Fresh Indie Fridays #53 

Ricky Vasan – Cannot Sing Without Loss 

Dehradun-bred and Boston-based singer-songwriter Ricky Vasan released his five-track sophomore EP Cannot Sing Without Loss today. The poignant record includes plenty of acoustic instrumentation, lush guitar picking and verdant production, as well as the artist’s rustic vocals. In a statement, the singer-songwriter said, “It [the EP] is an introspective body of work that paints a quiet and grounded soundscape. I really wanted to record songs that would translate well live and stand in a solo songwriter setting.”  

NATE08 – “Sunrise Sunfall” 

After signing with London-based record label Needwant Records earlier this year, Mumbai-based bassist-producer Nathan Thomas aka NATE08 (from live electronic duo Drum Ani Bass) is now out with his first release with the label, in the shape of the dancey “Sunrise Sunfall,” the lead single off his forthcoming full-length album Furaha. With silky vocals from singer Jitwam, the track oozes with smooth piano parts, funky beats and punchy synth bass arrangements, as well as electronic elements. Talking about Furaha, the artist said in a social media statement, “It’s been in the [pipeline] for a while and I’m mad excited to share this music with all of you.” 

Rahul Gurung – “Toxic Love” 

Dehradun singer-songwriter Rahul Gurung’s newest single is the jazz-rock-meets-pop offering “Toxic Love.” The track features crunchy guitars, a fast-paced groove, plenty of dynamics and an overall syncopated feel with the instrumentation. Gurung also expresses himself well with his steely vocals. He said in a statement, “This song is about that toxic side of me which I’ve been holding tight for a long time. It has been stopping me from doing things I’ve been wanting to do, hence the title ‘Toxic Love,’ showcasing the relation between me and my toxic side.”