Indie Unpacked: Bangla Rock, Telugu Pop, Desi Diaspora Hip-Hop and More

From navigating modern dating to paying tribute to furry friends, Indian independent artists find new themes to dive into for their music. If you’re looking for anything grittier, of course there’s a swerving new album from Ahmedabad rapper Siyaahi, packed with collaborations to boot. From rock by New Delhi’s Antariksh to free-form jazz-fusion by veteran artist Ramesh Shotham to Bangla rock by the band Reboot, here’s what we’re listening to.

Siyaahi – Sultanate

WWE finisher moves, Indian classical samples, and stories of the success he’s fought hard for, Siyaahi’s 11-song tape Sultanate proves just why he’s one of the best in the game. Bolstered by the distinctive music of his longtime collaborator Acharya for most of the album, songs like “First Day Out” are explosive, while Siyaahi flexes his connections with collabs like Ikka on “Terrible Wishlists,” Raga on “Soch Lo” and “Who’s That” featuring DRV and Yungsta, among other artists on other tracks. Unwavering and further cementing Ahmedabad on the map, Siyaahi shows just how unstoppable he’s become.

Ramesh Shotham – Weirdly In Time

From playing drums with rock band Human Bondage in India in the Seventies to presenting percussive power across projects after he moved to Germany, veteran artist Ramesh Shotham’s latest album Weirdly In Time shows how assured yet explorative he is with his music. “Morsing Madness” has the morchang at the front over funky, psychedelic sounds. It’s all in the family, for the most part, across nine tracks, with Shotham’s son, Germany-based artist Keshavara, helming production and Chennai-bred singer-songwriter Sahana Naresh also performing a rendition of a Kabir couplet on “In Plain Sight.” Naresh explores Carnatic strains on “Niroshta”, while regal Tamil storytelling meets psychedelic funk on “Vaanam Azhuthalum.” Decades into his career, Shotham continues to be an experimentalist as well as a savant, and Weirdly In Time is proof of how well he is able to traverse those approaches.

Abdon Mech – Not Overthinking This EP

Singer-songwriter Abdon Mech is the affable face of pop from Nagaland and arguably India as well. He plays to his strengths on his new EP Not Overthinking This. Not one to shy away from keeping it real, he spills the tea about a breakup and its aftermath on the bright “You’re Not Sorry,” while the track “Eleanor” is a sweet profession of love. The Sumi Naga song “Noye Lhokuthu Iwu” puts vibe and his native language’s poetry on equal footing, and “More Than You” is that sweep-you-off-your-feet kind of pop that places Mech between Ed Sheeran and John Mayer, with Not Overthinking This also elevated by the able production of seasoned Nagaland producer Kevi Pucho.

Shourya Malhotra – “Paws”

New Delhi singer-songwriter (and legal expert on music copyright) Shourya Malhotra pens a tribute to his canine friends on  “Paws.” While his previous material has often been intensely introspective, “Paws” is sonically lighter and comes with a wholesome music video featuring dogs at a shelter, plus his own pair of pet dogs. Launched with a gig that was also an adoption drive for dogs, “Paws” speaks the language of love and gratitude when it comes to dogs, especially at a time when the legal framework in the country is beginning to go in another direction.

Yuvan – Finesse EP

After three albums and one EP, Punjabi hip-hop artist Yuvan keeps the prolific pace going with his latest EP, Finesse. There’s a bit of Marathi folk rhythms, but also baile funk elements and trap, all of which show just how flexible and adaptable the Punjabi vocal vibe is to different genres. For Yuvan, the EP takes stock of everything he’s done to get confident in his music-making process. “Ever since I was a kid, I’ve had a pull towards music. Obsessed with artists, always listening, always learning. I taught myself guitar, how to produce, how to write, how to engineer. It’s crazy how far I’ve come doing what I love,” he says.

Diya Yadalam – “Tell Me”

Bengaluru singer-songwriter Diya Yadalam teams up with composer, producer and music entrepreneur Richard Andrew Dudley for her debut single “Tell Me,” and the result is a slow jam that’s all soul. Navigating feelings, the interplay of soul rhythms and brighter pop hooks showcase Yadalam’s dynamism. A press release says about the song, “It reflects on how love often feels fragile in a time where connection is quick, but meaning can be fleeting. Diya captures that ache for something real. A relationship built on truth rather than illusion.”

Reboot – “Reboot”

Bangla rock continues to evolve and find new ways to present its stories, and the latest project on the block is the rock band Reboot. Not only does the high-stakes music video directed by Suvam Sen bring in actor Saurav Das as a protagonist under the grip of a substance that clearly causes all kinds of psychological imbalances, it also sets it to some good, old-fashioned hard rock. “Reboot” is part of the band’s eight-song debut album, Phase 1.

Bijaan – “Jungle”

At a time when desi diaspora rap bars can run the risk of sounding clichéd and even parody-like, Indian-origin Canadian artist Bijaan ties it all together with conviction on his new song and music video “Jungle.” Sure, it’s about the story of resilience and survival that emerges from diaspora communities owning their stereotyped identities, but the seemingly Indian samples and vocal lines by producer Junia-T are powerful, while the visuals are aptly fiery. Bijaan says in a statement that the song is about “intent and belonging” as a third culture kid. He adds, “Although these individuals [third culture kids] typically have a greater understanding of the world and a rich cultural history, they often experience feelings of ‘rootlessness’ and lack a sense of belonging. ‘Jungle’ documents my journey of cultural reclamation and is an unapologetic anthem for those of us looking for belonging in a world where ‘home’ can be hard to find.”

Within Ceres – “Kowloon”

True to their world-building intent with previous singles like “Deep State” and “Bloodlust,” Goa modern metallers Within Ceres’ latest single “Kowloon” takes listeners straight into a dystopian world. Driven by themes of resisting a prevalent, almost-surveillance state force, “Kowloon” brings ominous production elements, an unexpectedly strong guitar solo for a song that’s mostly djent-inspired and a breakdown to tie it all together. Within Ceres are well on their way to crafting a standout sound among India’s metal bands with their recent output.

Vamsi Kalakuntla – “Adios”

If Yadalam’s track was about tenuous love, U.S.-based Indian artist Vamsi Kalakuntla’s new Telugu pop song “Adios” takes a more assured approach to saying goodbye to a relationship. Cheeky in its beat flips that takes it from pop to EDM, Kalakuntla even references his previous single “Nightmare.” He says about the song, “This song represents growth, healing, and belief — not just in me, but in what our sound and our stories can become.”

BBB – “Babyboo”

On his fifth single, Noida/Dehradun/London-bred artist BBB, aka Shreesh Bakshi, is awed by melanin and doesn’t hide it. The playful “Babyboo,” produced by Fred Irie, has plenty of fanfare alongside its rap bars. Unable to understand “white chicks,” BBB is clearly ready to adjust his desires. He says the song is inspired by, among other things, his move to London. It’s one that “expanded not just my artistry but my entire worldview of people,” the artist adds. “Their culture, their individuality and rawness, which is then transcended in my music that’s emotionally raw, fashion-forward and sonically daring. Music is both my love and my peace, and I want to offer the same to everybody in this world through my art.”

Soha – “Excuses”

Singer-songwriter Soha steps into familiar R&B/pop vibes on her new song “Excuses,” channeling a bit of Rihanna and Beyoncé when she shares just how fed up she’s grown with her relationship. What’s different for Soha is U.K. rapper TRVR adding a quick few bars that offer a male perspective to Soha’s aching yet eventually cathartic lyrics. She says of the track, “This song came from a place of frustration but also reflection. It’s about those moments when you’re waiting for someone to meet you halfway, and all you’re given are reasons that never add up. I wanted the track to feel like a conversation-two perspectives, one unresolved story.”

Antariksh – “Sabki Kahani”

New Delhi rock act Antariksh ponders life’s bigger questions and bats for rest in a relatable way on “Sabki Kahani,” a driving pop-rock song that comes with an unhinged/post-cringe music video. Antariksh’s Varun Rajput brings a few stomping riffs but mostly keeps it accessible, because he is, after all, talking about how everyone has a similar story. He says about the song, “I’m hoping Sabki Kahani will make people reflect, smile, and rock out all at once. The song portrays a character who, after taking a leap of faith to follow his passion, develops an ego and begins preaching to others to stop wasting their lives chasing money, fame, and meaningless pursuits. The track reflects both the arrogance of having ‘figured it all out’ and, at the same time, the genuine desire to inspire.”