Interviews: Fallen Letters
It wasn’t exactly planned to be honest - We were thinking of something which sounds dark, unique and memorable, the initial idea was Fallen Leaves, we wanted to stick with Fallen but weren't sure on the second word, and “Dead Letters” was one of my favourite albums by The Rasmus back then so I thought why not “Letters”, Fallen and Letters, and hence went with “Fallen Letters”. Both Aditya and I liked this name and felt it was the best fit for the songs we had around that time. Melancholic yet dark.
2. Why did you want to play this genre?
We’ve never really tried to be prog intentionally, we just wanted to make music we enjoyed listening to, specifically Opeth, Porcupine Tree, Blackfield and Deftones, these were the base for our initial songs, and as we progressed composing, we wore more of our other inspiration on our sleeves like more of Death metal, black metal, post metal, and shoegaze - We combine all of these to make what it is today! People call it Prog because we fuse genres that aren't common, and people say we do it well, so I guess that’s one thing!
3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?
Yes. Aditya and I (Vishal) went to college (PES University, Bangalore) together; we were in the same class (though different subjects), and we connected over metal music and the fact that we both played Guitar. We eventually started discovering more music together throughout college, played a ton of Dota together, and went to a lot of gigs together. There was another band before Fallen Letters I was part of called “A Fine Dream”. It was a band formed with my office colleagues, and eventually I invited Aditya over to the band for lead; unfortunately, the band didn’t go through cause of Covid, but we both had a ton of ideas, so we thought, why not form a band and produce and release these songs? This gave birth to Fallen Letters. In fact, the “Remain A Memory” intro was initially made when we were in AFD, though apart from the first few bars, everything else is changed!
4. Each band member’s favourite band?
This is always difficult because our answers keep changing, but broadly:
Vishal: Opeth, Katatonia, Deftones and Tool
Aditya: Metallica, Opeth, Children of Bodom
Mukund: Belphegor, Animals as Leaders, System Of A Down
Abhay: Pantera, System Of A Down, Iron Maiden
5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?
A lot of our inspiration comes from memory, grief, isolation, and the complicated ways in which people perceive themselves. Films, literature and visual imagery also influence us heavily. Musically, inspiration can begin with anything; a guitar phrase, a strange sound, an image or even a single line of lyrics. In short, it’s people’s tendencies that inspire us, how everyone deals with pain in different ways
6. Where was your last gig?
Our most recent performance was at The Humming Tree in Bangalore, Indiranagar. It was particularly memorable because it was sold out and we got to share the stage with Space Is All We Have and YogiEatsProg, who are legends in the scene. It was also a free gig! The community showed up, and it was one of our best gigs to date.
7. Where would you like to perform?
Playing festivals and venues across Europe, the UK and Japan is a major goal for us. We would especially love to perform at festivals such as ArcTanGent, Radar, Damnation, Bloodstock, ProgPower Europe, ProgStorm, Download, Wacken Open Air, etc. Ultimately, we want to take this music anywhere there is an audience willing to immerse themselves in it.
8. Whom would you like to collaborate with?
For me, Chino Moreno would be a dream collaborator because of his approach to vocals. Working with someone like Mikael Åkerfeldt, Jonas Renkse or Mariusz Duda would also be incredible. We would be equally interested in collaborating with artists from outside metal; especially film composers, saxophonists and ambient or electronic musicians.
9. Whom would you not like to collaborate with?
We would not rule somebody out purely because of their genre. The more important question is whether there is mutual respect and a genuine creative connection. We probably would not collaborate with someone if it felt forced or existed solely for publicity.
10. Have any of you ever suffered from stage fright? Any tips for beginners?
Absolutely. Nervousness is normal, especially when you care deeply about the performance. Aditya, Mukund and I played to a 220+ people debut headline show without ever performing live before; the nervousness we felt was immense, but Preparation makes the biggest difference: rehearse until the set feels instinctive, become familiar with your equipment and arrive with enough time to settle in. It also helps to stop treating nerves as an enemy. That adrenaline can become energy once you begin playing. Focus on communicating the song rather than trying to appear perfect. Also remember, no gig is perfect; something will go wrong. It’s all about how you go on without stopping!
11. What bands have inspired you the most?
Opeth, Katatonia, Porcupine Tree, Tool, Deftones, and Agalloch have all influenced me in different ways!
12. What is the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for?
Nothing, to be honest. Our fans have been great; they mostly ask when our next single is, or for tabs of our songs, or even about merch. We’re glad to have a fanbase who are awesome and understand where we come from and what our vision is. Once at a Hyderabad gig, a fan made a generous donation after buying a shirt because he loved our band so much. It was a beautiful moment for us to know how much we can move people with our music and how people are so supportive if the music means something to them.
13. What do you think of your fans?
Our listeners are the reason this project has been able to grow beyond the rooms in which these songs were written. We are especially grateful that people spend time understanding the lyrics, concepts, and small musical details. Seeing listeners sing along at shows; or hearing that a song helped someone through a difficult period; means far more to us than numbers on a screen.
14. What do you think of our site?
We appreciate the work you do to provide independent artists with a platform. Sites like yours are important because they allow listeners to discover music outside the artists already supported by major labels and large promotional systems. We are grateful that you took the time to listen to our work and speak with us.
15. Something to add?
Thank you for having us and for supporting independent music. We released our debut album, Mindfractures, in 2025 and recently began the next chapter with our new single, “A Familiar Absence.” We are preparing for more live performances in India and, hopefully, internationally. We would love for your readers to listen and join us as the story unfolds.
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