The 22 Best Indian Independent Singles of 2022 

22. BeBhumika, Katoptris — “Pareshaan” 

Among the songs that would’ve turned up on any streaming algorithm’s shuffle mode, BeBhumika and Katoptris deal with the frustrations of Gen Z forgetfulness, anxieties and modern existence on their Hindi song “Pareshaan.” In just about two-and-a-half minutes, we see confessional lyrics, cheery pop beats and BeBhumika’s soulful croon.  — AT 

21. The Runway – “Find Me Find You” 

Nagaland-based synth-pop band The Runway deliver a buoyant track filled with glitzy guitar parts, an airy drum and bass groove and, of course, flavorful synths while the honeyed lead vocals also stand out for catchy melodies and effervescent performance on their upbeat offering “Find Me Find You.” – DB 

20. Mali — “Ashes” 

Singer-songwriter Mali finds her way out of heartbreak and like most of us, it’s not easy. That’s what she’s admitting on “Ashes,” her latest single which looks back at a relationship that ended last year. Warm guitar and piano arrangements put the song’s focus squarely on Mali’s lyrics: “Hope you’re happier now/ Cuz I’m nearly insane.” — AT 

19. Kenneth Soares – “Cigarettes” 

Mumbai singer-songwriter Kenneth Soares’ breezy single “Cigarettes” is neatly woven with funky guitar stabs, chunky and groovy basslines, lively drums, sparkly keyboard parts, melodic guitar lines and a sizzling solo as well as Soares’ timber voice. On the track, the musician says, “‘Cigarettes’ is the product of ambition and restlessness.” – DB 

18. Tanmaya Bhatnagar – “kyun hota hai?” 

New Delhi singer-songwriter Tanmaya Bhatnagar’s soft-pop track “kyun hota hai?” showcases her contemporary side with its eclectic soundscapes while the artist’s smooth harmonies against the playful production make it quite the earworm. – DB 

17. Gaya — “Qisse” 

Returning after a five-year hiatus earlier this year, Dubai-based, Chennai-born artist Gaya penned a heartfelt song about ambitions, desires and all the tangles in between for “Qisse.” The title track off her upcoming album, Gaya’s way with tender vocal melodies and a spirited hook makes this a cozy, inspiring song to put on your morning playlist. — AT 

16. Raghav Meattle – “Am I Overthinking This?” 

Mumbai-based singer-songwriter Raghav Meattle began the year by releasing his delicate track called “Am I Overthinking This?” It features quaint acoustic guitar parts, melodic whistling, Meattle’s tender voice and poignant lyrics. The song also marked Meattle’s debut as a producer and he says, “I wrote this song about my mental health a few years ago and the loneliness that comes with being an artist.” – DB 

15. Anoushka Maskey – “So Long, Already. Again.”  

Over the last two years, Mumbai/Sikkim singer-songwriter Anoushka Maskey has been churning out music consistently. This year’s single came wrapped neatly in a soulful and dreamy offering called “So Long, Already. Again.” The track features melodic guitar lines throughout while lush production touches keep it engaging as Maskey’s mellifluous vocals add to the treat that is “So Long, Already. Again.” – DB 

14. Kamakshi Khanna and Sanjeeta Bhattacharya – “Swimming” 

New Delhi-bred singer-songwriters Kamakshi Khanna and Sanjeeta Bhattacharya joined forces this year on the gentle single titled “Swimming.” Sonically, the track opens with tender piano parts before other elements such as ukulele, guitar and percussions add to the emotion of the song, while both Khanna and Bhattacharya’s vocals sit quite exquisitely next to each other. – DB 

13. Tejas – “As I’m Getting Older” 

After releasing his stellar sophomore full-length album Outlast last year, Mumbai singer-songwriter Tejas returned in 2022 with a refreshing new single titled “As I’m Getting Older.” The track preserves the artist’s infectious melodies, indulgent production as well as strong lyricism. – DB 

12. Aanchal Bordoloi — “Whiskey Blues” 

Assam-bred, Bengaluru-based Aanchal Bordoloi spent much of 2022 becoming a mainstay in the live music space, earning support slots for artists like Parvaaz. A powerful force at all these shows is “Whiskey Blues,” a twinkly folk-pop single in which Bordoloi sings with a newfound sense of wisdom about heartbreak. — AT 

11. Aarifah – “Now She Knows” 

After being part of the country’s independent music scene for a number of years and gaining plenty of experience as an artist, Mumbai-bred singer-songwriter Aarifah finally released her debut solo single this year, the stunning “Now She Knows.” The song kicks off with delicate acoustic guitar work before Aarifah’s blissful voice chimes in with perfect pitch and a relaxed texture, as she begins to paint a beautiful picture through her lyrics. The track then opens up with strumming, bass parts, ambient sonic elements, harmonies, counter melodies and dynamism. – DB 

