Music today is hardly just about the music. There are videos, live shows, merchandise, brand endorsements and creative outputs attached to it. In this universe of performances, art has often played a key promotional role. Contemporary music bands all across the world are driven by album art, live projection art and fan art, just as much as by their musical prowess. "I remember the Mumbai performance of the English band Porcupine Tree a few years ago. Their music is fabulous, but their performance was taken many notches higher by the amazing art work that formed the stage background," says 23-year-old researcher and music buff Sheila Nair. Indian bands, currently swept up in a whirlwind of smart experimentation, have often innovated with art work as well. A small coterie of these performers feels that art can run parallel to rhythm .

Bengaluru-based alternative music band, The Bicycle Days' (TBD) art work for their maiden EP was as colour-soaked and energetic as their music. Vocalist Karthik Basker was initially inspired to commission an art work inspired by The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy one-and-a-half years back. "It is a good medium to represent us and our music," he feels. The brilliantly multi-coloured image is both smart and unrefined at the same time. "It's a lot personal sometimes, and universal as well. It is about our state of mind, and also the meaning of our songs," he says.

While bands like TBD may employ one, or even multiple, artists for their art work, some band have members themselves producing intimate sketches of their work. Gaurav Basu, vocalist of the metal band Inner Sanctum, puts pen to paper often to bring out solid portrayals of their music, and does illustrations for other bands as well. The edgy works often adorn posters and flyers, and become symbols of their heavy music. "It adds another element to our music," agrees Chintan Chinnappa, guitarist. "We try to have a different poster or flyer for every show and give it to the organisers to add a personal touch. I think bands don't understand that the experience has to be audio-visual. Album covers are as important as the songs inside." Bengaluru-based alternative rock band Lounge Piranha too has often led the way in introducing images that represent their music.