Singles Roundup #44: Diversify Your Playlist With These Latest Tracks

Bengaluru-based rock band Over The Edge released their single Save Me. In a society that expects a lot from us, this song projects the soul of the artist that empathises with the ones battling their inhibitions, their demons and the “riot inside” their heads. This lyrically heavy song has a daunting piano composition that later leads up to the guitar solo.

Delhi-based The Anirudh Varma Collective is a contemporary Indian classical ensemble, led by pianist, composer and producer, Anirudh Varma. His latest single Bihag is the third single from his upcoming sophomore album Home Coming. Just like all his previous songs, this too is a beautiful composition that blends Indian classical elements with a contemporary style, still sticking to the Indian roots. The song is in collaboration with Delhi-based Odissi dancer, Vrinda Chadha. The song is based on Raga Bihag and is capturing the relationship between two lovers who are longing for each other, and a romantic interplay between Lord Krishna’s son and his lover.

Mumbai-based alternative pop duo Khoya Firdaus released their latest single Little Deer. The song captures the essence of a child parting from their mother, a phase of the child growing up and gaining a newfound sense of identity. This track takes the listener through all of these phases with changing music styles ranging from alternative with soothing vocals, a violin and trumpet composition to a rock composition when the song reaches its crescendo.

Delhi-based artist Garv Taneja’s alias Chaar Diwaari released his sophomore single Rang. This project is known for creating experimental Hindi music. This experimental Hindi track too has roots in alternative hip-hop and electronica. The song is about ruining something beautiful, from the point of view of a predator. In order to have ironic lyrics, Taneja ensured that the song constantly changed meaning as more context was provided with more lyrics.

Indo-American singer-songwriter Subhi collaborated with Birmingham-based singer-songwriter, beatboxer and multi-instrumentalist Ed Geater for her latest single Water Raft. The song intends to evoke themes of nostalgia, heartfelt warmth and tender reminiscence. The song is a combination of Geater’s finger-picking and production along with Subhi’s harmonic vocals.

Mumbai-based Hindustani classical vocalist, composer and playback singer Avanti Patel released her first ghazal Gaye Mausam. This ghazal is originally written by Praveen Shakir, a Pakistani woman from the 70s and 80s. Through this song, Patel not only pays tribute to Shakir, a legendary Urdu writer but also lauds the growing contribution of women artists in the music industry in roles like composing, writing, engineering and so on.

Delhi-based singer-songwriter Harsh Barar released his debut single Love Me Instead. This acoustic track is just like any other singer-songwriter type track which is dominated by ukulele and Barar’s soothing vocals. It is a personal song for Brar where he talks about the feeling when someone doesn’t love you back when you really thought they did.

Gangtok-based singer-songwriter Abhibyanjana Rubhi Thatal who goes by her first name released her latest single Shampoo Bottle. With laid-back soothing vocals, a piano-synth dominated melody and a dreamy soundscape, this track is an earworm in every possible way!

Mumbai-based Aaliyah Querishi who goes by the moniker Jhalli released her latest pop single Stupid Games which is part of her debut EP Why Should I? Querishi got her name from the common Hindi insult – Jhalli which means free-spirited and a mad girl that she embraces. This song talks about the toxic relationships and the “stupid games” played in one with a quirky music video. With this song too, she shows her prowess as a vocalist who is ready to experiment in different genres.

Chennai-based acoustic duo The Coconut Milk Project released their latest single Imposter. This song talks about that cynical inner voice that is jeering at you and that’s brutally taking you down. This folk song talks about a sensitive issue that is experienced by everyone under the guise of a chirpy melody and a catchy chorus you can’t help but hum along.

Jabalpur-based rapper Anish Pillai who goes by the moniker Anizsh collaborated with fellow rapper Priyansh Shukla aka Alpha for his latest single Jawaab which is produced by Chennai-based producer Advaith R who goes by the alias Anamertis. This bi-lingual track in Hindi and English is an embodiment of the feeling of making music coming from one of the smaller cities where genres such as hip-hop/rap are underappreciated. They try to convey what it’s like to pursue music as a side hustle to the conventional other half of our days.

Kochi-based electronic pop artist Kevin Shaji who goes by the moniker Pina Colada Blues released his latest single Running Wild. The song is a wolf lore about a pack finding its way home to the moon, its beloved. The music video paired with mature vocals by Re and catchy electronic music is enough to unleash the wanderer amidst anyone.

Ludhiana-based singer-songwriter Savneet Singh released his debut single Rehna. With breezy vocals and guitar strums, this song gives a jolly vibe along with the music video which is shot in Mumbai. The song celebrates love and the people we love and is intended towards that one best friend who makes us smile even when we don’t want to.

Mumbai-based singer-songwriter Shrea Suresh who goes by the moniker Shrae released her debut single A Game For Two. This song is the experimental result of her recent obsession with neo-soul and jazz. It’s about a personal experience she faced recently where she doesn’t resonate with the Gen Z ideology and concept of dating and relationships. As a vocal instructor, she shows her prowess as a strong vocalist and the saxophone solo is indeed a pleasant addition to this jazz track.

Kolkata-based five-piece progressive metal band 13^th Notion released their latest single Reclaimed Part 1. The band is known to incorporate ambient passages with polyrhythmic song structures. This metal song had heavy guitar riffs, thumping drums and clean growls.