Northlane’s long-awaited India tour brought them to three cities filled with love, energy, and a few surprises. We caught up with the band to talk music, memories, and everything in between.
A day after their closing show in Bengaluru, we caught up with Marcus Bridge, Josh Smith, and Nic Pettersen, the members of metalcore band Northlane, for a chat that was as relaxed as it was revealing. Still fresh off their three-city India tour, the band was processing the whirlwind of crowd energy, mall-stage oddities, and yes, cows on highways.
The Band Talks About Their Long-Awaited India Tour Experience
“It’s been great… quite a culture shock for us. But the shows have been great. The food’s been great. Yeah, it’s a pretty good time.”
Josh followed it up with his highlight of the trip.
“The food’s been phenomenal. Also, the audience. You guys are so f*ing happy to see us.”
But the culture shock was real.
“Just driving on the road. It’s lawless,” said Marcus, laughing. Nic added, “No rules. It’s crazy. I’m shocked we didn’t see anyone crash. Everyone seems so comfortable—it’s organized chaos.” Josh chimed in too, recalling a moment near the airport in Delhi. “There was a cow just chilling on the freeway. Everybody was just driving around it like it was totally normal,” he laughed.
Between the chaos and the calm, the cities left different impressions. In Delhi, the crowd sang so loudly that Marcus lost track of where he was in the song. In Mumbai, they played inside a shopping mall, an experience they called surreal.
“We’re in a big mall playing in the middle of a shopping center. It would never happen anywhere else in the world,” said Marcus.
Josh recalled the incident that happened later that day:
“We went bowling and someone requested ‘Bleed’ by Meshuggah. And they actually played it. Loud. The whole song. Kids and families just looking around like, what the f***!”
Between cities and soundchecks, the band found time to unwind with games. Marcus pulled out a Game Boy-style emulator the moment we walked in.
“Fortnite every now and then. Path of Exile—been playing that exclusively for months… And yeah, I play Cricket 24 too. It’s glitchy and buggy, but that makes it more fun.”
Northlane’s Reputation for Explosive Live Shows Is Less Strategy, More Connection
“When the band started, it was a very hardcore sort of setting, lots of people moshing and fight dancing,” Nic said. Over time, their sound evolved—and so did the crowd.
“We feed off the crowd, and they feed off us. And now that we’ve got more dance elements, it adds a whole other party side to it,” he added.
Josh pointed to influences like The Prodigy.
“Seeing energy like that, when stuff gets out of hand in a good way, it’s this awesome feeling. People get loose, and they remember it.”
Marcus reflected on what it meant to be on the other side of the stage.
“As a kid, I loved getting into it. It was very cathartic… knowing how that felt and being able to provide that for others—that’s really cool.”
Their aesthetic philosophy, though, stays understated.
The Band’s Take on Costumes and Stage Presence
“I think when there’s less to try and attach yourself to, the music speaks louder,” said Marcus when asked about bands with elaborate costumes.
Josh traced the legacy of masked and costumed acts, from Slipknot to Kiss.
“It’s cool to see creativity come out visually in a way that matches the other parts of their art.”
Even without full-costume personas, the band leans into subtle transformation.
“Once I’ve got my stage clothes on, I’m like, alright—now I’m the frontman. It’s a character in a way,” said Marcus.
Nic agreed.
“It helps you get a bit weirder… lean further into the art because it separates you from your identity.”
Nic Opens Up About Shaping His Sound from Behind the Kit
Behind the scenes, Nic is also experimenting with blending acoustic and electronic percussion.
“You have to push the beat more for the dance songs… we use triggers for gating the sound and add EDM-style kick samples live,” he explained.
On how it changes his playing:
“I sit behind the beat for heavier songs to make it drag a bit… but I push for the electronic ones to give it that drive.”
He also plays around with physical modifications.
“I use little tambourine rings on my hi-hats sometimes… And you can change snare tone quickly with these big snare rings.”
From Riffs to Reports: How Josh Keeps Northlane Running
While Nic experiments with rhythm, Josh handles the rhythm of the band’s business.
“Very stressful,” he said about managing Northlane. “I never wanted to manage bands. I just didn’t trust anyone else to do it the right way.”
He eventually started his own management company—Open Door Management.
“I studied economics and marketing. It wasn’t about making money—it was about doing it for the right reasons.”
And yet, performing remains his escape.
“Playing in the band is my little holiday… it’s where I really see the payoff.”
Marcus Opens Up About Life Off Stage
Marcus, meanwhile, values peace over performance when he’s off the road.
“Perfect day? Pretty boring. Wake up, walk the dog, play PlayStation, hang with my partner… just chill. I’m a simple guy.”
That simplicity follows him off stage, too.
“I’d say I’m more of an introvert. Once I get to know people, I open up. But overall, I like quiet.”
Even his fitness routine, rock climbing, started casually.
“The rental shoes weren’t cutting it… So I got proper ones. Now I climb a few times a week when I’m home.”
When asked about his favorite track to play live, Marcus doesn’t hesitate.
“Bloodline… just feels right. And the crowd always responds to it.”
Least favorite?
“Clarity—not because I dislike it. It’s just a brutal one to do 50 minutes into the set with no break. So much fast screaming.”
Before signing off, Marcus left a note for the fans.
“Thanks for waiting so long for us to come to India. If you were at the show, I hope you enjoyed it. We’ll see you soon.”
As the conversation wound down, the three of them leaned back, still carrying the dust and delight of those three unforgettable nights. Jet lag may have caught up with them, but so had the quiet satisfaction of finally making it to a place where the love had been waiting for years. India got its Northlane moment, and it was well worth the wait.
