New Music: Classical Music from Ishaan and Nayan Ghosh, Fusion Sister Act Taraana, The Bodhisattwa Trio and More

Synergy by Ishaan Ghosh and Nayan Ghosh

Sitar veteran Nayan Ghosh and tabla artist Ishaan Ghosh make for a powerful, connected father-son duo in sonic motion on their album Synergy. The seven-track album spans across nearly 90 minutes, which makes it a calming and energizing listen in equal parts, although it might just be for classical music purists in some ways too. The artists interpret raagas on “Bhairavi,” “Tilak Kamod” and others, indulging themselves and taking listeners along for the journey.

Thinking Ahead of Time EP by Purple Cassette

Ishan Kumar and Siddharth Rajan’s rock project Purple Cassette have released their debut EP Thinking Ahead of Time and it’s one that channels all good things about honest music. Inspired by the likes of The Velvet Underground, The Strokes and Blur, among others, songs like “Got What You Need” and “Take It Apart” are reverb-laden in their grainy approach to upbeat indie rock. The title track adds a heavier groove to things, capping off an EP about self-confidence, frustration and identity.

“Ghosts of Mars” by The Bodhisattwa Trio ft Mimika Orchestra

Kolkata/New Delhi act The Bodhisattwa Trio preface their upcoming album Frontier (set for release in May via Intek Music) with the grandiose new single “Ghosts of Mars.” Collaborating with Croatia’s Mimika Orchestra, there’s a roar and subtlety in the song that pushes the trio into wholly new territory. It’s dark and urgent jazz, aided by cinematic flourishes from the orchestra and the trio’s occasional detour into funk and groove.

“Marketing Gimmicks Rule The World” by Home Brewed Universe

With a new album called Worldview on the way on May 4th, instrumental composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist Arka Sengupta aka Home Brewed Universe unlocks a new level of heavy on his song “Marketing Gimmicks Rule The World.” While there’s already another pendulous new single out called “Propaganda Is a Bittersweet Experience” that unfolds in a familiar vein, it’s “Marketing Gimmicks…” that will likely bring a smile upon the faces of prog and post-metal fans.  

Undying Wrath EP by Omniscient

Bengaluru’s Omniscient released their second EP Undying Wrath late last year and it sums up a powerful message about life and mental health that goes over black metal and tech-death metal alike. The title track features drummer K.C. Brand and bassist Don Newman for a thundering introduction to Omniscient, who previously released their EP The Evil That Cannot Be Defeated in 2021. The band – comprising vocalist Nakhul Ananth, guitarist Saurav Tamang and guitarist/lyricist and backing vocalist Sparsh Sharma – give a juggernaut-level push on songs like “Empty,” “Breathe Into Nothingness” (which has a solo from guitarist Prashant Hingmag from tech-death band Obliterating Vortex) and end with a chaotic, intense outro called “Cyclical.”

“Indian Rivers” by Taraana

Signed to the historied label Decca Records in the U.S., Mumbai violinist duo Taraana’s Ragini and Nandini Shankar team up with producer-composer Mahesh Raghvan, guitarist Rhythm Shaw and flautist Lalit Talluri for a charming and thrilling new song “Indian Rivers.” Their second single, Taraana previously released “The Land of Spice” in February and are gearing up to release their self-titled album later this year. With galloping rhythms and evocative Carnatic and folk violin influences coming to the front, Taraana will likely take the Shankar sisters to new global heights.

Nostalgia by Avijit Misra

On his fifth album Nostalgia, New Delhi-bred, Melbourne-based singer-songwriter Avijit Misra brings more of that distinctive vocal flair across eight songs. While Misra has noted that the album’s lyrics are informed by pandemic-enforced “lockdown reflections from his childhood and adolescence growing up in New Delhi with the memories of Japan ever lingering,” there are undoubtedly a few cultural cliches that Misra grapples with, like on “Flying Carpet.” Luckily for us, the artist embraces it all, making for a synth-aided album that’s occasionally mystic (“One Connection”), psychedelic (“Free Mind Soldier”), dramatic and prog-like (“Speed of Light”) and dreamy (“Kiss”).