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New Delhi-based rapper Prabh Deep, hailed as India’s most fearless rapper, has always been vocal and outspoken about the issues that matter through his slick verses.

Amidst the COVID 19 outbreak that has gripped the nation with the Prime Minister announcing a 21-day lockdown, Prabh Deep has digitally released his latest single, ‘Pandemic’ through Azadi Records.

Through the song, Prabh Deep asks us to look into how our greed has taken a toll on mankind and how the disease is nature’s way of reminding us to mend our ways before it’s too late.

Produced by the rapper with visuals by Anurag Sharma, the song is now available on the official YouTube channel of the artist.

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Hip-hop collective Swadesi is out with the music video of their latest single ‘Jung’ from their debut album, ‘Chetavni’.

A Graphic India Production, the music video uses the narrative of the famous Kurukshetra battle of 18 days from the Mahabharata, to highlight how our society and the world at large are waging wars to fulfil their own selfish purposes.

In a press release, the band echoes this thought, Our nation and the world we live in is always forced to fight against each other, for natural resources, power etc. Friends, co-workers, and relationships often fall prey to such mind-filled wars amongst each other. What we fail to realise is the ones who instigate wars are all on one side, creating wars to keep the people controlled by them and making them fight against each other. It highlights the fact the people who fight wars are the losers and the ones who instigate them walk away unscathed.”

Teaming up with producer Naar, the theme of the video has been created by Grant Morrison.

The debut album is now streaming worldwide.

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Hindi Alt rock band The Yellow Diary had a great start to 2020. It started with the release of their immensely loved single, ‘Rab Raakha’, which has been streaming across all platforms to overwhelming fan love and reception. The band even went on a multi-city tour across India to promote their song.

Now, with social anxiety and emotions on the lowside with the nation-wide lockdown in motion, the band decided to release a brand new version of the song, titled, ‘Dhoondti Firaan’, in collaboration with pop princess Akasa.

The treatment may differ but the sentiment remains. That no matter where we are, we must believe that someone above us all is watching over us. The song fills us with hope and compassion and makes us look forward to better days ahead.

On her collaboration with the band, Akasa comments, “I have always been an admirer of The Yellow Diary`s songs, `Rab Raakha`, of course, is my favourite. I am very excited to be collaborating with such a talented band. `Dhoondti Firaan` will definitely fill hearts with positivity and light, which is the need of the hour."

`Dhoondti Firaan` is now available across all leading streaming platforms.

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If the lockdown has left you weary and worried, then singer-songwriter Raghav Meattle’s latest single is the comfort blanket you need to slip into for solace.

Paying an ode to the monotony and mundanity that follows the lives of the young and reckless in the city of dreams, Raghav’s ‘City Life’ makes for easy listening with its thoughtful verses and plaintive yet liberating melody.

The music video of the song dropped on YouTube last week, which has been shot on a good, old Kodak 8 MM film by Abhimanyu Sengupta. Directed and edited by Rajdip Ray, who first spotted Meattle rendering an exclusive preview of the song on Abish Mathew’s ‘Son of Abish’, the video captures the nostalgia and the old-world charm of Mumbai seeped within the hustle and bustle of an everyday routine.

‘City Life’ also marks Meattle’s collaboration with indie music’s biggest talents on board including Karun Kannampilly and Jason D’Souza from The Koniac Net on drums and guitars respectively, bass by Nishant Nagar, mixed by producer Zain Calcuttawala and mastered by Skyharbor’s guitarist Keshav Dhar.

Following up the success of his debut album ‘Songs from a Matchbox’ in 2018, to his recent collaboration with Vernon Noronha on ‘Dream Sandwich’ in 2019, Raghav has released ‘City Life’ while also dabbling in his day-job as head of marketing for the music label, Big Bang Music.

The song is now available on YouTube and across major music streaming platforms.

