Prabir and the Substitutes provided their song “Five Little Pieces” to be used as Young Adult’s awesome theme song. They’ll be at the screening on April 28th at E Street Cinema to meet the fans and viewers! I asked Prabir some questions to find out more about his musical aspirations and the incredible song we used for our opening.
1. How did you get involved in music?
Both of my parents were musicians in India so it kind of runs in the family. As a child I remember singing along with my mom and banging the tablas with my dad. We moved to the states in 1988, and I think somewhere near there I got my first introduction to The Beatles, CCR, REM, The Who, etc and there was no turning back after that. My brother and I started making instruments out of cardboard and other household objects and start working on original material. I recently went back and listened to some of those recordings made on an old boom box. They’re pretty hilariously awful but we were all about it at the time. I eventually got a drum set and a guitar and have not stopped since then.
2. What’s the latest on Prabir and the Substitutes?
After four long years of treking all across America and seeing the highs and lows of everything within one another the band finally called it quits in December with our final concert to our hometown family and the tons of friends we had made along the way. We’re all still very close to one another. All ended on good terms. We were ready to just move on. I’m currently working w. some classically trained musicians and some of the other guys are starting a project that should be making some noise pretty soon. The project I’m working on is called Prabir/Goldrush (www.prabirgoldrush.com)
3. What was the creative process behind recording “Five Little Pieces”?
Five Little Pieces is a song I wrote when one of our good friends left the band and moved back to North Carolina. At first I started off being very sad about him leaving but then realized that the rest of the band was still intact and we were very much so still a unit. The song is a celebration of friendship and making the most of what you have been given despite the oodles and oodles of shit that life sends your way every day. Can I say oddles on this site?
Also it’s interesting because the song is basically about the band, which at the time was five young adults making it through day by day. Woes of work, love, money, etc and how even with all those problems we still came out singing. I think its a positive song. I never could tell. It basically said a lot of stuff sucks but at least we can still make noise together…for now.
4. What are some of your favorite television shows?
As a child I loved Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Simpsons, and Perfect Strangers.
As a teenager it was Married With Children, The Simpsons, and Saturday Night Live.
As a college student I watched Conan, The Simpsons, and any nature documentary I could get my hands on.
As a young adult I was glued to reruns of Seinfeld, Austin City Limits, and Curb Your Enthusiasm.
As whatever I am now its Planet Earth, 30 Rock, and Weeds.
5. How old is a ‘young adult’ and why?
You know, I’m not sure. I recently was talking to a friend about that. I think, if I had to take a guess, it would be someone that is between college and in the basic steps of establishing a strong career, but then that kind of eliminates a lot of people. I don’t know. Does everyone at some point become a young adult? Am I? I can’t tell. I guess someone that is in their mid-twenties to mid-thirties that is trying to scrape by. Yeah, that works.
