There’s a flood of releases every week in the Indian independent music scene. In case you missed it, here are some of our standout picks—from the return of Shillong band Sky Level and the debut single of singer-songwriter Nuarma, to the percussion-meets-rap of Ta Dhom Project and the deep house-inspired pop of Prateek Bhaduri, among others.
Karan Khosla – “Flux”
On his third single, “Flux,” Goa-based guitarist-composer Karan Khosla teams up with pianist Aki Spadaro, trumpeter Michael Kobetz, bassist Diego Soldi, and drummer Santiago Ortola to give us heartwarming, high-energy jazz. A co-founder of the Goa Jazz Academy, Khosla says about his current run of singles, “My mission is not only to push my own artistic boundaries, but also to contribute to a thriving music culture in India. I’ve learned that staying true to your vision is what matters most, even when people say you don’t fit into any boxes. If the right space doesn’t exist, you create your own.”
Iram – “Yaad”
Bengaluru-based band Iram have released their first single of the year, revisiting their roots in the process. Often known for their quieter songs in the singer-songwriter vein, “Yaad” brings their rock origins to the front. As frontman Neil Simon tells us, it was the first song he wrote about 20 years ago. “After a few guitar lessons and learning a few chords, I came up with a chord progression which was honestly very basic, but the song still holds a very special place as it’s the first,” he says.
Twin Strings – “Mahi Mere Mahi”
Pop-rock band Twin Strings have somewhat become known for their love songs, so they embrace that identity with a wedding song called “Mahi Mere Mahi.” Complete with a tabla, dhol, as well as electronic elements, the song has an intimate feeling that only comes from talking about matters of the heart. The band says in a statement, “This song is for anyone who believes in the beauty of organic and destined love stories. It captures the essence of two souls drawn together by fate, growing from a simple connection into something truly magical. We hope it becomes a soundtrack for all those who believe in the magic of love.”
Shreya Sharma, Shefali Alvares – “Fikran”
Singer-composer Shreya Sharma calls on seasoned voice Shefali Alvares and producer Mazza On The Track for a club-friendly song called “Fikran,” which also features a co-write with artist Mitika Kanwar. Sharma says, “‘Fikran’ is a song sung through the lens of a bold woman unafraid to express her desires for a man she craves. I had written and envisioned this track to be a duet between two female vocalists, and at the right moment happened to send Shefali Alvares a scratch. Within two days, she recorded her verse in Mumbai and breathed life into this song!” It’s an unexpected collab that claims space and we can definitely do with more of these bops.
February 31st, Ink of Bard – “Learned to Live”
Dreamy and melancholic in the way that they’re known to be, folk trio Ink of Bard and producer-guitarist February 31st’s latest, “Learned to Live.” Drawing from dream-pop, the song explores “self-acceptance, embracing limitations as strengths, and moving forward,” according to the artists. Singer-songwriter Anokha Kumar is confessional, going over post-punk and shoegaze production flourishes, including tape loops by Lakshman Parsuram aka February 31st and Ink of Bard’s Apurv Agrawal. Recorded between 2022 and 2024 at Parsuram’s home studio, the song was mastered by Mumbai sound engineer Ayan De.
Ta Dhom Project – “There Ain’t No Borders”
Percussionist, producer, and educator Viveick Rajagopalan’s Ta Dhom Project’s latest song “There Ain’t No Borders” is a multilingual, power-packed fusion of hip-hop and Indian percussive force, including mridangam, dhol, and more. There’s bars in Hindi by MC Khoj, in Tamil by ArtsLord and in Awadhi and Bhojpuri by MC Dehaati, joined by dhol players Swarangi Savdekar and Yamini Khamkar, bassist Sayar Mitra and more. The group says the song’s lyrics are their interpretation of a thought put forward by Rajagopalan. He says, “When everything that constitutes nature is all one and so much is about how the human mind is conditioned to perceive things, why then do we create so many boundaries, in our minds and hearts?”
