Here Are 10 Artists Under 25 You Should Check Out

1. Aaron Under The Stars (22)

Aaron Under The Stars. Photo: Neha Brackstone

If you’ve had the chance to catch Mumbai-based singer-songwriter Aaron Sequeira live, you already know that he’s prolific. Sequeira has a repertoire of over 60 songs and his dark and emotional lyrics about relationships (“You Don’t Think”) help audiences relate to him easily.

2. Dot. (18)

Dot. Photo: Courtesy of the artist

New Delhi-bred Aditi Saigal’s folksy blues-jazz sound, combined with her witty lyrics, makes for perfect easy listening after a long hard day. Dot has been writing music since the age of 12 and is inspired by the likes of Fiona Apple, KT Tunstall and Paolo Nutini.

3. Gabriel Daniel (21)

Gabriel Daniel. Photo: Courtesy of the artist

Originally from Chandigarh, Bengaluru-based Gabriel Daniel already has a three-track EP to his name, 2015’s triple. The record showcases the best that Daniel has to offer as an artist, from his bright acoustic guitar work to his soulful voice. The singer-songwriter recently raised over ₹70,000 through a crowdfunding campaign for his upcoming debut LP Conflicting.

4. Aarya (19)

Aarya. Photo: Anvay Wagh

Earlier this year, Mumbai singer-songwriter Aarya Gadkari released his debut EP One Year, One House. The four-track concept EP features tracks about Gadkari’s parents, past relationships and friends. At his live shows, Gadkari performs with a loop pedal, following in the footsteps of his idol Ed Sheeran. If you’re into pop-rock, Gadkari is definitely one to listen to.

5. Sooraj Bishnoi (22)

Sooraj Bishnoi. Photo: Nishant Joshi

Sooraj Bishnoi popped up on social media last year with his humorous ode to the year 2016, which had lyrics pertaining to U.S. President Donald Trump, USB Type-C and the exploding Samsung Galaxy Note 7. Since then, the Mumbai-based singer-songwriter has hit the ground running, booking several gigs and releasing his debut single “Nemesis,” which has nearly 60,000 hits on YouTube.

6. Saachi Rajadhyaksha (18)

Saachi. Photo: Courtesy of the artist

The 18-year-old emerging singer-songwriter (who goes by her first name on stage) from Mumbai might not have a ton of original material to boast of but her covers of popular songs have fetched her a decent social media following.  Rajadhyaksha, who counts young pop icons like Ed Sheeran and Alessia Cara as her influences, also got a chance to open for reggae veteran Shaggy in Mumbai last year. She plans on releasing her debut EP Clarity later this year.

7. OSVY (25)

OSVY. Photo: Courtesy of the artist

Hrushabh Talapadatur a.k.a. OSVY’s guitar-driven, autobiographical songs fall into the soft-rock category. Earlier this month, Talapadatur released his self-produced debut seven-track EP From Hope to Belief, a record showcasing crisp songwriting and quality musicianship, which we can hope is only the start of what we’ll be hearing from the Mumbai singer-songwriter.

8. Sanjeeta Bhattacharya (22)

Sanjeeta Bhattacharya. Photo: Sharayu Mahale

New Delhi-vocalist Sanjeeta Bhattacharya has a soulful voice that perfectly complements her R&B/jazz sound. Bhattacharya is the daughter of renowned painter Sanjay Bhattacharya and a graduate from Boston’s Berklee College of Music. Since her return to India last October, the singer has been a popular name on the indie gig circuit in New Delhi as well as across the major metros.

9. Ilina Hats (17)

Ilina Hats. Photo: Courtesy of the artist

Ilina Hats’ powerful vocal throw makes her one of the best singers in Mumbai at her age. Hats gained recognition when she started uploading covers of her favorite songs, such as “Unbreakable Smile” by American singer Tori Kelly. Since her voice is so immediately captivating, we’re hoping it won’t be too long before Hats releases her own music.

10. Vedant Joshi (21)

Vedant Joshi. Photo: Courtesy of the artist

Keyboardist/singer Vedant Joshi–member of alt rockers The Pickled Octopii–has been performing in and around Mumbai for a few years now and has also performed at festivals like India Bike Week and Kasauli Rhythm & Blues Festival. As a solo performer, however, Joshi stands out for finding that delicate melodic balance between keys and vocals.

(Artists are listed in no particular order)