Premiere: New Delhi Artist Nikamma Lives the Offline Life in ‘Ahana’ Video

New Delhi-based singer-songwriter Aryan Sharma aka Nikamma launches his summery, synth-laden teen-romance tune “Ahana” as his debut release, with a charming music video about the delights of living away from one’s phones.

The bright bop, which is written, composed and produced by the teenaged Nikamma, is out via Molfa Music, the “I-pop” curating label set up by production house Jugaad Motion Pictures. In the video, Nikamma and his friend Ahana (portrayed by actor Avantika Rikhye) realize the power’s out and their phone battery is nearly dead.

As the inevitable occurs, they take to all kinds of live-in-the-moment dares and competitions, from the egg and spoon race to making disgusting concoctions with random ingredients to dare each other to drink, push-up contests and more. The endearing music video is directed and written by filmmaker Dar Gai and shot at a farmhouse of sorts by Swaraj Sriwastav.

Nikamma says of the track in a statement, “I titled the track ‘Ahana’ because it signifies a radiating hope of a new beginning that will possibly result in something beautiful. The word also resembles the sun in a way, so I also compare my special person to the sun as her presence brightened my life up.”

Influenced by the likes of Tame Impala as well as The Strokes and R&B artist Keshi, Nikamma also lists out indie-pop artists ranging from Dayglow to Rex Orange County as inspirational to his sound. As for the moniker, the artist says, “Growing up I’ve not been the best at most stuff. Be it academics or sports I’ve been average at best. So nikamma is something I’ve felt growing up.”

Watch the video for “Ahana” below. The song is out on streaming platforms on March 6th.