The Indian independent music landscape thrives on diversity, with artists embracing regional roots while exploring global sounds. This roundup brings together everything from intimate acoustic songs to cross-continental instrumental numbers, celebrating the wide spectrum of voices shaping today’s indie scene.
tofy – OMKAR
tofy is a minimal acoustic piece that leans heavily into a cosy atmosphere. The arrangement avoids any flashy production tricks, relying instead on delicate strums and a quiet, comforting mood that perfectly mirrors the beautiful feeling of falling in love with someone.
Snow – UJJWAL
Stepping into the arena with his first official release, Ujjwal offers a minimalistic melancholic song with Snow. It explores the emotional friction caused by physical separation, lingering attachments, and the mental imagery we carry of people who are no longer around.
Pattup Luwa – Kanseng Ronrang, Roem Jangloo
Singing in the Tangsa Ronrang dialect, the song delivers a deeply moving chapter centred on enduring devotion. Featuring commendable vocals from Kanseng Ronrang and Roem Jangloo, the track balances ancestral heritage with a polished, modern alternative sound.
Walking Sunlight – Radhika Mohite, Dhruv Visvanath, JK
Walking Sunlight handles the heavy theme of navigating loss and finding solace in the simple things around us. A true group effort between Radhika Mohite, Dhruv Visvanath, and JK, the song splits into two distinct vocal interpretations, one by Radhika and one by Dhruv, giving listeners two different ways to experience Walking Sunglight.
Back To The Roots – SUVI, Duke Mushroom, B.K.L.A
An eclectic, multi-lingual track that weaves together English, Tamil, and touches of Malayalam. Backed by a deep electronic bass line and Peruvian bamboo flute, the song creates a sprawling, spiritual environment that encourages breaking free from internal pride to find your true essence.
Lamhein – Theophany Gajpal, Abhinay
Lamhein is a melodically rich song that tackles the bittersweet reality of a couple running out of time. Rather than despairing over an inevitable end, the song uses its gentle, soaring melody to focus entirely on freezing the present, embracing the remaining hours, and creating a beautiful memory to hold onto.
Aage Peeche – Raghav Meattle, Kamakshi Khanna & Bulli Bainbridge
Aage Peeche is a reimagining of modern Hindi indie pop that pulls rich inspiration from neo-funk and soul along with classic Bollywood string lines. The song dissects the friction between two people moving at completely different speeds in a romance. Even while navigating the chaos of misaligned love, the production bounces with a youthful energy.
A Shared Shrine – Ludovico Failla, Rajarshi Sengupta
In a display of cross-cultural fusion, this instrumental piece is based on reworking Kedo, a traditional Mandé folk song from West Africa, pairing it with Raag Bhimpalasi mixed with a touch of Raag Yaman. At its core, the song aims at promoting peace and collaboration between religions and cultures.
Places I Find You In – Frizzell D’Souza, Abdon Mech
Places I Find You In delivers a slow-burning, intricate experience that targets a very specific kind of emotional space, the memory of something you can’t quite pinpoint. Its unhurried acoustic framework and soft rock sensibilities combine to leave listeners with a lingering feeling of homesickness for an unknown time or person.
Daydream Drift – Ujjwal Rishi
An absolute treat for fans of technical musicianship, this EP delivers a blend of progressive rock, funk, and fusion. It’s a release that taps into the distinct “prog-fusion” territory pioneered by acts like Polyphia and Plini, where a groovy Spanish guitar riff can smoothly pivot into a heavy metal breakdown in a matter of seconds.
Summer’s Calling – Anjali Manoharan
Conceived during the height of mandatory isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic, this song channels a deep longing for open skies. It utilises a gentle Bossa Nova bounce to paint a vivid picture of how an individual would spend an ideal, unrestricted afternoon out in the sun.
MONé – Lucid Dreams
A beautiful exercise in artistic restraint, the 11-track album functions less like a standard playlist and more like a hazy, disorienting atmosphere. The music leans into a compelling contrast of stillness and momentum, letting each piece drift naturally without any forced conclusions. In simple words, it’s an unguarded offering that relies entirely on how the listener perceives it as.
Elephant – MILI, Joe Satriani, Vinnie Colaiuta, James Genus, Jeff Babko
Elephant is an absolute powerhouse of a song that kicks off with traditional temple bells before exploding into driving rhythms. This rock single brings together a global lineup, pairing MILI with Joe Satriani, Vinnie Colaiuta, James Genus, and Jeff Babko while taking listeners on a musical ride centred on themes of journeying and longing.
Kyun – Anchit Magee, Aditya Shukla
With a deep dive into the questions that keep us awake in quiet moments, Kyun delivers a powerful blend of soft rock elements. Its built around a rich backdrop of synths, drums, and guitars, while the production carries a distinct flavour that channels the iconic spirit of early 2000s Indian rock. What also stands out is how the song manages to keep the raw vulnerability of the vocals and songwriting right at the centre.
Hold On – Kambli
By leaning into a minimalist soundscape, Hold On creates a quiet space, gently drawing the listener to zero in completely on the songwriting. The song captures the immediate, jarring aftermath of a split, focusing on that specific window of time right when the damage is done. It frames the title as a simple request for a breather, conveying the confusion of a relationship vanishing faster than the mind can wrap itself around the reality.
