W
hen the Yellow Diary land in Australia this May, it will not feel like a first meeting. For years, listeners here have been writing to the Mumbai-based band, asking them to come down under. The music has travelled ahead of them.
I caught up with the band on Zoom just before they packed their bags for Australia. It marks their first tour here, a moment they say has been a long time coming.
“We already have people who listen to our music and keep writing to us,” says vocalist Rajan Batra. “So it doesn’t feel like we are performing for an entirely new audience. But we are definitely looking forward to doing it for the first time.”
The band, known for blending Hindi poetry with a modern alt-rock and pop sound, is touring Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne with their debut album In Case We Forget. It is a long way from where they began in 2015, playing small gigs and asking friends to turn up.
“At our first show, we asked all our friends to come,” Rajan recalls. “We performed for them, and when they enjoyed it, that feeling stayed with us.”
That feeling, he says, has only grown over time. From those early shows to festival stages like NH7 Weekender, and now to international tours, the band has built what they call a “community” around their music.
“The community keeps giving,” he says. “When people sing back to us and feel the emotions we write about, it becomes very rewarding.”
At the heart of it all is the idea behind their name. The Yellow Diary is not just a band title, it is a way of thinking about their music.
“It comes from how the songs are written,” explains music producer and keyboardist Himonshu Parikh. “They come from personal experiences, thoughts, things you would journal. Like coming home and saying, ‘Dear diary, this is what happened today.’”
And the colour yellow?
“For us, yellow is a mysterious colour,” he says. “It looks happy, but it carries a range of emotions. From very dark to very bright. Every song is like a different page in that diary.”
That openness is what gives the band its sound. It is not something they sat down to design. “It is not something we searched for,” Himonshu says. “It is just who we are and what we listen to. We never say, ‘let’s sound like this’. We just express and see what comes out.”
Drummer Sahil Shah agrees that this mix is what connects with listeners, especially those outside India.
“There is always a bit of nostalgia when you are playing to an audience away from home,” he says. “But at the same time, we represent a modern sound. So it becomes a balance of both.”
That balance carries into their live shows. The band is known for stretching songs, playing with arrangements and building a strong connection with the audience.
“The crowd is the final piece of the puzzle,” Sahil says. “When they sing the songs back to us, everything feels complete. That is the biggest validation for us.”
Guitarist Harsh, the quietest of the group, puts it simply. “Music explains itself,” he says. “We don’t really need to explain it.”
The new album, In Case We Forget, leans into reflection. The title itself came from a moment of looking back.
“At first, it felt like we were writing diary entries,” Rajan says. “Now it feels like a journal of our journey. This album became a way to remember who we were when we wrote this music.”
The band has just come off a 60-show run across India, something Himonshu says has changed them as performers.
“We are constantly travelling together, living together,” he says. “It has made us tighter as a band, like a family. And we have realised that no matter which city we go to, there is a certain similarity in our audience.”
That sense of connection has also shaped their ambitions. Once seen as part of India’s independent music scene, the band now sees itself differently.
“When we started, we were doing everything ourselves,” Rajan says. “But over time, we found support from labels, brands, collaborators. I think we have moved beyond just being an independent band.”
He adds, “We want to become an Indian global act. To go to the biggest platforms and represent India.”
Australia is one step in that journey.
Asked what audiences here can expect, the answer is unanimous.
“All of the above,” Harsh says, when offered a choice between explosive and quiet.
Himonshu expands on that. “All their favourite songs, all the new songs, and a really electric live experience. It will be emotional. We love spending time with our listeners.”
And when they land?
“Beat the jet lag,” Sahil laughs.
“Go hug some koalas,” Rajan adds.
Himonshu has a simpler plan. “Get a burger straight away.”
Between the humour and the music, one thing is clear. The Yellow Diary is not just bringing a setlist to Australia. They are bringing a body of work built on memory, emotion and the quiet hope that someone, somewhere, will see themselves in it.
And if the messages they have been getting are anything to go by, Australia is ready to sing them back.
Catch The Yellow Diary live in Brisbane, Sydney & Melbourne this May. Tickets here.
Support Independent Community Journalism
Dear Reader,The Indian Sun exists for one reason: to tell stories that might otherwise go unheard.
We report on local councils, state politics, small businesses and cultural festivals. We focus on the Indian diaspora and the wider multicultural community with care, balance and accountability. We publish in print and online, send regular newsletters and produce video content. We also run media training programs to help community organisations share their own stories.
We operate independently.
Community journalism does not have the backing of large media corporations. Advertising revenue fluctuates. Platform algorithms change. Costs continue to rise. Yet the need for credible, grounded reporting in a multicultural Australia has never been greater.
When you support The Indian Sun, you support:
• Independent reporting on issues affecting migrant communities
• Coverage of local and state decisions that shape daily life
• A platform for small businesses and community groups
• Media training that builds skills within the community
• Journalism accountable to readers
We cannot cover everything, but we work to cover what matters.
If you value thoughtful reporting that reflects Australia’s diversity, we invite you to contribute. Every donation helps us maintain the quality and consistency of our work.
Please consider making a contribution today.
Thank you for your support.
The Indian Sun Team
