Viepsa Arora, Calm and Raj’s Single ‘Bekadran’ Brings a New Delhi Twist to Drum & Bass

This year has been particularly great for Viepsa Arora. From getting a wholesome response from Ayushmann Khurrana to a reel of her showcasing her singing chops to documenting her time grinding in London, one thing is evidently clear: Viepsa understands the plight of an independent musician. The New-Delhi-based singer-songwriter-producer has been a refreshing example of social media content creation being used successfully to complement a burgeoning music career. She recently dropped a high-octane, liquid drum & bass track titled “Bekadran” featuring Calm from Seedhe Maut and produced by the multi-instrumentalist and producer Raj. 

The cover art for the song borrows heavily from the late ’80s vaporwave aesthetic, with Viepsa adorned in blue rocking a blue biker helmet to match the ensemble. Immediately setting the tone for an Akira-esque, post-futuristic mood. The song lulls you in from Arora’s controlled and velvety vocals, which she uses to flex her Punjabi roots. Pining for a lost and forgotten love, and regretting unsaid admissions, “Bekadran” paints a picture of self-awareness and acceptance. 

Within a minute of the track, however, is when the production shifts gears and leaps away from a warm Punjabi ballad to a relentlessly pulsating breakbeat. Siddhant Sharma, aka Calm from Seedhe Maut, makes his feature on the track immediately memorable by adopting a flow that mimics the UK Garage treatment that producer Raj has architected.  

“Mann kare kahu jo I’m feeling, mila nahi yaha what I’m feining // sahi tha jaha bhi yakeenein, but I put one pair in the deep end” 

Calm’s verse is admittedly nothing out of the ordinary, and the lyricism here is easily the weaker aspect of the track—especially since the sheer amount of top-tier projects that he, along with fellow Seedhe Maut member Encore ABJ, has put out this year is nothing short of unprecedented. However, it succeeds in understanding the assignment – which is to match the pace that Viepsa has set. 

This is further proven when Viepsa joins Calm and begins to exercise her own rap muscles. A refreshing take on a globally rising subgenre with a core identity rooted in Punjabi sonics. Raj, who has been nothing short of a steadily rising tidal wave in the lo-fi and alternative production spaces in India, continues to offer an exciting staple.  

“Bekadran” organically blends a club-friendly, drum & bass groove with melodically rich vocals and an electrifying hip-hop feature. The New Delhi trio of Viepsa, Calm, and Raj is undoubtedly one to look out for and looks to offer a cross-cultural fusion of genres and sounds.