Bengaluru-based alternative-rock crew The Sandcats follow up their noteworthy debut release, ‘Lounge Lizards,’ with yet another captivating score in their newest single ‘Urban Control.’
In this feature, we peek into the single, speaking with the creative force behind the ‘Urban Control’ music video.
The Sandcats, comprised of up-and-coming musicians Brahmos Ryan Sharma and Ritwik Bhaumik, take a page from artists such as The Strokes, The Killers, and Arctic Monkeys and carve out their aughts-inspired wave of garage-rock, indie-rock, post-punk and modern-pop music.
Their debut single ‘Lounge Lizards’ (released August 16, 2024) received influential recognition on radio stations across India, and at the time of writing has touched nearly 7K streams on Spotify. The song’s music video has also crossed over 10K views on YouTube.
On their newest venture, The Sandcats present a stellar alt-rock number supported by rhythmic drum patterns, picky electric guitar segments, and playful bass tugs. Lyrically, the song outlines a grim tale, covering narratives of gentrification and, in turn, displacement, as well as instantaneous modernization, and unbridled automation.
Regarding the song, the band shared via press statement, “‘Urban Control’ is all about feeling stuck in the middle of modern city life and the strange, surreal forces that come with it. The song dives into the struggles of navigating a world shaped by capitalism—where gentrified buildings, automated routines, and curated realities control everything.”
Its music video, crafted by visual artist Aadya Naik, has generated over 7K views since its release on November 8, 2024. Speaking with us, Aadya expressed being “captivated by their unique sound” upon discovering their track ‘Lounge Lizards’ on Instagram, going on to say she felt “thrilled” to be approached by The Sandcats for the artwork and music video of their subsequent music release.
Aadya elaborated that the process began with immersing herself in the song and discussing its core themes with the band, who not only allowed her creative freedom but also supplied valuable input and suggestions to help her assemble the visuals.
Explaining her mindset on this project, Aadya suggests her aim was not “to convey a predetermined narrative but to create a layered audio-visual experience that would invite viewers to feel something unique and discover new dimensions with every viewing.”
Breaking down some of the elements glimpsed in the music video, Aadya remarked, “I divided each frame to represent their separate worlds, gradually merging them in different environments. The rectangular display in the foreground, filled with objects from our capitalist society, subtly commented on the structural forces at play. The split-screen acted as a metaphor for the emotional distance between the lovers, accentuated by the fast pace of modern life.”
She added, “Stylistically, I leaned on abstract visuals and contrasting elements to evoke depth and emotion. Each scene aimed to immerse the viewer in an evolving journey that resonated with the song’s multifaceted themes.”
Touching on her creative process, Aadya told us, “I didn’t approach each frame with the intent of meticulously portraying specific ideas or meanings. Instead, I focused on capturing the song’s emotional essence, letting the visuals emerge organically through the interplay of abstraction and symbolism.”
“It’s always been a dream of mine to create artwork for music, and I will forever be grateful to the band for giving me this opportunity and trusting me completely. This project not only fulfilled a long-held aspiration but also opened doors to other music-based work, for which I’m deeply thankful.”
Find The Sandcats on: Instagram | Spotify
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