Pratzapp – “Did It In A Flow”
After establishing himself with a multi-genre album called There Is No Tomorrow in 2023, Bengaluru-based producer Pratzapp, aka Pratap Chandraa has been digging into pop-trap experiments with singles like “Locked Out” and “Rockin’ The Show.” The third in the series, “Did It In A Flow” takes a page out of the hedonic melodic rap movement, sharing stories of focus and flexing hard-earned wins.
Ashwin Shriyan, Nishith Hegde – “Humnasheen”
Mumbai-based artists Ashwin Shriyan and Nishith Hegde have a collaborative streak that dates back to their days in extreme metal band Demonic Resurrection, but their output in recent years has been more about expansive, emotive pop. “Humnasheen” is their most recent offering, with lyrics written by Rohit Joshi, composed by Shriyan, and vocals by Hegde. Shriyan says, “According to Rohit, it’s an intimate conversation between a man and his heart, where he pleads for a departure from past missteps.”
Vishwi, Sama Thakore – “Thodi Der”
Bengaluru-based singer-composer and producer Vishwi teams up with vocalist Sama Thakore for an intimate, conversational duet complete with folksy, twinkly guitar melodies and a music video featuring a couple in the middle of a difficult goodbye. Vishwi, who has also put out songs in Tamil and Kannada, says, “‘Thodi Der’ is not a cliche song about heartbreak. It’s about being grateful for the wonderful memories rather than focusing on the fact that the relationship is coming to an end. It’s about making maximum use of that last ‘thodi der’ with the person you love!”
Topshe – “Things Don’t Change”
Soon after becoming known as the music composer behind the acclaimed Indian film All We Imagine As Light, Kolkata singer-songwriter Topshe revisits his signature indie sound with a philosophical song called “Things Don’t Change.” Through distinctive vocals and psychedelic-synth meets guitar combo, Topshe laments how “people go, friends will stay” in a comforting song about change always creeping up on you in the long run.
Komodo Jane – Scud City EP
New Delhi rock band Komodo Jane have been around the block since they got together in 2021, including a high-energy set at crowdfunded music festival Control Alt Delete in Mumbai last year. Now, their full EP Scud City is out, packing in razor-sharp riffs, shouty anthemic vocal hooks and the groovy pulse of post-hardcore, metal and rock and roll. Right from the slap of “Trigger Finger” to the tribute to home on the title track, fuzzy riffs on “Rules Rules” and the ballad-like “Forever,” Komodo Jane close Scud City with a loud and dominating finale on “The Distance,” making it clear that they’re here for the long run.
Chizai – “Loop”
Japanese artist, trombone player, and trumpeter Chie Nishikori-led band Chizai serve up a blues-rock song on “Loop,” anchored in an anecdote about love gone awry. In addition to Nishikori’s understated but impactful trombone, Sultan Aftab Khan brings a mournful story, while Kartik Chandel rips out a couple of stellar guitar solos, complete with trippy green-screen visuals. Nishikori says, “This blues-rock song explores themes of disorientation while feeling stuck in a cycle of remorse, self-doubt, and introspection. It’s essentially an apology written from the point of view of a woeful man in love.”
Punch.M – “Solora”
Producer Punch.M’s songs have always been worlds unto themselves, whether it’s the nostalgia of “Shree 420” or his 2024 EP Roots. As it turns out, that project was Punch.M “sowing a seed of my new sound.” It’s led to “Solora,” a richly-layered tune that’s the first of many that will arguably bear this atmospheric quality. He says, “‘Solora’ (and other upcoming singles) are the flowers that have bloomed out of this experience. It’s a song that represents both personal growth and the endless dance between shadow and light.”
Sky Level – “The Door Way Beyond”
After years of radio silence owing to the pandemic and lineup changes, Shillong instrumental rock band Sky Level return with a searing, cinematic intensity on “The Door Way Beyond.” Drawing from post-rock, math-rock, and more, guitarists Sonny Taba and Meban Steven Lyngdoh trade layers, riffs and melodies like a relay team, while drummer Denzil Wati and bassist Pynshai Kharshandi hold down the grooves. It’s a welcome return to form.
