Soubhik Barari, unapologetic and uncensored

Junior Soubhik Barari is the modern renaissance man -- a bad boy in a band who specializes in computer science and romance. He is redefining what it means to be in a band in college, managing his time well so that neither work nor play is sacrificed; the only victim is sleep.

Barari came to Tufts a well-rested and eager student of art; his college application was accompanied by portfolio pieces from junior and senior year of high school. While back then he cultivated the more mysterious, sensitive artist look, at Tufts Barari decided to change his image. When he began his freshman year in college, he became the smart guy in a band.

“The girls notice you more when you’re playing the guitar rather than painting, ” he said.

Barari plays the guitar for Tufts-born band Indian Twin, and described its interesting origin.

“I was on the roommate search portal and I found this guy who was really into skating and The Smiths, so I chatted him up for a little and we became roommates,” Barari said.

"That guy" was Will Freeman, a bass player and vocalist, and together the pair found the band's third and final member, fellow junior Thomas Colgrove (drums/vocals), roaming Lewis Hall and beatboxing to Wu-Tang Clan.Barari rather obnoxiously suggested Colgrove listen to The Smiths instead; the rest is history.

Barari subsequently carved an important role for himself in the Tufts underground music scene. He feels that although Tufts itself doesn’t really provide many resources for bands to thrive, the Medford/Somerville area cultivates a very creative and vibrant community through its many basement venues. Tufts bands have always found a home at the Crafts House, Fort Warner and the Crane Room, working with Applejam Productions to put on great shows. Barari has also found that Tufts students in general listen to the type of music that he enjoys playing -- lo-fi indie rock -- which has helped him achieve the mild success he now enjoys on campus. Unfortunately, the relaxed attitude this genre promotes prevents the band from making any long-term decisions and has thus left Barari uncertain about the future.

“Will is going abroad in the spring, which is surely going to dampen our meteoric rise to fame,” he said.

In addition to all the things he has undertaken, Barari has also begun a solo project as insurance for the possible dissolution of the band.