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For many familiar with the Indian independent music scene, Pratika Prabhune is a name synonymous with everything home-grown and self-made. The Mumbai-based artist does not shy away from experimenting with genres as far as her musical aspirations are concerned nor does she refrain from indulging in different playgrounds of the music fraternity, whether its event management, artist and repertoire or digital marketing.

Adding another feather to her hat, the artist has just released her latest single, ‘To The High’ in collaboration with Daira frontman Piyush Kapoor. The single is replete with varied influences of the duo including electronic, dance and pop. The song aims at letting listeners appreciate and value the little and finer things in life, while everyone is held indoors.

A music video has also been officially streaming on Pratika’s official YouTube channel, since the past fortnight, which features Piyush too, alongside the songwriter.

Pro-actively, Pratika performs as the vocalist for the Mumbai-based five piece metal band, Chronic Phobia and also doles out verses as MC PEP. 

You can listen to the song which is streaming currently on Radio City Freedom.

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Ashwini Hiremath aka Krantinaari has released her debut single by the same name, earlier last week.

A reflection upon the life of women in a very patriarchal world, the song has been sourced from Ashwini’s own findings about herself and from women around her.

She adds, “While the song speaks the language of justice, equality and unity for women, it is also a word by a woman, for a woman and to the women. The track aims at motivating and bringing all the women together to create a harmony between the genders. Krantinaari is not just a song but also a ation of a woman`s life in our modern times.”

Accompanied by Shilpa Gulhane’s vocals, the track has been produced by Swadesi’s music producer RaaKshaS a.k.a Abhishek Shindolkar and mixed and mastered by Joshua Fernandes (also Swadesi).

For those who do not know, Krantinaari is a multidisciplinary artist. Her stories evolve around her own experiences as a woman growing up in a gender imbalanced society. She loves to express herself through music and art. A firm believer of sustainable lifestyle, the artist has also published a book called, ‘Earth’.

The song is now streaming on Radio City Freedom and Radio City Hip-Hop

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Mumbai-based multilingual crew Swadesi return with a gritty single that takes a critical, in-depth look at how Indian society has reacted to the COVID-19 pandemic. Mahamaari, the group`s latest single, features Bengali-Hindi rapper Maharya and Mawali, one of Maharashtra`s finest lyricists diving deep into the failings of the Modi government in dealing with the pandemic and the general population`s subservience to an administration that has obviously failed in carrying out their core duties.

One of the few artists from the Indian hip-hop scene that has built its brand on offering `outspoken and bold` political viewpoints from the heart of the Indian youth - Swadesi are relentless in their pursuit of speaking truth to power. Produced by WhayL, Mahamaari is a refreshing change from the trap-based productions currently flooding the airwaves - going back to the humble beginnings of the Indian hip-hop of vocals being recorded over phones.

Swadesi released their debut album ‘Chetavni’ in February 2020, almost five years after the release of the seminal ‘Laaj Watte Kai’. In 2019, they releasedThe Warli Revolt, a collaborative piece with Adivasi tribal chieftain Prakash Bhoir that became an anthem for the Save Aarey movement.    

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Following a freestyle session gone wrong during his maiden tour to UK in 2017, Naezy confronts the awkwardness of that situation with ‘302’, his latest single which he introduces to us as an alter ego.

In association with his longtime collaborator Karan Kanchan, Naezy sets the record straight with his mean rhymes and verses that showcases his angst and rage against those who once looked down upon him.

In equal measure, the rapper also takes a dig at the apathy of political and religious ideologies that have polarized lives to fulfill their own selfish needs. 

The rapper rose to fame with his breakout single, ‘Aafat’ in 2014. Fans and critics have raved over his songwriting which amalgamates countryside fervor and global sounds.

You can check out the song across leading music platforms.

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Noted guitarist of Paradigm Shift and Hook, Chinmay Agarkar and singer/songwriter Pratika Prabhune have combined their creative forces to give us a brand, new fresh perspective of nu metal with ‘Toxic’.

