Shyamli Panda

Tattoo Artist — Gurgaon

01Profile

A Shyamli Panda Photo

03Interview

Name, where are you from? 
Shyamli Panda, I’m from Orissa but grew up in Gurgaon.

What do you do? 
I work as a tattoo artist, and outside of work, I like to paint and write comics.

Describe your style in three words?
Moody, mismatched, casual.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Moodyman.

If you could put any three bands in history on a lineup?
LCD Soundsystem, Pet Shop Boys and Stereolab.

Which subcultures have influenced you?
So many! All in small quantities- Bohemian, Hippie, Punk, Hip Hop, Soft Grunge, Norm Core, Comic books, Emo and none of these as well. There've been many that have appeared briefly in my life over the years but rarely do they have a lasting impact.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Anthony Bourdain.

Where is your favourite independent venue?
The Moog, in Barcelona. It's seedy, salacious and small. I love small venues.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Well, I don’t know if any of my heroes or heroines are unsung but Kate Bush comes to mind. She’s an absolute megastar who broke into the 1970s UK scene with her aggressively unique sound that didn’t give a sh*t about what was prevalent in the industry then and stood fast by her weird cheesy unsettling dance moves. I love everything about her but it's especially her fearlessness.

04Playlist Notes

The first track you played on repeat?
'Fever' by Peggy Lee. I was a child then and loved the part about Captain Smith and Pocahontas.

A song that defines the teenage you?
'Butterfly' by Crazy Town.

One record you would keep forever?
'Revolver' by The Beatles. It reminds of my long road trips with my parents.

A song lyric that has inspired you?
It’s been a while since I’ve truly paid attention to the lyrics of any song, I do find I LOVE the lyrics of the song 'Despair, Hangover & Ecstasy' by The Do...

"we're breaking promises we thought we could keep
we trigger avalanches unknowingly."

A song you wished you had written?
'Despair, Hangover & Ecstacy' by The Do.

Best song to turn up loud?
'Oblivion' by Grimes.

A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
'Jenny From The Block' by Jennifer Lopez.

A song to get you straight on the dance floor?
'Bum Like You' by Robyn.

Best song to end an all-nighter?
'Homesick' by DJ Koze + Ada.

Any new bands you’re into at the moment?
I can’t think of any NEW bands as such but I really enjoyed Ambika Nayak and OAFF's music collaboration recently on the single 'Heavy Headed'. I also recently revisited Yo La Tengo and The War on Drugs and have them playing in the backgrounds on some days.

03Interview

Name, where are you from? 
Shyamli Panda, I’m from Orissa but grew up in Gurgaon.

What do you do? 
I work as a tattoo artist, and outside of work, I like to paint and write comics.

Describe your style in three words?
Moody, mismatched, casual.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Moodyman.

If you could put any three bands in history on a lineup?
LCD Soundsystem, Pet Shop Boys and Stereolab.

Which subcultures have influenced you?
So many! All in small quantities- Bohemian, Hippie, Punk, Hip Hop, Soft Grunge, Norm Core, Comic books, Emo and none of these as well. There've been many that have appeared briefly in my life over the years but rarely do they have a lasting impact.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Anthony Bourdain.

Where is your favourite independent venue?
The Moog, in Barcelona. It's seedy, salacious and small. I love small venues.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Well, I don’t know if any of my heroes or heroines are unsung but Kate Bush comes to mind. She’s an absolute megastar who broke into the 1970s UK scene with her aggressively unique sound that didn’t give a sh*t about what was prevalent in the industry then and stood fast by her weird cheesy unsettling dance moves. I love everything about her but it's especially her fearlessness.

04Playlist Notes

The first track you played on repeat?
'Fever' by Peggy Lee. I was a child then and loved the part about Captain Smith and Pocahontas.

A song that defines the teenage you?
'Butterfly' by Crazy Town.

One record you would keep forever?
'Revolver' by The Beatles. It reminds of my long road trips with my parents.

A song lyric that has inspired you?
It’s been a while since I’ve truly paid attention to the lyrics of any song, I do find I LOVE the lyrics of the song 'Despair, Hangover & Ecstasy' by The Do...

"we're breaking promises we thought we could keep
we trigger avalanches unknowingly."

A song you wished you had written?
'Despair, Hangover & Ecstacy' by The Do.

Best song to turn up loud?
'Oblivion' by Grimes.

A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
'Jenny From The Block' by Jennifer Lopez.

A song to get you straight on the dance floor?
'Bum Like You' by Robyn.

Best song to end an all-nighter?
'Homesick' by DJ Koze + Ada.

Any new bands you’re into at the moment?
I can’t think of any NEW bands as such but I really enjoyed Ambika Nayak and OAFF's music collaboration recently on the single 'Heavy Headed'. I also recently revisited Yo La Tengo and The War on Drugs and have them playing in the backgrounds on some days.