New Music: Gritty Hip-Hop From Chaar Diwaari, Amrit Ramnath’s Tamil Fusion, Dream-Pop by Kerala Artist Sachyn and More

“Kidman” by Sachyn

Originally released as a single last year, Bengaluru-based singer-songwriter and producer Sachyn aka Sachin Sivadas’ single “Kidman” calls out to childhood (and not any notable person with the last name Kidman, in case you’re wondering) and asks if we surrendered the “kid in you.” The dream-pop song wanders a bit and then completely takes off in an electronic space towards the end, made to match with the realizations that dawn on the protagonists about the importance of art in their lives.

“Nee Oli” by Amrit Ramnath

Chennai singer and composer Amrit Ramnath balances the worlds of Carnatic and independent music now – he was recently in concert with renowned Carnatic vocalist Bombay Jayashree and is now out with the music video for “Nee Oli,” a Tamil ballad that released as a single in late December. With the music video shot by Gajan Balan, Ramnath renders the words of Tamil poet Mahakavi Bharathi over philosophizing guitar melodies while standing in a water body under the sun.

Trishna EP by Nihira Joshi-Deshpande

Released in a piecemeal fashion over the last few months, Mumbai-bred vocalist-composer Nihira Joshi-Deshpande’s EP Trishna centers around Radha’s divine love and longing for Krishna. Across four tracks produced and arranged by Carlos Cana and Hernan Milla, Saurabh Bhalerao, Amey Londhe, Mayukh Sarkar and featuring a range of more collaborators, there’s sparkling fusion rooted in Joshi-Deshpande’s lilting, sublime vocals. There are dramatic highs (“Trishna Samarpan Ki”), measured somberness (“Trishna Bandhan Ki”) and trippy passages (“Trishna Spandan Ki”).

“Chasing The Stars” by Winterchild

Bengaluru-based rock band Winterchild have an unmistakable influence from bands like Finland’s rock frontrunners Poets of the Fall, but they take a slightly different direction on their latest single “Chasing The Stars.” It bursts with changing tempos, as if it was the adrenaline-fueled, cinematic song that opens an anime’s title credits. Taken from their upcoming album Postcard from a Lonely Place, “Chasing The Stars” works in 8-bit-like synth lines to and even goes into a dreamy ballad-like bridge section.

“Chronic” by Hellish, A.M.Z.

Part of her upcoming EP project Princess Coma, singer and composer Hellish traverses dark-pop and rock with an assist from producer A.M.Z. aka Anurag Mozumdar on “Chronic.” The first single off the EP, Hellish enters a new phase of introspection and emerges with uncomfortable answers. Inspired by the likes of Singapore singer-songwriter and producer Yeule, “Chronic” goes from languid emo rock to punk-informed pop.

“Mitti” by Chaar Diwaari ft Yashraj

New Delhi artist Chaar Diwaari aka Garv Taneja turned up on our radars when he released “Bhool Ja” with its twisted, chaotic energy in July last year. Like we hoped, he was just getting started. With a no-fucks-given style reminiscent of the likes of Danny Brown, the Hindi rap of Chaar Diwaari shines on Teri Maiyat Ke Gaane EP, his debut record. The closing track “Mitti” not only brings in Mumbai’s ace rapper Yashraj, there’s a grittiness that’s so primal that it immediately commands your attention, going from visceral to a wall-of-synth flip and then descending deeper into beats straight out of hell.

Riwayat EP by Murtuza Gadiwala

Mumbai songwriter and composer Murtuza Gadiwala gathers friends such as composer-singer Rutvik Talashilkar and producer Kimera, Akanksha Bhandari and producer duo Lost Stories on his six-track EP Riwayat. There are moments of growth, soulfulness and surviving past challenges on pristine pop songs like “Tamanna,” “Faisle” and “Mauka.” It’s thoughtful, lush Hindi pop which doesn’t shy away from being indulgent.

“Dance Like a Bewdi” by 13 Baap, Kasah

Described audaciously (and hilariously) as the “party anthem of 2023,” Indian-origin artist Prannay Sastry’s project 13 Baap is pretty much dance-pop with comedic flourishes which want you to abandon all inhibitions. Case in point, “Dance Like a Bewdi” is guaranteed to evoke laughs (or cringe, depending on the listener) for its Hindi-English lyrics, seemingly seedy-funk pop production and 13 Baap’s campy persona.