A project by Agarkar’s GrooveBot, his nu/industrial metal moniker, ‘Toxic’ blends influences from the early 2000’s alongside contemporary sounds using heavy riffs and crunchy synth therefore offering us a headbanging composition replete with meaty breakdowns and dark vocal harmonies.

The artwork of the single has been conceptualized by Dark Matter aka Ronen Samson, a former Radio City Freedom Award winner for his album art in Paradigm Shift’s ‘Sammukh’.

The single is now streaming across leading music platforms and its lyric video is available on YouTube.

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Following the success of his debut album, ‘Little Kid Big Dreams’, one of the finest young voices from Kashmir, rapper Ahmer Javed collates forces with celebrated MC and social activist Delhi Sultanate to give us a pulsating new single, ‘Zor’ which reflects upon the effects accompanied by the lockdown imposed on Kashmir since August 2019.

Mixed and mastered by Arsh Sharma with artwork by Zuhaib Bhat, ‘Zor’ is a fight to preserve the principles of freedom and liberation at a time when prolific activists namely Safoora Zargar, Devanagana Katila (Pinjra Tod), Asif Sultan, Sudha Bharadwaj, Mahesh Raut and many others have been unlawfully detained for speaking up against a tone-deaf establishment.

The song is now available on leading music platforms with a music video, currently streaming on YouTube.

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Given the anxiety and pain induced by the ongoing global pandemic that has left many stranded away from their homes and families, singer/songwriter Raghav Meattle offers yet another gentle melody in ‘Back To The Known’. Replete with lyrics that strike a chord with the young and reckless, Raghav’s song is about homesickness and everything that comes with being away from home, literally and metaphorically.

Raghav adds, “Many of us leave our homes with the hope of making something of our lives, and the song touches upon inevitable moments of vulnerability that come with it.”

Earlier this year during the lockdown, the artiste also released his single, ‘City Life’, which reflected upon the unending woes of a fast-paced routine

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A few weeks after the soulful ‘Mai Ni Meriye’, popular electronic duo, Lost Stories featuring Prayag Mehta and Rishab Joshi, are back with yet another peppy single, ‘Noor’.

In collaboration with Zaeden and Akanksha Bhandari, ‘Noor’, an electro-pop-folk track features a young girl waiting for her lover to return. As conveyed through the lyrics, the girl spins a wheel of memories as she awaits the return of her beloved.

Mehta and Joshi are creating waves having made history as the first Indian artistes to be selected for YouTube`s Foundry, a  global artiste development programme that supports independent artistes build their repertoire on their own terms.

What makes the song delightful is the music video featuring a panda that represents the emotions felt in the song. The visuals will surely bring a smile to your face.

You can checkout the video on YouTube and stream/download the song from leading music portals.

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For the anxious millennial heart, nothing can bring more respite than a Prateek Kuhad composition. Over two long years since his chartbusting EP, ‘cold/mess’ followed by two world tours and multiple live shows, Kuhad returns with his latest song, ‘Kasoor’.

Released on June 30 across leading music streaming platforms, ‘Kasoor’ is a special song as it establishes the singer/songwriter’s fan-first approach. The music video which was simultaneously released alongside the song, is the first fan-sourced music video for the artiste. Made in collaboration with around 400 loyal fans from across the world, the video was conceptualized and shot by Jugaad Motion Pictures. Besides his fans, you’ll also notice prominent appearances by actor Jim Sarbh, singer Jonita Gandhi and stand-up comedian Mallika Dua.

Following a mailer sent to his fans by Kuhad, the submissions from fans saw an overwhelming response as over 400 videos were received, amounting to 45 hours of footage that had to be shortened, in order to fit into a 3-minute video. Poignant and soulful in equal measure, the video captures real, raw emotions of human nature on camera. Over a few simple questions, one can witness a range of emotions on display. The portions featuring Prateek were ably shot by the production house through Zoom calls.

Prateek released the video on his IGTV which fetched over a million views within 24 hours. It’s currently trending on YouTube at #13.

