New Music: Sapta’s 10th Album, Merak’s Diverse EP, Guy Velvet’s Bright Debut and More
We tune in to the latest from producer Khus Fir, singer-songwriter Ady Manral, Kerala artist Anju Brahmasmi, producer Spyr, Imphal act Atingkok and Tarun Balani project Dharma
(Clockwise from top left) Tarun Balani and Dharma, Sapta, Khus Fir, Merak. Photos: Courtesy of the artist, Shreya Madhogarhia (Khus Fir)
“Awaaz” by Ady Manral
Landour, Mussoorie-based singer-songwriter Ady Manral keeps his voice as distinct and gilded as ever with his new song “Awaaz.” With his distinct twangy vocals on the Hindi song, Manral invokes nature, longing and self-reflection on the song. He describes it as a song that delves into “the overwhelming emotions sparked by the touch of nature, prompting introspection and a quest for meaning in life.”
X by Sapta
Chennai-origin electronica act Sapta prolific nature has led him to his 10th album in 15 years. Marti Bharath teams up with everyone from singer, composer and producer Native Indian to Ukrainian artist Romario Punch (“Kingdom Rise”) to violinist Shravan Sridhar (“A Castle of Dreams”) for music that can turn the clubs upside down in the most sublime way. From the flute-informed opening single “An Invisible Crown” to the grandiose hip-hop/electronic tune “The X Factor” and club bangers like “Change Your Location” ft Jude Lass and “Our Law,” Sapta even throws in a new take on his most popular track yet, making “The Sound of This Nation II” with quaking results.
“Locusts are Descending” by Tarun Balani + Dharma
New Delhi-based drummer, composer, producer and synth artist Tarun Balani’s transatlantic collective Dharma regroups for a new single “Locusts Are Descending,” part of an upcoming record as well. Balani brings together trumpeter Adam O’Farrill, Finnish guitarist Olli Hirvonen and Indian pianist Sharik Hasan for a mind-melting, jazz-informed fusion of synth, classical piano and more to present a powerful track.
“Eigi Ei Oidaba” by Atingkok
Taken from their upcoming album 2050, Imphal, Manipur experimentalists Atingkok are weird and wonderful in all the best ways on their lead single “Eigi Ei Oidaba.” It moves at an easy pace in the vein of emo math-rock to start with, with spoken vocals, but you know they’re building up to something. And build up they do, as the visuals get more and more urgent in a sense, with dissonance on the sonic front coming out as well. The seven-and-a-half-minute song builds up formidably, which only leaves anyone guessing what might come through on their album.
“Moon” by Khus Fir
Bengaluru-based vocalist and producer Khus Fir aka Rishabh Iyer has released three singles off his upcoming album Forts and Forests. So far, we’ve heard the campfire, breathtaking folk of “There’s Something There,” a slightly surreal cut like “Snow Leopard” and the calming “Moon,” in which the artist’s deep, low vocals specially stand out.
Manic Mode EP by Merak
Goa sibling duo Merak’s Belinda and Brandon Mendes push further to show us just how diverse they can get, this time across four tracks on their second EP Manic Mode. Joined by the likes of Jamaican producer David Marston, New Delhi’s MadStarBase and Pune multi-instrumentalist Shreyas Iyengar, there’s a genre-hopping, diverse EP to show for it. There’s the dark, trip-hop of “Happy Pill,” the club-friendly, reggae and dub-informed “Up High,” more spectral mind-expanding sounds on “Jaded” and glitchy, ambient electronica on “Left Brain.”
“Set Me Free” by Velvet Group
If you know New Delhi’s jazz and blues scene, then you know Guy Velvet is a fixture. Working with the likes of guitarist-producer Chazz Bhalla, Guy Velvet’s debut single comes a few years after he’s been performing high-energy sets across the capital region. “Set Me Free” aims to capture some of that, with a cheery, gospel-informed element that also throws in blues, jazz, rock and more. It’s one big, bright party and Velvet is at the center of it.
“Kanatha Kanavukal” by Anju Brahmasmi
Singer-composer Anju Brahmasmi delves into metaphors of the self and a personal sense of freedom on her new Tamil song “Kanatha Kanavukal.” There’s deft bass rhythms when you least expect it, because the track leans on stirring, breathy wind instruments. The music video sees the Kerala artist move through a forest and waterbodies, finding all kinds of surreal characters, including a version of herself.
“Touch” by Spyr, Keltic
Mumbai producers Keltic aka Omkar Surve and Spyr aka Mihir Survashe team up for a lo-fi, ambient song that’s all vibes. “Touch,” which opens with a voice note of yearning from a former partner, gives way to a pensive track. It’s a minimal approach to synths throughout that fades out, giving you the idea of past love.
