India has always been a hotbed of countless music forms and musicians who have brought them alive on stage and various platforms. With changing social landscapes and increasing internet penetration across the nation, we also have witnessed the rise of a tribe of indie musicians who have wooed us all with their different approach to the craft of the music.
Let’s look at some artists who are contributing hugely to the rise of independent music in our country. Fresh, imaginative and full of new age narrative for the soul, each one is a class apart.
Shirley Setia An Indian origin resident from New Zealand, she lends a unique touch to popular Hindi film songs and presents them in a fresh package. With a growing fan base, she is a star worth watching out for.
The F16s This ensemble from Chennai have dotted the lineups across the major music festivals in India namely the Hornbill Festival, NH7 Weekender, India Bike Week, GoMAD and ZimaFest. Their unique infusion of music, vocals and lyrics is a treat!
Parvaaz Since 2010, they have been creating quite a buzz in the Indian rock music scene with their different approach to music. With a nice sounding blend of rock with Urdu, Hindi and a little bit of Kashmiri lyrics.
Hari & Sukhmani This incredible duo from Chandigarh brings alive Punjabi folk with ample doses of ambient electronic music. Sukhmani’s trained classical singing Hari's mastery over electronic music sets them apart.
Maati Baani The incredible duo of Nirali Kartik and Kartik Shah have been rocking the stage as they belt out melodies inspired to the core with Hindustani classical music. But what sets them apart are their collaboration with artists from across the globe.
Ankur & The Ghalat Family Led from the front by Ankur Tewari, this band has its own way to influence the audience and make them sway to their scintillating display of music. Setting the stage on fire like no one else, they have a long stint in this scene.
When Chai Meets Toast The band formed by Ashwin, Achyuth, Pai Sailesh and Palee Francis is a revelation as they have been mesmerizing the audience and listeners with their interesting mix of English, Hindi and Tamil. Already a rage on Youtube, they are slowly but surely inching their way to make a mark across the nation.
Dream Note A Rajasthan based Indie-Rock band formed in 2014 by Sachin Singh and Gaurav Tiwari, was bolstered with later additions of Yash Verma, Taresh Agarwal, Saurabh Parihar and Bharat Pareek. Their soulful and heart touching Hindi numbers are sure to grown on you with every passing day.
Taba Chake An indie music wonder from Arunachal Pradesh who brings a nice mixture of nature’s sounds, birds and tribal folklore to uplift his musical forms. He performs in Assamese, Nyishi, Hindi and English and that makes him so endearing. Needless to say, he has broken language barriers in his attempt to forge new and bold musical forms for his dear audience and fans.