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Following the success of their last collaboration, ‘Karvaan’, Zenith and Charan have teamed up forces once again for ‘Tarse’, an electro-pop dance single which reflects upon the equation between two people who are in love but are okay with staying apart. Charan’s vocals compliment Zenith’s trippy composition that evokes a feeling of contemplation and bliss.

The emotional cues of the composition is consummated by a crescendo, leaving the listener to ponder if love is enough between two people.

‘Tarse’ marks the fourth collaboration between Zenith and Charan after ‘Junglee’, ‘Kho Gaye’ and ‘Karvaan’.

The song is now streaming on Radio City Freedom.

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Given the gloom and despair that surrounds us following a global pandemic, singer-songwriter MILI gives listeners a beacon of hope with her new single, ‘Keep The Hope Alive’, a song she has penned and composed at her own studio during the quarantine period.

MILI says, “While the world was going into a lockdown, it got me thinking about themagnitude of the situation. This is something everyone in the world is going through at thesame time and the emotions and thoughts experienced are the same. My new song aims tokeep the hope alive and spirits up as we continue our fight against the pandemic. As theseare anxious times, we need to stay optimistic and take one day at a time as we’re all in thistogether”.

Known for her film collaborations with composers A.R Rahman and Amit Trivedi on ‘Ambikapathy’’s ‘Parakka Seivaai’ and ‘Kai Po Che’s ‘Meethi Boliyaan’, respectively and have attained fame for `Badari Badariyaan` and `Yatra` on Coke Studio@MTV, MILI recorded her 10 track debut album ‘Written in the Stars’ in Los Angeles with world renowned musicians who’ve worked with the likes of Sting and Frank Zappa in 2017.

`Keep The Hope Alive` is now streaming on Radio City Freedom.

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With her debut track, ‘Banna Re’ acquiring immense success clocking over 13 million streams since release, singer/songwriter Chhavi Sodani has released her second song, ‘Jaag’ in July 2020.

A beacon of hope and light in adverse times, Chhavi has blended spoken poetry with pop influences to lend an easy, happy dimension to the song. Through her song, Chhavi hopes that listeners will connect with the theme of introspection and rediscover motivation to aspire the best versions of themselves.

Originally from Hyderabad, Chhavi moved to Mumbai following her stint on the reality music show, Fame Gurukul, where she emerged as one of the twelve finalists. Besides being a singer/songwriter, she is also a music producer and a poet.

‘Jaag’ is now streaming on Radio City Freedom.

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Known for his prolific film songs in the Hindi industry, singer-songwriter Nikhil D’Souza weaves delightful narratives through his latest EP, ‘Waqt’. An ode to old-school romance that once bore innocence and naivety, D’Souza hopes his new line up of songs evoke nostalgia for everyone who listens to it.

Succeeding right after the release of his two-track EP, ‘People’ earlier this year, what makes ‘Waqt’ a must-listen for ardent fans is that it is the first elaborate effort by the musician in a long time to render music in Hindi. Given the adverse times, this comes across as an initiative to ensure that the reach is far and wide.

“Waqt is definitely an interpretive account of my personal experiences and so it truly holds a very special place in my heart. I’m extremely excited about this one, since it’s also the single largest body of work in Hindi I have put out at one time. I do hope that these tracks take everyone back in time and evoke the same sense of love and nostalgia, as they did for me,” says the ‘Sham’ singer.

The artwork by Noopur Kabra resonates with the diverse themes explored through the EP. Written by Pinky Poonawala, the themes vary from surprise, regret and fulfillment. ‘Gaye Zamaane’ is a hat tip to old school love, ‘Teri Tarah’ is about the regret of letting go of a love that was wholesome, ‘Hairaan’ is about realizing that you may not know your beloved well enough, ‘Thode Se Kam’ is about finding someone who completes you and you look back at how life felt inadequate in their absence.

‘Waqt’ is now streaming on Radio City Freedom and across leading music portals.

