Sid Sriram, Karan Kanchan, Zaeden and All The New Releases To Know This Week

Whether it’s DIY spirit mingled with AI effects for Dreamhour and Dokodoko’s “Human Ideal” video or big guns like pop artists Sid Sriram and Zaeden conjuring evocative new storylines in their respective songs “Sol” and “Raaz,” there’s plenty of diversity to explore in Indian music this week. From DJ-producers Browncoat and Nikhil Chinapa’s inquisitive Independence Day ode “1947” to Arunachal artist Markio Tanaldo’s grappling with growing up on “Jaanu Na,” here’s what we’re tuning into. 

Sid Sriram – “Sol”

Indo-American artist Sid Sriram continues pushing his genre-bending ways on “Sol,” a Tamil-English song that flitters between nimble ghatam, R&B, and pop melodies along with rhythms and electronic elements in the mix. Released via his label The Hybridist with Warner Music India, “Sol” comes with a music video directed by Parasher Baruah and featuring choreography by dancer Usha Jey (who previously worked with Tamil-Canadian artist SVDP’s music video for “Savage”). Sriram says in a statement that he began writing “Sol” about a year ago at home in Fremont, California. He adds, “It came from a place of stillness and reflection, reconnecting with myself and rediscovering joy. When [producer] Mike WiLL-Made It and I linked up in Atlanta, he added a bounce to the piece that pushed it over the edge. The visual universe was dreamt up by me, my sister Pallavi Sriram, my dad, and Parasher Baruah. It was wonderful having Usha Jey and her dance crew bring dynamism and movement to life through Usha’s ‘hybrid bharatham’ approach to choreography. This song and video are centered around joy, vibrance, evolution, and love.”

Zaeden – “Raaz”

Singer-songwriter Zaeden turns on the charm with a slow, swaying pop song “Raaz.” The track also comes with a nostalgia-steeped music video set in a rustic hotel, directed by filmmaker Pankhuri Ranjan. Zaeden says in a statement about his first release of the year, “I try my best to make every song a reason and opportunity to learn something new. With ‘Raaz’, it was contemporary dance–fun, exciting, and definitely a challenge. This song is for everyone who’s loved, but in silence. All I can hope and pray is that people feel it the way I do.”

Dreamhour, Dokodoko – “Human Ideal”

Siliguri producer Dreamhour and Gangtok singer-songwriter Dokodoko’s new collaboration “Human Ideal” comes on the back of the former announcing a departure from this synthpop sound with the album Memory Machine. The single, part of an upcoming project called IDGAF, signals a shift toward a space “devoid of genres and expectations,” according to a press release. Sonically, they stare down a dark new path on the nu metal-edged song featuring screams by Pritam Adhikary Goswami, with arresting visuals that swerve with AI-aided VFX in a surreal fashion, something Dreamhour humorously credits to a duo Kay Ling (Kling.ai from China) and Rhun Wei (American platform RunwayML).

Karan Kanchan – “Firestarter”

Mumbai beatsmith Karan Kanchan takes it back to his EDM beginnings but with an updated sonic palette on his latest single “Firestarter.” Inspired by meeting the likes of Skrillex last year, the producer turns to high-energy dance music that’s seemingly inspired by Afrobeats and more, all blended into his distinct bass-driven style. Kanchan gets into gear, sitting in drifting cars for the music video directed by Karamvir Chopra and shot in black and white by Arabind Sudhir.

Browncoat and Nikhil Chinapa – “1947”

DJ-producers Browncoat, aka Nawed Khan, and Nikhil Chinapa draw from sarangi and a landmark speech for their Independence Day release “1947.” The groovy electronic-fusion track journeys into the Independence Day speech Tryst with Destiny by India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and that’s about the only time the beat becomes subdued, only to elevate the song into a sense of exuberance and celebration. Chinapa says, “Ever since I was a little kid I have been moved by the speech that Pandit Nehru gave in parliament at the stroke of midnight on August 15. There’s something about his voice, the scratchiness of the record and the words that really, really touched my heart. So we decided to sample the words of that iconic speech and we combined it with the sarangi, a traditional Indian instrument.” Chinapa and Submerge, the label and agency he co-founded, are also inviting budding DJs and producers to remix “1947” and put their own spin on it to win a spot at their festival Satellite Beach in December, alongside a release deal on Submerge. 

Markio Tanaldo – “Jaanu Naa”

Arunachal Pradesh singer-songwriter Markio Tanaldo lives through a Groundhog Day scenario of being stuck in a time loop in the music video for his new pop song “Jaanu Naa.” The follow-up to his heartrending song “Mera Koi Na” goes in a wholly opposite direction as the artist cheerfully ponders life’s big questions. He says in a statement, “The song talks about that confusion, the fear of growing up, and the feeling of being stuck in your own thoughts and realising life won’t wait — and maybe it’s okay not to have it all figured out. What’s meant to happen will happen, and all you can do is live it with an open heart — not ignoring the problems, but not letting them hold you back either.” 

