Mumbai: Fever 104 FM has launched its latest initiative – ‘Off the Record’, to encourage original musical talent in Hindi music. Fever 104 FM intends to provide a platform for young artists and bands that are yet to be discovered.

Fever 104 FM will handpick promising talent from Delhi and offer them an opportunity to perform and jam with the established artists of the music world. Fever 104 FM station head (Delhi) Neeraj Chaturvedi says, "Fever ‘Off the Record’ has been conceived to promote the discovery of home grown music and performers, at the same time to give music fans in Delhi a chance to discover new music."

Amateur bands that can create music in Hindi can send in their demo CDs through post at the Fever 104 FM office. The bands will then be called for an audition and short listed by a team of experts. To be eligible, the entries need to have at least two songs recorded on audio recording software of one original song and one popular song with at least 70% Hindi lyrics.

Flagging off the event was a breath taking performance by Dhun, a young aspiring band who enthralled the crowd with their amazing range. Dhun got the opportunity to jam with Mrigya, the band that created history in Edinburgh Fringe Festival and Dubai International Festival. The band said, "No one till now has come up with such a format that really promotes original music by young artists so beautifully. Thanks to Fever 104 FM for this initiative and allowing us to kick-start the event. We had fun jamming with Indraneel from Mrigya and would be glad to play again for the cause."

Indraneel of Mrigya added, "Thanks for coming up with this great concept! I was honored to be a part of it and the experience in jammin’ with the Dhun boyz was good fun! I hope that more and more people support Fever, in their endeavor to promote young musicians from the city! God knows….. We need it!!"

The first event was very well attended. Valentine Shipley, who was a founder member of the Friends of Music club and has toured with Silk Route, also joined in with an impromptu performance and said, "It’s amazing to see how original music perception has changed in Delhi and India. It’s awesome to see the initiative taken to promote music and for radio stations like Fever 104 FM to become the vehicle, agent and catalyst for change."