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Released through Gravity Sounds, a music label run by Gaurav Raina from Midival Punditz, comes a refreshing debut album by Anhad and Tanner, two diametrically opposite producers who bring in the best of their Indian and Western influences to offer us a mystical experience with ‘In Other Words’.

In their words, they describe their work as, “an album of exploration and discovery”.

While Delhi’s Anhad Khanna sources elements of Indian classical music in his compositions, Durham’s Tanner Willeford spins in contemporary jazz and Western classicals to redefine sounds from the Asian Underground with this seven-track album. Interestingly, the artwork of the album reflects the marriage of both influences.

The album features stellar collaborations including classical vocalist Pavithra Chari (of Shadow and Light fame), singer/songwriter Kamakshi Khanna, tabla player Sarthak Pahwa, flutist Vibhor Mathur, Vinayak Panth and Soumitra Thakur on sitar, guitarist Aditya Balani and vocalist Saptak Chatterjee.

Inspired by the works of Talvin Singh, Karsh Kale and Midival Punditz themselves, the album has been mixed by Raina at his Hauz Khas studio in Delhi and mastered by Graeme Durham at The Exchange Studios in London.

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Chaitnya Sharma aka SlowCheeta is ready to pump his listeners up and leave them pondering with his 3-track EP, ‘Rok Nahi Paayega’. Released through Ranveer Singh’s IncInk Records, the EP traces an expression of unstoppable, indomitable spirit.

Spitting lyrics as if almost having a dialogue with his listeners, SlowCheeta charms you with his easy verses that speak about his journey and evolution as an artist who was once a young hip-hop aspirant, through the songs namely ‘Chal Chal Mere Saath’, ‘Shwapon’ and ‘Wannabe Rapper’.

The rapper quotes, This EP is a piece of my heart. It`s something I`m putting out there, so listeners get to know me better- Where it all began.. ? Why I do it? And what I dream of? It`s 3 tracks, written in completely different phases of my life, and as the title ROK NAHI PAAYEGA suggests, nothing can stop me from doing what makes me the happiest- MAKING RAP MUSIC !!”

The EP also brings on board some of the finest, emerging indie talents from across our country. Music producers Mr., Doss and Ink Heart have lent their able production skills. Bengali folk singer Dipannita Acharya features in `Shwapon` and vocalist Delraaz Bunshah has collaborated with SlowCheeta on ‘Wannabe Rapper’.  The music video of ‘Wannabe Rapper’ is out now on the YouTube channel of IncInk Records.

‘Rok Nahi Paayega’ is now streaming on Radio City Freedom and Radio City Hip Hop.

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Succeeding the release of her first single, ‘Age of Limbo’ from her upcoming album, ‘Caution to the Wind’, Chennai’s singer/songwriter Maalavika Manoj aka Mali raises pertinent questions through her new song, ‘Absolute’, demanding answers from those in power who have letdown people and their beliefs. The thought behind the song is well reflected in the artwork by Jan Juhaniak.

Heavily laden with keys and dreamy guitar arrangements, the song tips off its hat to the influences of the 60s and 70s when the likes of The Beatles, The Carpenters, The Bee Gees and The Beach Boys were crowd favourites. A soulful choir featuring Mali’s closest friends accentuate the track further.

Produced, arranged and mixed by Arnob Bal and mastered by Kristian Montano, Mali has written and composed the song alongwith Jehangir Jehangir on drums, Stuart DaCosta on bass and Luke Moller on strings.

‘Absolute’ is now streaming on Radio City Freedom.

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Anushka Menon who performs as Anushka, throws the lid off society’s superficial lenses with her latest song, ‘Take’, succeeding the release of her sensational 2019 debut, ‘Falling’.

Co-produced by Sid Vashi, ‘Take’ taps into one’s constant conflicts with his/her inner self as a result of being at the receiving end of constant judgement and social media scrutiny that proves to leave behind toxic effects. Anushka urges her listeners to silence their naysayers with kindness, love and confidence. Mixed by the award-winning Salvage Audio Collective and mastered by Audible Oddities, the music video of the song has been released on YouTube as well. Directed by Ishaan Nair and shot by Sachin Pillai, the visuals instill a sense of liberation and freedom.

