The word India was one day stuck in my thoughts for some reason. When I sat down to compose it, I tried to gather a feeling of mystical afflatus, if you will.
Musically, The Rooks tried to create a pacifiable mood to reflect my idea of what India should sound like with soft voices, acoustic guitars, recorders and mellotrons.
India is a fictitious name I used for cover. I didn’t wish to expose someone when I wrote it. I guess I was feeling a bit protective at that time. On the other hand, if I wanted to blanket her in complete anonymity, I wouldn't have written it at all.
That's always the contradiction I face when writing about real people and trying to keep a person nameless. But then somehow, you overstep that boundary so you can make your point, your statement. It allows the author to get in the last word. It's in that sense an unfair game. Especially if you're a writer whose work people are consuming. It’s always a one-sided racket.
lyrics
INDIA
(Words & music by Michael Mazzarella)
So leave behind what you have saved and settle here for me
Your jealousy and quarreling is bickering with me
Don't be afraid what you have done
I close my eyes, you see
In quiet times this is a trance - smile loud enough on me
I was walking you were singing
Yes, but not for me
Then I knew that you were leaving India from me
So everyone, their energy is focusing on me
And India breathe heavily so I can know you're free
I was walking you were singing
Yes, but not for me
Then I knew that you were leaving India from me
So everyone, their energy is focusing on me
And India breathe heavily so I can know you're free
credits
from A Wishing Well,
released October 7, 1999
Lead Vocals, Background, Guitar, Mellotron, Keyboards – Michael Mazzarella
Electric Sitar, Background – Kristin Pinell
Bass – Mike Mesaros
Percussion – Patrick Yourell
Alto Recorder, Soprano Recorder – Huw Gower
Background Singers – Frank Bango, Joe Mannix, Kim Henry, Lauren Agnelli
Outfitting harmonnic indie rock with elements of folk, surf, and more, this D.C. quartet have a warm, homespun sound that's easy to love. Bandcamp New & Notable Jan 18, 2024
Jody Stephens of Big Star and Luther Russell of the Freewheelers team for a radiant LP packed full of slide guitar and pop smarts. Bandcamp New & Notable Sep 11, 2019
Boston post-punk outfit Junk Ranchers broke up in 1986 before this, their debut album, was released; darkly melodic, it's a long-lost gem. Bandcamp New & Notable Dec 22, 2020
This NYC quartet channels the anxious, experimental nature of late '90s-early '00s Olympia indie rock in their tense, rhythmic post-punk. Bandcamp New & Notable Jun 8, 2016