British India formed when Melbourne high school friends Declan Melia and Nic Wilson met Will Drummond and Matt O’Gorman through mutual friends, and asked them to join the band. Social misfits in school, the quartet began to jam together, playing work by their favourite bands; Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, The Beatles, Blur, and Starsailor. The band’s name was originally noticed by Wilson on a b-side by Strawberry Alarm Clock.

British India exploded onto the Australian pop scene in July 2007 with their debut album Guillotine and followed just 12 months later with their 2nd album Thieves.
“Guillotine’ picked up the gong for ‘Best Independent release’ at the 2007 AIR AWARDS and Thieves debuted at #5 in the national ARIA Album Chart and #1 in the AIR chart. The album s was nominated for ‘Best Independent Release’ at the 2008 ARIA Awards.

The band is notable for their single “Tie Up My Hands”, taking the number one spot in the jtv music television programme, with their debut album Guillotine produced by Harry Vanda. Guillotine was also nominated for Triple J’s J Award in 2007 and in December of that year British India won the AIR Award for ‘Best New Independent Artist’. In April and May of 2008 the band entered Flashpoint studios once again to record their new album - “Theives".

Now in 2008 the guys are not only ARIA nominees but one of Australia's biggest indie rock band and they're hitting the road in June 2009 before retiring to the studio to work on their next album – due for release in early 2010.
Catch these guys before the re-enter the recording studio for winter hibernation!