A renowned name in the world of fashion photography who successfully transitioned into music production through DJing as one half of Anushka + Agent alongside Smita Singh, Anushka has carved her own niche as a music producer whose music is edgy and is woven with a sense of aesthetics and authenticity.

‘Take’ is now streaming on Radio City Freedom.

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It was epiphany when Pritesh or Prabhu Neigh, Pratika’s brother and producer of the latter’s latest single; ‘Scum’ was sampling a beat. Pratika knew that a song was in the making and she instantly got down to penning its verses which would look back into a time and space where she was battling her demons on her own."

“‘Scum’ is an honest conversation about how I used to feel - my thoughts going astray, along with people’s unwanted opinions that I couldn’t overcome back then. As you listen to the song, you will understand how people have seen me - from a heathen, to just batshit crazy for not fitting into their idea of normal. While I struggled with suppressing extreme thoughts, I was truly grateful to have my family around me in these tough times - whether to their knowledge of my condition or not.”, she adds.

A multi-talented entity, Pratika has had an eventful 2020 so far with two successful singles namely, ‘Burn’ with Calm from Seedhe Maut and ‘To The High’ with Piyush Kapoor, Daira frontman. Besides that she has also featured in Tienas’ second album, ‘Season Pass’, DefGiant’s single ‘Neon Dream’ from their debut EP and on GrooveBot’s debut single, ‘Toxic’.

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Featuring vocalist Vivek Jha, bassist Akhil Nargundkar, Angad Bhatia and Vaibhav Shejwal on guitars, Mumbai-based progressive metal band Festacorn have released the official music video of their first single, ‘Raspberry Punch’, from their upcoming full-length album, ‘Slap City Central’.

Dealing with existential crisis, the music video ably conveys social isolation and alienation while uniquely blending live visuals with animation. The song speaks about the innermost fears of change that plague humankind as a collective. So while the people featured in the music video are shown to be having a great time, each individual is possessing a demon of their own.

The band has upped their game in ‘Slap City Central’ in comparison to their debut EP, ‘It’s Only Natural’ with nuanced aggression in their execution while being mindful about the resonance they wish to achieve. The album is scheduled to release later in 2020.

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Featuring Marathi heartthrobs Pushkar Jog and Smita Gondkar, Umesh Khade aka Shambho, a Marathi rapper has released his latest track, ‘Man Soona’, the music video of which has been skillfully shot amidst the lush greens of Maharashtra’s countryside.

Reminiscing about love that is too good to be true, Shambho’s raps are accompanied by Keval Walanj’s vocals and the track has been mixed and mastered by Aakash Ravikrishnan.

With over 3 lakh subscribers to his credit, Shambho is a very renowned name in the Marathi hip-hop circuit. His chartbuster track ‘Tan Tan Bhan Bhan’ has clocked in over 11 million views on Youtube.

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Frequency Time Space aka FTS, featuring Rayson4 7, Nuke, Specter, Quest and Tienas have released the music video of their latest single, ‘Shark Tank’ on YouTube on August 22nd.

Using the party game Shark Tank as a metaphor, FTS reflects upon life in a competitive world where the idea of freedom is confined to comfort and tentative pleasures. Produced, mixed and mastered by Tienas, the music video has been conceptualized by Shrey Did It.

​A hip-hop collective from Mumbai, FTS dabbles with hip-hop, pop, space and elements, bringing in diverse perspectives and approaches towards their music.

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Mumbai music production duo brothers Abhishek and Joydeep Dasgupta aka Zia have combined forces with the incredibly popular Winit Tikoo to question the existence of freedom of speech and choice in a democracy that is battling a profound sense of intolerance, keeping in mind the representation of the LGBT community following the abolishment of Section 377 from the Indian Penal Code in September 2018,

Titled, ‘Meri Azaadi’, the track was written and produced a year before the celebrated verdict, in favour of LGBT rights, reiterating the need of a voice and identity for a large number of lives that are constantly polarized by a banal, intolerant society. 

With pulsating drums and strings, ZIA hits a remarkable debut, sung masterfully by Tikoo. The track is the first of many upcoming collaborations that the duo have in the pipeline with some of the most distinguished indie faces including the likes of Nikhil D`Souza, Siddharth Basrur, Kanchan Daniel, Aarifah Rebello, Piyush Kapoor and Anand Bhaskar.

‘Meri Azaadi’ is now streaming on Radio City Freedom.

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Replete with an intrinsic use of ambiences and drums, Bengaluru musician and writer Roshan C Machayya has released his latest single, ‘Emptiness’ in collaboration with his musician friends, Rishabh Mansur on drums, Ritika Bhushan on vocals and Sarmad Ahmad on guitar.

Written, composed and arranged by Roshan, the song reflects the universality of the human mind despite functioning through diverse cultures, experiences and journeys. The lyrics convey a sense of hope that amidst the harshest adversities, the human spirit will conquer and emerge hopeful and regaled.

The song is the first from an upcoming EP in the works that Roshan is likely to release in September 2020.

‘Emptiness’ is now streaming on Radio City Freedom.

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What’s your definition of love? Can there be a fixed idea of falling in love? Denny Thakrar, Nikhita Gandhi and Yash Narvekar explore and lay open the secrets of falling in love and being in love with their new track, ‘Jhalle Kalle’. They aren’t aiming at defining an idea of romance but instead they choose to celebrate the little things that make an epic love story.

Released by Artist Originals, ‘Jhalle Kalle’ paints a rosy picture about a couple happily in love carrying deep influences of film music coupled with R’N’B.

In the past, Denny has written British sensation’s Dido’s chartbuster track, ‘Still on My Mind’. Nikhita has sung songs for ‘Raabta’, ‘Kedarnath’ and ‘Jab Harry Met Sejal’ to name a few. Yash shot to overnight popularity with the ‘Muqabla’ remake in ‘Street Dancer 3D’, earlier this year.

The song is now playing on Radio City Freedom. 

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Singer/songwriter from Guwahati, Arham Fulfagar writes and sings from a place of anxiety and uncertainty in his latest single, ‘Make It Alright’.

But this is not a cynical, negative rendition aiming to be a melancholic experience. Instead, Arham deploys easy, uncomplicated instrumentals to make his song, a pleasant listen for his listeners. The song is about a person who hasn’t been keeping well but hopes to recover.

Currently, based out of Mumbai, the young musician is a freelance video editor by the day and occasionally writes poetry when not making music.

The song is now playing on Radio City Freedom.  

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24-year old music producer/composer from Mumbai, Sid Paul’s latest song ‘Raat’ was conceived during a night in 2018, while recording in his studio. Sampling with the strings led to him penning the verses and he approached his good friend ShashaaTirupati to sing a scratch for it.

The scratch was enough for Sid to put together the song with Nishant Nagar aka Khwaab lending his bass expertise. Once, the track was ready in 2020, Sid decided to release it with newly acquired vocals from Shashaa who sent her recording from Vancouver, during the lockdown.

Mixed and mastered by Bhaskar Sarma at Emsquare Studios, the song is about heartbreak and one lover’s expression post a breakup. The song has been accompanied by an animated video featuring animated versions of Sid and Shashaa. Keeping the latter’s background in mind, the song will also be available for fans in Tamil, which will release in September 2020.

‘Raat’ is now streaming on Radio City Freedom.

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Influenced heavily by the works of Sum 41, Foo Fighters and Blink 182 during the late 90s and early 2000s, New Delhi’s young and emerging band Bad Trip pays a fitting tribute to their musical mentors with their debut single, ‘Out Of Reach’.

Formed in 2020, the alternative/punk rock band wrote the song during the lockdown with an aim to explore unexplored depths of the genre. ‘Out Of Reach’ is about the feeling of being disconnected from the reality when things go kaput following a broken relationship.

