Shreya Naik Kapoor and Vivaan Kapoor come together as Chickeen Masala to bring the bass to your party.

By Anusha Sethi

Married musicians Shreya Naik Kapoor and Vivaan Kapoor, more popularly known as Chickeen Masala, are passionate percussionists from Mumbai who are experts in elevating any event. With their energetic presence and talent, they play along to any music of your choice to get the crowd dancing.

What sparked your interest in music?
Vivaan: I got my first toy drum kit when I was three years old, and it just came to me in one shot. I was never formally taught how to play drums, I used to just watch videos of Phil Collins, Pink Floyd, Michael Jackson and the Eagles to pick up skills. After that, I knew this was what I wanted to do.

Shreya: My influences were different; mine were more Bollywood because that’s what my parents listened to, but it wasn’t as easy for me to realise that music was what I wanted to pursue.

Why are you called Chickeen Masala?
Vivaan: It started with my little chicken toy. I travel with him everywhere; he’s my main man. I found him in Toys “R” Us in Dubai and I knew I’d use this to start a conversation with Shreya; it is the reason we started dating. Anyway, I would attach the chicken onto my drum kit and people started taking photos of it, and referring to me as the chicken man.

Shreya: As I started playing as well, we knew we had to change the name: chicken man was just not working for me. We were wondering what goes with chicken, and were deciding between butter chickeen and chickeen masala. We went with chickeen masala because butter chicken is too fattening and masala is well known internationally. Maybe our Thai name should be Krapow gai.

Do you have a favourite genre of music to play to?
Vivaan: As Chickeen Masala we play to everything, especially Bollywood music, but personally I’m a metalhead. I love progressive metal, that’s my jam, and I try to incorporate that in how we play to other music.

Shreya: We also love 90s hip-hop and RnB, especially songs by Soulja Boy, but at the end of the day, our aim is not to show off what we can do technically, but rather to play music that will add to the event. Whatever the crowd enjoys.

What do you consider to be your greatest achievement?
Vivaan: We got approached by the Cricket Club of India to do a New Year’s Eve event at Brabourne Stadium, and it was huge! There were approximately 4,000 people and we played on a 40-foot stage. It was the biggest set-up we’ve had, with over 50 pieces of equipment and custom-made LED lights.

Shreya: It was also the first time we had costume changes, and I got to use the CO2 gun all night. It was crazy, by the end of the night we actually broke the stage because of all the dancing and jumping.

Vivaan, do you still play with your second band?
Vivaan: I do play a couple of gigs every month with the other band but they are very accommodating when I’m travelling, and have a substitute for when I can’t play with them.

What has surprised both of you about being in this industry?
Shreya: Firstly, that we made it. We actually became a real band, and people understand what we do and have fun with us. It’s actually really amusing because sometimes we don’t even understand ourselves. We’re just two crazy people, having fun! It’s also awesome that people trust us to play at their biggest functions, like the sangeet.

Vivaan: I’m also really surprised that 99 percent of the time, vegetarian and Jain families are fine with our name. Although, I do think we should get an extra board that says ‘Dhokla Masala’ instead.

What are your future plans and goals now?
Shreya: One of our goals is to spend more time in Thailand, which we are actively pursuing. This is actually the first country that we ever travelled to together, and we fell in love with the people and culture.

Vivaan: Our whole idea is to spend a few months of the year here and a few months in India. We want people to know that we are available to play in Thailand.

Shreya: Of course, another goal is to play at Coachella one day. Imagine ‘Chickeen Masala featuring Dua Lipa!’

How is it working with your spouse?
Shreya: We love breaking stereotypes and proving people wrong. I was actually Vivaan’s manager and a lot of people were against us dating and starting a band together. Initially, we had our doubts as well. Now I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Vivaan: I think it’s much easier to work with your partner because they know your weaknesses and there is no scope for competition. Even though we argue at times, the concert will not suffer at all. The gig will be a 100 percent although we may break a little more equipment.

Would you say there are any disadvantages to your job?
Shreya: At the end of the day we’re just like any other couple, and sometimes we want to finish solving our arguments, instead of getting on stage.

What advice would you give to people in the same industry?
Shreya: We’ve seen so many bands be their own destruction because they think they’re too big, but there are always people joining this industry and at no point are you ever ‘it’. Just be grateful for your experiences and always stay humble.

Vivaan: Do everything you did before. Keep booking economy seat tickets and stay humble because depression and anxiety follow when you feel like you’re getting used to a certain lifestyle that can be taken away at any time. Apart from that, don’t take social media too seriously, constantly learn and just chill, basically.