New Music: Hyderabad’s Sidharth Bendi, Indo-Canadian Artist Neela, Riffs from Medddler and Jatin Talukdar Project

“2006” by Sidharth Bendi

Hyderabad singer-songwriter Sidharth Bendi pushes into mindbending electronic-pop spaces with his new song “2006.” While the sound is totally future-facing, it packs in a gut punch the same way that Bendi’s lyrics about feeling helpless do. From subtle nods to Indian classical tabla to chaotic palettes, Bendi does it all on “2006.”

It’s to Pierce the Sky by Medddler

Mumbai-based composer, guitarist and producer Angad Bhatia’s latest turn for his instrumental rock/metal project Medddler is a seven-track album called It’s to Pierce the Sky. The follow-up to his outstanding 2021 album Upsurge, Bhatia digs into post-metal and prog riffs and polyrhythms. While there’s an unmistakable influence of American artist Cloudkicker, Bhatia’s Medddler has a way with coloring sonic themes of light and dark that speaks volumes without words.

“Yaara” by Parashar Joshi

Pune singer-songwriter Parashar Joshi teams up with producer Onkar Tarkase and has a crowdfunded video to boot for his new song “Yaara.” A straightforward song about companionship and friendship, the Hindi tune was written for Joshi’s wife and is injected with a classic Eighties and Nineties pop charm.

“Khulke Jiyo!” by MC 2much

Hyderabad artist MC 2much aka Sushel Peraboina takes a buoyant acoustic guitar-inflected beat and feeds his carefree attitude into it on his hip-hop song “Khulke Jiyo!” The Hindi rap song bats for living life on one’s own terms, stress-free and without hurting others around oneself. MC 2much wraps together references to cricket as well in the three-minute track.

“Segments” by Jatin Talukdar Project

It might have been a few years of waiting until we heard new music from Mumbai guitarist-producer Jatin Talukdar but he picks up right where he left off with “Segments.” The Jatin Talukdar Project’s first single since 2019’s “Seasons” offers bright melodies, a tender solo juxtaposed against blistering guitar lines and high-energy riffs all around.

“You’ll Never Know” by Neela

Indo-Canadian artist Neela’s R&B/soul jam “You’ll Never Know” sets her slow-burn sound and powerful vocals over the action-packed visuals channeling goddess Kali. In the video directed by Purusha Anokhei, there are powerful metaphors played out with Neela essaying the role of Kali as she battles Ravana. Neela’s raw vocals and lyrics took root in the pain caused by domestic violence and abused boundaries.

Unafraid by Zachary Ray

In the works for about two years between Nashville, Seattle and Mumbai, India/Boston-based American artist Zachary Ray crafts an uplifting album Unafraid. Released earlier this month, the 10-track record traverses pop, orchestral arrangements and fixates on issues of mental health. Of course, Ray’s approach is to package it in shimmering pop, best heard on songs like “Snapshot,” “Danger” and the radio-friendly “Rebel Hearts.”

“Abstract Endings” by Akram Ul Haq

Hyderabad fingerstyle guitarist and composer Akram Ul Haq meditates on life and death amidst arid hills and terrains in the music video for his song “Abstract Endings.” Ul Haq’s sonic twists and turns on the fretboard are captured with different angles and giving the viewer a perspective of the mighty open space he’s performing in. “Abstract Endings” is taken off Ul Haq’s debut album The Catmaster, released in 2022.

“Aval” by Vigneshwer Karthik N.V. ft Pradeep Kumar

Bengaluru-based Tamil singer-songwriter and composer Vigneshwer Karthik N.V. teams up with vocalist Pradeep Kumar and U.K.’s Earthworm String Quartet for a poignant song of love and loneliness on “Aval.” The Tamil song has groove courtesy of Karthik, cinematic elements from the quartet and a sublime vocal storyteller in Kumar. It’s aided by an equally filmic video directed, shot and edited by filmmaker Neeraj M. Selva.