New Music: From Hindi Electrofunk To Folk-Rock From New Delhi

 

“Rocket” by Mauj Maharaja

Mumbai jam band Something Relevant need an app of their own so we can update it according to their ever-changing sound and band name. In 2013, they regrouped as Bay City Lights, and this year, they’ve transformed into Mauj Maharaja. Their latest project is a Hindi [or H-indie, as the group likes to call it] electro funk band,  which includes Tanmay Kumar”‹, Aalok Padhye, ”‹Stuart DaCosta and Jehangir Jehangir [JJ]. Mauj Maharaja recently performed tracks from their self-titled EP, which features collaborations with a number of musicians including Mumbai guitarist Warren Mendonsa [Blackstratblues]. “Rocket” is a groovy, upbeat track that features a neat little jazz solo by saxophonist Rhys Sebastian DeSouza from Mumbai.

 

(Preview) “Nodi Poriya” by Ojapali

Here’s a teaser for all the folk-rock fans: New Delhi duo Ojapali released a preview of their latest track “Nodi Poriya”- and it sounds pretty promising. The band released the one-minute preview of a song with distinct Assamese folk influences in the rhythm and percussion sections. Ojapali, which was formed in 2013, comprises bassist Dhonkuru Rongpi and vocalist/guitarist Bhargav Das. While we’re waiting on the band to release the rest of the track, here’s a sneak peek of “Nodi Poriya”.

 

“#MURTOWN” by Digital Suicide

If the name Digital Suicide doesn’t sound all that familiar to you, it’s probably because the band isn’t the most consistent when it comes to putting out new material and performing live, or perhaps because they go by a number of aliases like Mr. India, Ahimxa and Spice Boyss. The duo from Haflong in Guwahati has produced music that falls under a range of genres like grunge, punk, and alt rock. Their latest release “#MURTOWN” is best described as electro-pop with frontman Daniel Langthasa rapping lines such as “Now all these pictures whatsapping me on my phone, oh you played me, you played me like Game of Thrones.” Profound.

 

“Nocturne” (Pentagram cover) by Shakthisree Gopalan

Chennai-based vocalist Shakthisree Gopalan has collaborated with keyboardist Cherian KK, guitarist Michael Antony Dias, bassist Carl Fernandes, and David Joseph on percussion for her cover of Pentagram’s “Nocturne.” The original riff-laden rock song was released in 2011, and Gopalan completely reworked the track, performing a stripped-down acoustic version. Dias and Gopalan deliver some pitch-perfect harmonies, while Fernandes adds some standout basslines.