Listen: Sapno Ki Nagri’s Debut EP

Sapno Ki Nagri album art

Sapno Ki Nagri is a collaborative project formed in January 2013 by lyricist Kartikaya Omrania and electronica producer Sajeel Kapoor.  The Delhi-based artists who have taken the monikers KeepSake (Omrania) and Sez (Kapoor) have been experimenting with their own brand of “musical poetry” for the last year and released their first EP Sapno Ki Nagri last week.

Both artists bring their own diverse influences to the self-titled EP ”“ while KeepSake leans towards artists like Yelawolf and Drake, Sez has a soft spot for Mt. Eden, Bonobo and Knife Party – combining them with their mutual love of hip-hop. Sapno Ki Nagri is a narrative album; the four tracks focus on a different stage of their protagonist’s journey to success, and echoes the pair’s own experiences. On “Shuruaat,” we’re introduced to a character down on his luck, with dreams that he isn’t sure how to pursue. “Sapno Ka Jahan” is where he learns what it takes to be successful. Musically, “Buddhi” is possibly the most versatile track from the collection with a cranked up tempo and arrangement; lyrically, it speaks of a character whose self image is what he would like it to be, but is mindful of how he began shaping it. “Kahanikaar” finds the protagonist tainted by the arrogance that comes with the consummation of a dream.

Kapoor’s production features sparse, moody elements and soft flourishes which showcase Omrania’s crisp rhymes. Sapno Ki Nagri will release their next EP Prabuddh by June this year, a project which will pick up from where Sapno Ki Nagri left off and explore a wider range of hip-hop and electronic elements and styles.

Stream Sapno Ki Nagri: