Why would John Leckie, one of the most high-profile record producers of Britain who has worked with popular bands like Radiohead, The Verve and Kula Shaker, fly down to India? Well, to choose his own fab four from the country.

When the British Council began the project Soundpad in November last year, the intention — to showcase the best of Indian rock ’n’ roll — must have caused a chuckle in some quarters. But that was precisely what got Leckie and producer Dan Austin interested and to begin the talent hunt. “I decided to be a part of this only because it involved bands from India. I was curious to get to know the local talent that has been creating some buzz around the world,” says Leckie, who has been spending all his time at the Yash Raj Studios, staying up until late night, recording with his new finds: Delhi bands Advaita and Indigo Children (previously The Superfuzz), Mumbai’s Medusa and Bangalore’s Swarathma.

Leckie, who started his career at Abbey Road and worked with Pink Floyd (Meddle and Wish You Were Here) and the Beatles John Lennon (Plastic Ono Band) and George Harrison (All Things Must Pass), has seen and heard the best of Brit rock scene. Now, he has fast-forwarded through Indian rock as well, listening to over 40 bands from across the country. While he was inspired by his chosen four, he brutally says that several others were nothing short of pomposity “It is essential for a producer to be inspired by the music of the artist he is going to work with and these four bands did give me something that I wanted to delve deeper into,” says Leckie.

While the barefaced rock of Indigo Children and the electronica of Medusa reminded Leckie of the artists in the UK, he was impressed by Swarathma’s theatrical display of Indian folk weaved into Kannada and Hindi lyrics and the serious fusion of Advaita.

Each band has recorded two tracks with Leckie, and an album and a tour are well on the way. The album, British Council’s Soundpad, which will be released early next year, will have tracks such as Advaita’s Colourful and Just enough, Indigo Children’s Sing to me and Swarathma’s Jamba and Yeshu Allah aur Krishna.