Fresh Indie Fridays #54

Aman Sagar, Mohak, Alf4zi – “Kal Kisne Dekha” 

New Delhi-based musician Aman Sagar has teamed up with Mumbai artists Mohak and Alf4zi on the nu-disco alternative hip-hop track “Kal Kisne Dekha.” The song includes fiery rhymes, soulful instrumentation and catchy hooks. In a statement, the artists said, “It [the song] is a celebration of life with all its complexities. It speaks about truly living in the moment and disregarding the inconsequential opinions of bystanders.” 

Shujan De, Koko – “Time” 

Nagaland artists Shujan De and Koko deliver a beautiful acoustic track in the shape of the newly released “Time.” From its delicate guitar plucking to its hauntingly beautiful piano parts, the song is a calming listen and both artists shine throughout the track with their elegant vocal textures. There’s also a beautiful music video released to accompany the song.

Perp, Varun Agnihotri – “Best Friend” 

Mumbai singer-songwriters Perp and Varun Agnihotri join forces for the acoustic-pop track “Best Friend.” The song features breezy production and acoustic guitar parts that hold the song together, as well as Perp and Agnihotri’s mellifluous vocals. In a statement, the artists said, “’Best Friend’ is a mental dialogue between two friends who are in love with each other and definitely won’t talk about it.”  

Derek & The Cats – Derek & The Cats 

Bengaluru pianist and producer Derek Mathias’ collaborative project Derek & The Cats recently released their eponymous instrumental debut album featuring numerous musicians. The four-track record clocks in at just under 35 minutes and is layered with a plethora of horn sections, guitar solos, slick keyboard arrangements as well as groovy bass and percussion parts. In a statement, Mathias said, “This album throws back to the days of big band music, while drawing influence from modern funk, blues, and occasionally rock, in terms of sound and melody. Groove is our guiding light and each musician has injected the album with their signature sound and style.” 

Joash Mathew – Pills  

Pune-bred and Brussels-based singer-songwriter Joash Mathew dropped his five-track multilingual EP Pills earlier this month. The artist sings in Hindi, Malayalam and English across the record over a bed of acoustic instrumentation. Mathew’s mature songwriting stands out on the EP. In a statement, he said, “The name Pills reflects each song as an individual pill towards the spectrum of emotions. Each song builds upon various aspects of conversations one would want to hear.”