained in guitar, your riffs and tones still stand out. What’s your process when crafting guitar parts that are both raw and harmonically rich?

Just raw experimentation and recording and re-recording would get any decent guitar player a sizeable collection to stand forth within a team of fellow musicians like ours, as more or less we train the same way individually, and have the systems set up to capture the finer details of guitar sounds to be further modifiable by each other; that kinda happens as and when we all get together from our busy schedules!

5. How has your background in business blogging at Type.Earth influenced your artistic mindset or the narratives in your music?

I am a business guy, I like to know whatever I read. Other than that, I am a bit too selective in my uptake because I'm a bit stubborn towards mind map changes unless it's gradual to comprehend. The apt music theory lessons I believe in are more of meditative stances of hours of listening in to varying genres; and I guess formal or informal education should obviously also be of similar musings!

6. Your latest single “Neonica” seems to reflect a turning point. Can you tell us what this track represents in your evolution as Philojain?

This track is special as it was a humorous but well meaning take on my travels to a few Asian countries of late, and I heard nightclub music to be in line with a few punk undertones somewhere, and similarly thought up synth to do wonders for experimentation in such a case. I aptly dedicated this to my niece, who is a student and also fond of traveling; I believe the way at times appears as time weaves it!

7. With elements like power strumming, chugging, and counterpoint solos in your work, how do you experiment with guitar layering and interplay in the absence of a full band?

I may be a solo act, but I do have access to other teams and that's all of us that make up the music label as individual contributors in our own right of way where needed. As one may rightfully presume, the most of us collaborate and contribute by going out of our way for other team members more often than not; I like to think of the same as being sorted empaths, especially given music democracy!

8. Many listeners describe your music as cathartic and emotionally intense. Do you consciously aim for that effect, or is it a natural result of your process?

The process undertaken borrows from many means to an end. Yes, the given highs and lows of our music do have a distinctly unpredictable sideways motion to them, possibly more so because of the informal setup we follow as a non routine way of approaching any given track; at times even discarding most of it for later, perhaps months go by and we forget till we remember to do something about it; just throwing it all together as good luck would have it procrastinated, we work on many things simultaneously, that is our mantra!

9. You've been described as “doomscrolling with metal on.” How do digital culture and modern life inspire or affect the themes in your sonic creations?

I make what I feel, themes are more of a flow to me, unlike trends; I personally feel digital culture is very much overhyped. I doomscroll only when bored. Most people do that when vacant. The difference lies in not making the same a mainstage of idle time. As a music appreciator, I put my Spotify on shuffle from any one particular song I like at the moment and go from there; I walk a lot with my Skull Candy Crushers on!

10. Finally, for fans just discovering you—where should they start in your vast discography, and what would you say is the best track that encapsulates Philojain’s essence?

Initially, it was the Riff Raff series & the Neo Intrumental series for those classically inclined. Then came the Pulsating Once, Twice, Thrice series for those sub-bass inclined. I would say put our entire discography on shuffle as a playlist and surprise yourself just as much at every unexpected turn!

However, of late, there is a lot more to be expected of us as a music label team comprising of technical guitar experimentation with a slightly baroque outlook to our endeavour; thanks so much for having us! 

With best regards,

Amit Jain

philojain

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