Q&A with Rishi Dhir of Elephant Stone

Canadian group Elephant Stone mix rock ‘n’ roll with intriguing Eastern influences, creating a distinctly different vibe which sets them apart from their other psychedelic contemporaries. The band released their third LP, The Three Poisons, earlier this year; a fascinating album which blends indie-rock, retro Madchester pop and traditional Hindustani music to create a truly unique sound. Frontman and sitar player Rishi Dhir, who has performed with the likes of Beck, Brian Jonestown Massacre and The Horrors, leads the band and draws on a vast and eclectic musical knowledge for inspiration. In addition to touring their new release, the band have also launched their own line of guitar and bass pedals , displaying more of their musical prowess. Kemptation spoke to Rishi to explore the myriad of influences which have helped to shape Elephant Stone’s distinctive and exciting records.

Who or what inspired you to pick up the sitar? Is there a particular reason as to why you identify with the instrument?

I was exposed to the sitar from a pretty young age. My mom would sing along to old Bollywood tunes around the house and every Saturday we would watch 6 hours of Bollywood movies! And then there's the Beatles... Not sure why I picked it up, perhaps it was predestined?

Are you still learning or would you consider yourself an expert?

Yeah, I'm always learning. I've kind of accepted that I will never become a master of the instrument. I am functional on it in that I feel I can convey a certain amount of emotion and personality in my playing. However, I don't think I have experience/chops to delve headfirst into the classically Hindustani scene. Sitar rock it is for me.

Did Elephant Stone's sound evolve around the instrument or is it added to songs after they’ve been written?

The initial idea for the band was to make it a sitar/rock instrumental fusion. However, I figured out pretty soon that my forte was writing pop songs. That said, I do try to include Hindustani instrumentation/arrangements whenever the opportunity arises.

You've mentioned how the sitar mimics the human voice, has this influenced your vocal style?

I’m not sure. I definitely think my Hindustani classical training has played a big role in my development of melody (or lack thereof. Haha!)

As a multi-instrumentalist, are there certain instruments you prefer more than others?

I REALLY love synths and sitars. I wish I was a lot more affluent with electronic music than I am... there's still time I suppose.

How do you deal with critics who view the sitar as a ‘novelty factor’ in your music?

I don't. Everyone's entitled to their opinion.

As a band you’ve recently launched your own fuzz pedals, which is fairly unique! How did this come about? Do you use them on stage yourself?

My friend, JC, runs a custom pedal company Toetags Electronics. He lent us a bunch of his demo fuzz pedals for the recording of The Three Poisons. Anyhow, Gab and I fell in love with a couple of his pedals. Seeing as no one's making money off of album sales these days, we figured we'd have a go at the pedals market. That said, it's not very lucrative, but is a nice collector's item. Yeah, I use the ElephantsTone Geetar and Bass fuzz pedals live.

How does your new album ‘The Three Poisons’ compare to your previous records? Would you say you’ve found a signature sound?

Yeah, I'd like to think that we have a pretty definable sound. I know what I want to hear from Elephant Stone.

People often refer to your influences from the past, but are there any contemporary acts you relate to at the moment?

Of course. Where to begin? Temples, Black Angels, The Horrors, Suuns, Tame Impala, Morgan Delt, Mikal Cronin, Ty Segal, Primal Scream, Teenage Fanclub, Kurt Vile, The War on Drugs, BJM.

What are Elephant Stone’s plans for the future?

Demoing new material and touring: that's why we're here!

Thanks to Kemptation