New Music: From Bengaluru Pop Rock to Canadian-Indian Rap

Time’s On Your Side by The Imaginary News

Bengaluru rock band The Imaginary News. Photo: Monisha Ajgaonkar

An album has been a long time coming for Bengaluru pop rock band The News, who have now renamed themselves The Imaginary News and finally released a six-track release, titled  Time’s On Your Side. While the renaming makes it much easier to find them on the Internet, their new album captures their warm, Beatles-influenced pop rock well. From one of their earliest live staples “Lucky Summer Day” to the trippy title track “Time’s On Your Side,” listen to the album if you need something to brighten up your day.

“You” by Takar Nabam

Takar Nabam. Photo: Vijay Kate

Itanagar/Delhi-based guitarist Takar Nabam, who primarily plays for prog metal band Guillotine and his own jazz act Takatrio, is trading in an electric for an acoustic guitar, for more folksy, singer-songwriter music. The first single and music video ”“ “You,” ”“ features Nabam singing  about a girl he misses. Nabam, who is slated to perform his solo material with a backing band at Ziro Festival of Music in his home state of Arunachal Pradesh in September, is also working on a full-length album called Same Sky, due later this year.

“Queen” by Horsepowar

Jasleen Powar aka Horsepowar. Photo: Pacuguey

It’s about time someone sampled or mashed up cult Bollywood songs like “Choli KePeeche Kya Hai” [from 1993’s Khalnayak] and threw a few rhymes over it. Vancouver-based rapper Jasleen Powar aka Horsepowar does exactly that, with help from producer Juelz for “Queen,” sounding a bit like Brit-Tamil rapper MIA. Check out Powar channeling her inner Bollywood dancer in the video for “Queen,” off her 2015 EP Bollywoes.

“Yeh Zindagi Hai” by The Local Train

Delhi-based Hindi rock band The Local Train. Photo: Courtesy of the artist

Fresh off taking the number one rank at audio company Sennheiser’s Top 50 band competition, New Delhi-based rockers The Local Train have released the video for their new single “Yeh Hai Zindagi.” The band has been playing the song on stage since 2011 and their fourth single, “Yeh Zindagi Hai” sounds like a cross between the post-grunge sound of American rockers Goo Goo Dolls and Chennai rockers Junkyard Groove with some homey acoustic guitars courtesy of lead guitarist Paras Thakur.

“Comma” by Dreamscapade

Delhi prog metallers Dreamscapade – Nivrith Mandayam Gomatam, The’ang Teron, Aditya Bali, Rishi Baruah and Raikom Terang (from left). Photo: Franklin Joseph

Looks like New Delhi continues to be the breeding ground for the new wave of modern progressive metal and djent, giving rise to everyone from Skyharbor to Colossal Figures to the one-man project Define Destiny. Following in that line are Dreamscapade, who came together in 2014 as a five-member band and released their second single “Comma,” an unpredictably good mix of technical metal, prog and bit of classic metal.

“Jean Grey” by Modern Mafia

Modern Mafia. Photo: Monisha Ajgaonkar

Mumbai alt rockers Modern Mafia have been inspired by everything from Star Wars [“Chewbacca’s Revenge”] to actor/politician Arnold Schwarzenegger [“Arnie”] ever since they came together in 2011. Following the release of their 2012 EP Random Sheep, the band has churned out singles, with the latest one inspired by X-Men superhero Jean Grey. In a quirky serenade to woo the telekinetic/telepathic superhero, Modern Mafia are heavy and half-punk in the song released for free download.