Indie pop-rock band drona is releasing its second album “keen eyes with a grim smile” this Friday. The local band is a family affair, consisting of three siblings, Arjuna, Surya and Pasha Raghu. Arjuna, 17, and Surya, 15, attend Hickman High School, and Pasha, 13, attends Jefferson Middle School. In addition to completing homework assignments, the siblings produce, write and master their own songs.

drona’s first album, “drona LP 1,” was released on New Years’ Day in 2022 and is composed of 13 songs written mostly by eldest sibling Arjuna. However, the new album is a more collaborative project with Pasha and Surya contributing to more songs. 

“We all write our songs separately, and then we ask each other to add a drum part, or a bass part, a vocal part,” Arjuna Raghu said.

Over the last year, drona has received greater attention from fans by playing local shows, as well as releasing an EP and various singles, many of which are featured on the upcoming album. Their growing audience helped motivate them to write songs for a more cohesive project, in addition to the Columbia music scene. 

Dave Elman, owner of Fretboard Coffee, donated his computer to the band so they could upgrade the quality of their production. The new equipment and increased collaboration allowed the members to more thoroughly plan how they wanted each song to sound before recording it.

The members branched out and explored different sounds while working on this new project. “Trading Fours,” a track on the new album, was mirrored after a  jazz technique where band members take turns performing solos for four bars. Arjuna also hinted at a solo acoustic guitar track and a hardcore metal inspired one on the album. 

“Over Your Head,” a song Arjuna and Surya collaborated on, is the metal inspired track that features a fast tempo — and some screaming.

“I blew my voice out after I recorded it because I was screaming so hard,” Arjuna explained.

The wide variety of music consumed by each band member is reflected in their music, with large influences from shoegaze and 90s indie rock. 

“We have such a wide range of influences that it’s kind of hard to say, ‘oh we’re just influenced by this one band,’” Pasha Raghu said. 

Beyond writing the music, the siblings also create their own album art. “keen eyes with a grim smile” features two creatures in front of coral with a blue sky background. Arjuna sculpted the clay figures, while Surya painted them and came up with the concept for the album cover. Pasha sculpted and painted the coral and the logo, later enhancing the image with digital editing.

According to Pasha, going to live concerts when they were younger is what inspired them to write their own music. Their mother, Betsy Raghu, raised the three siblings in a home constantly filled with music and instruments ready to be picked up. 

“It all just comes very naturally to them and to be able to share it, I think, and their confidence has increased and they know that people are listening,” Betsy Raghu said. “It’s really just a wonderful phenomenon to see.” 

Each of the siblings enjoy being creative with drona and sharing their music with others, but they eventually want to become doctors. 

However, the Raghu siblings plan to continue making and performing music in their free time. Their next performance will be an acoustic set on Feb. 3 at Fretboard Coffee from 6 to 9 p.m. celebrating the album release. They are also returning to the lineup at this year’s True/False Film Festival.

Edited by Savvy Sleevar | ssleevar@themaneater.com