Bhaveek Makan aka Skinny Local is a Calgary-based artist who makes music that feels like a half-remembered memory. Raised between South Africa and Canada and shaped by a background in filmmaking, his songs drift across cultures and genres, stitching lo-fi guitars, dusty drums, and old Bollywood fragments into something truly hypnotic. Sounds unique, right? That was exactly my experience when I sat down to review his latest album, Begin Again.
With 11 tracks (none over two and a half minutes) this album is a genre-bending journey. At first, you might think hmm… I’m not sure if I like this, until you catch yourself thinking wait, I actually love this. It’s strange, textured, and unexpectedly moving in places. It may ask for your patience but once you get past the initial skepticism, it’s worth it. Here’s what I found oddly comforting about this album.
The first song is titled dust storms, and it eases you in with a meditative drift. It picks up where the track Beloved from his previous album left off. You’ll hear a slowed-down version of Arijit Singh’s Kesariya sample with crackles, thunder, and a Shehnai. It’s ambient and might feel slightly stretched but still works as an evocative opener.
The second track, lost hearts is simple but wait until you hear the drums. It’s built on the few guitar chords the artist knows. A slowed, reverb-laced sample of Ae Dil Hai Mushkil plays beneath crisp electronic drums and static-dusted textures.
vancouver is bubbly and masterfully put together. Sampling the iconic song Agar Tum Saath Ho and sounds from the game DJ Max Portable 2, it’s nostalgic with playful glitch-pop textures like crackles, crinkles, and reverbed atmosphere. The mix is crisp and rich, even if the dense layers feel slightly overburdened at first. But give it a minute. It smooths out beautifully, evoking a vivid, emotional map of a city the artist once called home.
The next song, close your eyes is a trip-hop track with a 90s Bollywood vibe. It’s romantic, rich, and raw. The distorted guitar lines and beats hit just right. The sound is tight, the production is sharp, and it ends with voice samples that ground the emotion.
in between shifts gears completely. This interlude is darker, moodier, and gutsier. Sampling Bheegi Chandni Chhai Bekhudi, it blends retro Bollywood with warped, modern textures. I found the track to be quite bold and didn’t know what to expect next because of the way it’s put together.
elixir is a fast-slow trance piece, built around a reverbed sample of Maula Mere Maula. It’s moody, experimental, and feels like a kind of emotional release. Composed after losing a job he loved, Bhaveek has poured his heart into sound here and you’ll get a hint of that raw honesty.
diamond downpour feels like a chaotic calm in your heart. Built on heavy beats, nostalgia, and traditional Indian sounds, it’s a deeply personal track. It comes with footage from the time when his family immigrated to Canada in 2001.
The next track limbo is a jittery, jungle-rooted track built on uncertainty. It’s trancey and maintains that nostalgic vibe. It samples Geeta Dutt’s Yeh Lo Mein Haari Piya and follows the same tempo as the song before. It sort of spills into the next song passenger, a low-lit trip-hop that feels like driving through city streets with restless thoughts. It’s music for when you’re not sure where you’re going, but you keep walking anyway.
purpose, the penultimate track is short and full of quiet clarity. You’ll hear natural sounds and a grounded rhythm. It feels lighter, warmer, and more resolved. After all the chaos, this one sounds like finding your footing again.
next life closes the album on a reflective, almost meditative note. You’ll hear storm sounds and it has an ambient flow. It is also a quiet setup for what’s to come. I would say this kind of music might not be for everyone, but if you stay with it, there’s depth, beauty, and a rare sense of honesty. As a closing track and as an album Begin Again is a totally genre-defying experiment full of intent and feeling.
