Out of all the Just 90s kids things roster, it would be fair to say that punk rock is also a major part of it, and with the album Umar Atthara, which translates to Age Eighteen, Maharashtra-based band Aadat gives punk a Desi flavour. Released in January, the debut album of the band, with its 12 tracks, explores what it is like after turning 18- the rollercoaster ride of emotions along with moments of chaos.
An Ode to the Age 18
We are considered adults after turning 18- its a benchmark or let’s say a tag that marks our official entry into adulthood. This is a period of transition and through Umar Atthara, Aadat strives to reflect this period of transition. The tracks like Umar Atthara, College Anthem, Chale Chalo, Kal Ki Baat, Aukaat serve like a mirror to what reaching the 18th year of one’s life feels like. The energy of these tracks is raw and there’s a sense of rebellion too, which is usually felt by everyone during that stage of life. It can be said that the name of the album rightly fits the tracks and they don’t shy away from being what an 18-year old feels like.
Essence of Youthful Energy
Remember the days when you blasted the speakers listening to bands like Blink-182, Yellowcard, or Green Day, and also lent your ears to remarkable songs like Yaaron, College Days, BC Sutta, Purani Jeans by KK, Gaurav Dagaonkar, Zeest, Ali Haider, respectively? The youthful energy that these songs emanated is a core memory for a lot of us and Umar Atthara attempts to paint a similar picture with their songs. Consider songs like I Lob Uh, Josh Aur Dum, and Chalo Chale that vividly bring about an essence of unapologetic energy of the youth.
A Whiff of Nostalgia
It would be a mistake to not highlight the fact that listening to the tracks brought a sense of nostalgia, perhaps because I am a 90s kid who had the first hand experience of listening to the now much reminisced numbers from the 90s and early 2000s. Be it the slow-paced Ye Din or the energetic Keep Calm And Rock On NOW!, there was a nostalgic touch that highlighted both the innocence and unapologetic nature of a young adult, especially that of millennials or kids born in the 90s, when they were either teenagers or just turned Umar Atthara.
A Desi Twist
With Umar Atthara, the band Aadat tries to put a Desi flavour to Punk- nothing otherworldly happening there, but punk rock with Hindi lyrics. However, Kudos to them for trying something new. It’s safe to say Aadat won’t be met with Good Charlotte-like criticism. The Desi flavour to a West-born subculture in the debut album itself gives hope that the band is going to experiment in their upcoming projects- let’s keep our fingers crossed for that!
Final Thoughts
Umar Atthara is a commendable attempt from Aadat’s end. The 12 tracks not only reflected the punk rock genre with a Desi twist but also made sure that some tracks were crafted for the slow music lovers. The songs also have a nostalgic touch and have the ability to take the listener back to the days of young adulthood, along with discovering emotions like love, heartbreak, freedom, and rebellion. Overall, it can be deduced that Aadat has potential and we can be hopeful that in the coming days, they will experiment more.
