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The rising UK group Chandra are becoming known for penning pop-rock tracks about the human condition, self-belief, confidence, and mental health. Comprised of frontman Chandra Nair, guitarist Rock Chenug, bassist Chris Wong, and drummer Keith Jones, the quartet have dropped their stellar new single “Lifted”. They also have a new EP launching on August 30th.
1883 Magazine chats with Chandra about the band’s new single “Lifted”, one of their most memorable gigs so far, and more.
What’s one exciting thing that happened to you this week?
Keith: Working with Mackenzie Crook on the second season of The Change. ad-libbing being stoned and “Lifted” hitting 20K streams on Spotify.
What was the last thing you read?
Keith: Tried & gave up `The Little Book of Stoicism’ (note to self, don’t borrow books from your deep-thinking son).
Favourite memory growing up?
Keith: My golden retriever puppy, Suki.
Where was the last place you travelled to?
Keith: A 9,500-mile round trip of USA, Black Mustang convertible Denver to Denver (anti-clockwise).
What was the last thing that made you laugh?
Chandra: Suddenly realising that our drummer Keith was one of the archers in episode three of House of Dragons season two. Once I saw his face I couldn’t stop laughing!
What’s your nighttime ritual?
Chandra: I check Spotify streams update, and have a once over the lyrics for the latest song. It seems to put my brain in the right place for dreaming up new songs in the night.
Who would be on your dream dinner party guest list?
Chris: Jimi Hendrix
Favourite movie and favourite quote from a movie?
Chris: Blues Brothers. “it’s dark and we’re wearing sunglasses!”
What’s your go-to karaoke song?
Chris: Teddy Bear’s Picnic.
Favourite item in your closet?
Chris: Blow up doll [a joke].
In a few short words, describe your music for someone who’s never heard it.
Chandra: Uplifting, hands-in-the-air, singalong rock.
What inspired Chandra’s latest song “Lifted”?
Chandra: Having had my fair share of days over the years where you wake up and feel down… struggle to start the day… wake up in that mindset of “oh geez, I have to do this job again…” especially in the dreary months of January to March… I wanted a song that epitomises, lyrically and musically, that perfect Summer’s day where everything is great, the weather is perfect and everything goes your way.
I wanted to be able to create a song that would put you in a great mood and make you want to go out and take on the world.
What can listeners expect from your debut EP which launching at the end of August?
Chandra: It’s 25 minutes of smiling, dancing and energy. We really hope that after listening to this EP you’re not only in a great mood but have also been inspired enough to go out and spread that positive energy.
Why did you want to name the group after yourself?
Chandra: I came to the realisation after many years of trying to be what I thought I needed to be, and after many iterations of music styles and band names, that I just needed to be honest and write about what I thought was important.
And it turned out that what was important to me was also important to others. So, given the transparency and honesty, I just started putting out music as honestly as possible… with my own name.
Could you recall the moment that made you realise you wanted to pursue music as a career?
Chandra: I’ll never forget it. I was very young… my first ever gig was R.E.M. on the Monster Tour at Milton Keynes Bowl. Before then I was just a kid who loved listening to music. But that night transformed everything.
Micheal Stipe in his prime was one of the greatest frontmen of all time and his ability to command a crowd with so few words was utterly mesmerising. The next morning I knew what I had to do with my life.
Which artists would be on your dream collaboration list?
Chandra: It would be a pop queen. I wouldn’t want to simply work with another similar band. If I’m honest we write pop songs that just happen to be written for guitars and I think our perfect collan would be with someone like Dua Lipa, Pink or Miley. Yes, genuinely.
What’s been one of the most memorable Chandra gigs so far and why?
Chandra: 2024 was our second year doing a tiny little local festival called JesFest. It’s 200 capacity and is basically in someone’s garden (albeit with a great stage, lighting etc). But we go all-out with our videos, lights, bands and it’s just the perfect gig with 200 people singing along, close enough that you can see and hear everyone’s emotions.
Where do you hope your music career takes you this year and beyond?
Chandra: The EP, which launches on 30th August, is the starting block. I’m completely and utterly proud of that as a body of work. But yeah, that’s just the beginning. We have a Christmas single coming! I’m sure that if you know our songs I’ll Be There, Smile or Pretty, you can imagine what to expect from a Christmas song.
That will be so much fun and we need to record that really soon. And then it’s just about playing live as much as possible, releasing as much new music as possible between Dec and June, and then recording our first album for the Summer!
“Lifted” by Chandra is out now. Follow Chandra @listentochandra