10. MS Krsna — “Odathey Oliyathey” 

Chennai singer-songwriter MS Krsna started off the year telling us that good things were coming our way and there’s no need to hide or run away from them. In his charming Tamil eloquence, playful guitar melodies and production sense, there’s a ray of hope shining bright as ever, something that perhaps everyone needs to hear at the start of every new year. — AT 

9. The Colour Compound – “Holding On To The Hope” 

Mumbai pop-rock band The Colour Compound released their first new song in eight years in the shape of the optimistic track “Holding On To The Hope.” While a live version of the song performed at Mumbai’s erstwhile Cotton Press Studio has been sitting on the band’s YouTube channel since 2015, the newly released offering includes fascinating sonic embellishments. However, the track does retain The Colour Compound’s quintessentially stiff rhythm section, melodic guitar parts, honest songwriting as well as catchy hooks. – DB  

 8. Friends from Moon – “Rebellion Road” 

New Delhi musician Ritwik Shivam aka Friends from Moon’s energetic track “Rebellion Road” includes melodic distorted guitar parts, a pumping rhythm section, his steely vocals and an overall well-rounded rock sound. Talking about the song, Shivam says, “It has everything to do with being a misfit and an inhibited person.” – DB 

7. Meba Ofilia — “Feelings” 

Without a doubt, Shillong singer-songwriter and rapper Meba Ofilia has had a meteoric few years but she uses “Feelings” to talk about the moment of clarity she’s had about the meaning of life. She injects soul into every word and philosophizes, making “Feelings” a comedown song (composed by Mebarisha Rynjah and Adiel Massar aka adL) that can calm a lot of nerves of people who are perhaps caught up in a frantic race. — AT 

6. Vaisakh Somanath — “Death of January” 

It’d been a fair few years since the release of singer-songwriter Vaisakh Somanath’s standout debut EP Thevai. Early this year, he released a powerful Malayalam song called “Death of January,” in memory of his late mother Vasanthakumari T.S., who passed away in January 2021. A swaying pace and groove accompanies Somanath’s heart-piercing questions like, “How hard do I have to laugh, to laugh like my mom?” and keeping her memory alive through his own actions. It’s a tearjerker tune that reminds everyone of their own mothers. — AT  

5. Lucky Ali — “Intezaar” 

The seasoned genius of Lucky Ali as a pop singer has occupied more and more space over recent years, marking a resurgence that surely no one would complain about. After all, it’s given us a song like “Intezaar,” which sees Ali team up once again with producer Mikey McCleary to deliver a soulful, sing-along earthen modern Hindi pop song about patience in matters of the heart. — AT 

4. Shikhar – “Moonbrain” 

Bhopal-bred singer-songwriter Shikhar’s impressive debut single “Moonbrain” oozes with bright acoustic guitar work, snappy production, a tight bass and drum groove as well as his outstanding vocals. “It’s a song about growing up alienated,” says the musician. – DB. 

3. Dhruv Visvanath — “Suffocation” 

It seems like New Delhi singer-songwriter, producer and composer Dhruv Visvanath is steadily building up to a pop magnum opus, the way songs like “Suffocation” sparkle, twist and still bear his signature fingerstyle/percussive guitar style. Taken from his EP Demons, he’s mired in a new conundrum as he sings, “I’ve been living in a fantasy/ I’ve lost effect on gravity/ Stop lighting fires in the middle/ I can’t do what you were expecting of me.” — AT 

2. Reble x kbjj — “Talk of the Town” 

Shillong artists Kbjj and Reble ask all the annoying boys to go cry to their mommas with the warning, “You can’t handle this, even if you try!” That’s why “Talk of the Town” is a bad-bitch anthem from the pop duo comprising vocalist Emma Challam and producer Erick Franky and a searing quick verse from rapper Reble that just decimates. Jumping from intriguing basslines and guitar riffs to soaring R&B vocals, trap beats and more, “Talk of the Town” is a rollercoaster ride from start to finish. — AT  

1. Chirag Todi (ft. Ramya Pothuri & RANJ) — “Love Nobody” 

Between Chirag Todi in Ahmedabad, producer Pushkar Srivatsal in Mumbai (from duo Second Sight), singer-songwriter Ramya Pothuri in Los Angeles and singer-songwriter and rapper RANJ aka Ranjani Ramadoss in Bengaluru, they produced a suitably moody banger “Love Nobody.” Wholly new sonic terrain for Todi, there’s dark hip-hop, jazz and pop fingerprints throughout as the artists navigate being bothered by the end of a relationship. — AT