Aadya Jaswal, a singer and songwriter from Gurgaon, has been making way in the indie music space with her storytelling and delicate sound. Drawing inspiration from artists like Aurora and Lizzy McAlpine, her music blends indie folk and acoustic that feel both intimate and expansive. Having opened for Grammy-nominated artist Jamison Ross and performed at venues like The Piano Man Jazz Club, she has steadily built a name for herself in India’s growing independent music scene.
Her latest album, Sanctuary, shows her ability to wrap heavy themes into light, lingering melodies. This collection uses minimalism that cannot be seen unless you understand the nuances of complexity it brings with it. It drifts through the path of self-reflection, where longing and unspoken thoughts intertwine. In one of my favorite songs.
CAVERN, the lyrics carry a desperation, a need to be understood without the weight of grand gestures. The melody is warm yet melancholic, drifting like late-night thought you can’t shake. It’s simple, almost childlike in honesty, but that’s what makes it hit so hard. There’s a certain nature bound connection to the piece, as if the music itself moves along with the landscape. The instrumental lead is particularly striking, offering a sense of comfort that contrasts with the underlying unease. It’s a song that understands without overwhelming, a balance of vulnerability and restraint.
PARIAH means outcast, sounds upbeat yet with a bittersweet energy. Despite its minor key, the song radiates joy, celebrating the freedom of not caring about judgment. The vocals stand out as the emotional core, carrying boldness and warmth, making the message feel deeply personal. The rhythm keeps things moving, balancing introspection with a sense of release. It’s a song that doesn’t just acknowledge isolation; it transforms it into a sense of liberation.
AISHA is a dreamy, nature-soaked reflection on homesickness and renewal. The song effortlessly captures the longing to return to childhood wonder, painting vivid imagery of skies shifting colors and rain-soaked walks. There’s a hopefulness that is constructed through the melody, like a promise of something new. The instrumentation mirrors this sentiment, flowing with an organic warmth that feels both grounding and fragile. It’s a song that doesn’t just describe nature, it lets you step into it, feel it, and get lost in it.
DREAMS is a delicate interplay between worry and reassurance. The contrast in emotion – concern laced with the warmth of a smile – gives the song a layered depth, making it feel intimate and deeply human. The melody carries a soft unease, yet there’s a softness that keeps it from slipping into darkness completely. With its subtle storytelling and evocative feel, Dreams lingers like a half-remembered thought, both distant and achingly close.
Dark, fast, and unrelenting, HOODED FIGURE builds an atmosphere with urgency. It carries a deceptive melody, its lullaby-like simplicity contrasting with the eerie, detached undertones. The drums amplify the song’s tension, making it feel like a chase. The lyrics paint surreal world figures lurking, skies darkening, a sense of something unseen but ever-present. The rapid tempo mirrors the racing thoughts of unease, pulling the listener into its eerie intensity.
ANOUSHKA is a reflection on lost innocence and dreamlike imagery with an undercurrent of quiet sorrow. The mellow piano and ethereal instrumentation create a delicate contrast—floating between warmth and disappointment. There’s a deep sense of longing in the lyrics, a search for the light that once was. The song feels like a whispered confession, tender yet aching, lingering long after the last note fades.
READY STEADY GO captures the weight of insecurity and inner turmoil, wrapped in a dynamic yet vulnerable sound. The contrast between urgency, hesitation and racing thoughts collide with an inability to move, creating a push-and-pull tension throughout the track. It’s raw, deeply personal, and remains like the echo of a moment where everything feels both too fast and too still.
Another one of my favorites, TO TRY is a beautifully persistent anthem of struggle and hope, its orchestral elements adding a unique depth to the sound. The catchy, looping bassline mirrors the cycle of effort and setbacks in the subconscious. The lyrics capture the exhaustion of being stuck yet refusing to give up, making the song feel deeply personal and universally relatable. Its gentle yet determined energy reminds us that progress, no matter how slow, is still movement—one step at a time.
Aadya’s music holds a unique contradiction: mellow, wistful melodies paired with lyrics that reveal an underlying self-awareness, a quiet but persistent search for identity and connection. The songs feel like a conversation with yourself, the kind where thoughts drift in and out, trying to make sense of change.