Anant Goyal – “Lines We Drew”
Uttarakhand-based singer-songwriter Anant Goyal has an unmistakable pastoral quality that can perhaps only come from living among the hills. It’s enhanced by Ahmedabad-based producer Raag Sethi, who also mixed and mastered the track. Goyal asks straightforward questions and bares his heart to voice his anxieties with lines like “Walking on the ice, praying it doesn’t melt.” Goyal says the song came to him in 2022, when he was struggling with a creative block. He adds, “Little did I know a few lines would eventually turn out to be something I’ll be proud of. The song is super personal, and it almost feels like sharing a part of me with the world out there, but what an incredible feeling it is. Songwriting is therapeutic, and I’m extremely fortunate to be able to experience this.”
Prateek Bhaduri – “Yahaan”
We’ve already seen pop take to house music in new ways all over the world. Closer home, Pune-bred singer-songwriter Prateek Bhaduri offers his deep house-informed, dancefloor pop song “Yahaan.” Bhaduri lends his sublime vocals to lyrics in Hindi and Punjabi about longing and heartbreak. He adds glitz with a music video that’s all about luxurious cars and even a private plane, but professes its emptiness without his lover.
Orlando Ambrose – “Maaro”
The Indian Premier League may be wrapping up soon, and Chennai Super Kings may be at the bottom of the table, but that doesn’t mean they couldn’t use some cheer as they fight for glory. Singer-songwriter Orlando Ambrose provides exactly that on “Maaro,” joined by vocalist Raaj. Ambrose brings Tamil rap on the EDM-inspired fan track, name-checking some of the team’s major stars, from M.S. Dhoni to R. Ashwin and more.
IP Singh, Danish Renzu – “Jeele Zarra”
Kashmiri filmmaker and music entrepreneur Danish Renzu turns lyricist and composer on “Jeele Zarra,” made with singer IP Singh (from pop-rock band Faridkot) and producer Dixit Seth. Released via his Jammu and Kashmir-focused label Renzu Music, the Hindi and Urdu lyrics lend themselves to a story of a wanderer who is urged to roam further into different parts of the world and find peace.
Nikita Ahuja – “Kehta Tha”
Just around the halfway mark of singer-songwriter Nikita Ahuja’s new song “Kehta Tha,” producer Sharan Rawat flips the beat, and the artist dives even deeper into the waves of despair in love and loss. It makes the song a shapeshifting pop offering from the singer. “This song means so much to me because it captures the heartbreak of knowing the truth but still wanting to believe otherwise. I wrote it two years ago during a painful breakup, but I chose to release it only after allowing myself time to heal,” Ahuja adds.
Nuarma – “You Again”
New Delhi singer-songwriter and producer Nuarma’s debut single “You Again” is enriched with her years in a cappella music, which probably explains why her vocal melodies sound fresh and energetic at every turn. The artist adopts a fairytale-like cadence in a few hooks as she warns fellow women to steer clear of an ex, with the song anchored by strong basslines and rhythms.
Us and I – “Crushed”
Now based in Germany, Indian duo Us and I released their first material since the 2021 EP Loveless with a bright new song “Crushed.” Holding on to their synth-pop and new wave/post-punk influences, the song quickly shifts from its hyped up energy to a familiar melancholy. The duo says, “‘Crushed’ thrusts you in a crystal capsule where the lull of a bittersweet spell and the deluge of impeccable love caresses your every bone. And yet when the virulent pain of this beautiful guise emerges again, you seek to escape this perfect dream, lest you’re crushed to death.”
Shaun Moses – “Groove Therapy”
DJ-producer Shaun Moses offers two new original mixes on his new EP Groove Therapy—the title track and “Genesis,” along with a remix of the former by Luigi Madonna. Moses zeroes in on raw, pulsating techno, with relentless grooves to back him up. He says, “The title track delivers a hypnotic rhythm and immersive soundscapes, embodying my signature deep and atmospheric production. Complementing this, the B-side, ‘Genesis,’ offers a dynamic journey through layered textures and compelling beats.”