DNKLE – “Pressure”

Mumbai DJ-producer DNKLE, aka Samarth Agarwal, crafts a future festival banger with “Pressure,” a sublime melodic techno track that moves in and out of builds and drops in the span of under four minutes, with a solid vocal hook to match. A press release says, “DNKLE delivers a track rooted in defiance and personal truth. ‘Pressure’ channels the emotional weight of being underestimated, flipping rejection into raw, unfiltered power.” 

What Escapes Me – “Born From Fire”

Kolkata metallers What Escapes Me are out with their first song in nearly six years with “Born From Fire.” It’s an anthemic, more melodic turn from the prog and modern metal band, led by clean vocals, electronic elements as well as polished, bruising riffs that recall the fist-tight grandiosity of melodic death metal bands like In Flames, but also modern American hard rock and metal bands like Bullet For My Valentine and a bridge that sees vocalist Shourav Kumar Dey channel his inner Jonathan Davis (from nu metallers Korn) in the bolstering, uplifting song. 

Sanyanth Naroth, Ankur Tewari – “Kuch Na Rahe”

Composer-guitarist Sanyanth Naroth has previously led some of the most comforting songs in Indian indie music with soul-folk collective Easy Wanderlings, and for his debut solo release, he enlists singer-songwriter Ankur Tewari for the Hindi song “Kuch Na Rahe.” With a video that’s just as reassuring as the understated acoustic guitars and piano used in the song, Naroth describes the track as “a gentle tune.” He adds, “The kind of song I imagine playing on a quiet, rainy afternoon. The energy remains intentionally steady throughout, creating space for the listener to drift, reflect, or simply daydream.” 

Pooja Gaitonde, Nikita Kulkarni, Megha Rawoot – “Rasiya”

Often known for her ghazals, singer Pooja Gaitonde teams up with producer-keyboardist Nikita Kulkarni and sitarist Megha Rawoot for spirited contemporary fusion that interprets a thumri, drawing from a line sung by Ustad Mehdi Hassan Khan. Gaitonde’s “Rasiya” moves at a tender pace, with the sitar by Rawoot adding urgency. Gaitonde says, “I didn’t write Rasiya with rules; I wrote it with whatever I felt at that moment. From melody to lyrics, it’s all heart. In short, I would call it a ‘no formula song’. And after two years, it still feels just as alive.”

Packers & Movers – “Boys & Girls”

Bengaluru-based band Packers & Movers released their debut single “Boys & Girls” and announced their first album Men And Their Major Chords all in one go. Inspired by the likes of Far Caspian, The 1975, Radiohead, and Smashing Pumpkins, the band takes it back to basics when it comes to steady-going yet dreamy indie rock on the song that “talks about a closing statement on human fallibility.” The band adds, in a statement, “‘Boys and Girls’ strips everything back and asks: What if we’re all just flawed people trying, and often failing, to love each other right?” It’s not an excuse—but a realization that sometimes we mess up, not because we’re cruel, but because we’re still learning.” 

Surabhi Dashputra, Arjuna Harjai – “Jism Ya Rooh”

Singer-songwriter Surabhi Dashputra and producer-composer Arjuna Harjai have been working together right from the latter’s 2015 Bollywood song “O Soniye” for Titoo MBA. Then came their 2022 single “Naa Jao,” and they’ve kept returning to explore unconventional Hindi songwriting, including “More Sajan,” “Rab Ki Baatein” and “Rehn De.” More recently, a pair of singles came out via U.K. label Aart Sense Records, including the humorous multilingual song “Bheja No Dahi” and the short but somber “Jism Ya Rooh.” The latter has Harjai and Dashputra’s Indian and Western classical composing mind in alignment, with a mournful reminiscence set over string arrangements and electronic beats.

313 (Teen Terah) – “Sitara (Reprise)”

New Delhi rapper 313 aka Teen Terah, aka Sarang Sethi, draws from personal experience for his song “Sitara (Reprise).” A more acoustic guitar-driven version with new verses for the track—which was originally part of his 2024 album 8—the song, produced by D.C. Shah, comes with a music video directed by Spriha Singh that instills a sense of motivation. Compared to the more gritty rap of the original, this reprise has a stirring somberness to it with additional arrangements, featuring artists Tarang, AeJay, and ⁠Marcus Brown. 313 says in a statement, “‘Sitara’ was born from a low point, but instead of looking up, I started looking around. The people who inspire you most are right there, showing up every day with dignity, hustle, and heart. This one’s for them.”