Featuring vocalist/guitarist Rishab Koul, guitarist Aaron Asher, bassist Saira Ahmed, drummer Piyush Thomas and backing vocalist Vedant Shandilya, Bad Trip plans to roll out an album by the end of the year.

‘Out of Reach’ is now streaming on Radio City Freedom.

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Succeeding the release of her last track, ‘Flish’, singer/songwriter Banat’s latest tribute to her pet cat is replete with melodious use of the keys in the track ‘For The Child In You’.

Establishing the affecting relationship that a human being shares with his pet cat, the song is about how the cat is lethargic, unpredictable and volatile yet is as wondering and innocent as a child, showing the mirror to its human parent. In the official music video, this relationship is reflected between Yash Rohra and Gara the cat where both speak volumes about their feelings while merely gazing into each other’s eyes. Produced and Mixed by Vishal J. Singh at Pargot Studios and mastered by Tom Geldschläger at Fountainhead Q, ‘For The Child In You’ is easy on the eyes and the ears.

You can now listen to the song streaming on Radio City Freedom.

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Not one to abide within the confines of a genre or a particular style, musician Shubham Chawla who performs as Shubumm, is out with a rearranged version of his song, A Lil Closer To You’.

Sampling acoustics, strings and intimate setups, Shubumm introspects upon a time gone by that shaped his perspective and approach towards making music. He sources influences from his earlier days as an emerging musician to rearrange and revise the composition of his existing song to offer a fresh, new sound.

The music commences with a static intro and immerses you to its beats covering myriad emotions that makes the song worthy of listening to at any point of time.

‘A Lil Closer To You (Reimagined)’ is now streaming on Radio City Freedom

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Originally from Mangalore who is currently pursuing her Bachelors degree in Architecture in the Garden City, Frizzell D’Souza’s journey into making her own music began when she first rendered a cover of Prateek Kuhad’s celebrated single, ‘Cold/Mess’ as part of ‘The October Series’. A shoutout by the artist himself saw her social rankings shoot overnight and it only encouraged her to put out her own music.

Further encouragement from Ehsaan Noorani and Raghav Meattle over their Instagram lives during the lockdown, only furthered her resolve to roll out her debut single, ‘New’. A one-sided perspective about looking back at the happier times in a relationship, the song evokes hope and belief that an effort and understanding would be required to fix the imbalance in the equation.

Written, composed and recorded by Frizzell in her bedroom and produced by Akshay Baliga, the song, a treat for countryside blues enthusiasts, is now available on major music platforms and is streaming on Radio City Freedom

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Music educator and musician Kevin Shah has released a cutesy song that aims at making the idea of wearing masks, a lot more fun for children.

Since the pandemic broke, safety of children is of utmost importance for parents who are dealing with a great amount of anxiety related to their work while also helping their children come to terms with the virus. Most parents are apprehensive about letting their children step outdoors because the kids are not comfortable about wearing masks. Kevin has taken it in his hands to perk things for them with his upbeat and peppy composition, ‘The Mask Song’. The song urges kids to enjoy everything they do but also ensure their own safety first by wearing the masks.

Kevin, who also runs his music classes online has collaborated with parents and children from his music school, to release an official music video that perks up the mood further for little wonders. Since he also tends to the needs of special children, the music video features children from differing backgrounds including those dealing with neurodiverse conditions.

‘The Mask Song’ is also streaming on Radio City Freedom

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A 20-year old singer/songwriter from Pune, listening to Akshit Dhall’s labour of love, his EP ‘30th of February’ will make you introspect and question your ability to comprehend unsaid and unspoken emotions of the human mind.

Recently, the young musician released the acoustic version of the standout track from the EP, ‘Coffee’, which focuses upon the thoughts going about in the mind of a young woman who loves another woman but is afraid and unwilling to speak her heart out to the world. She waits in anticipation of a day when the society and her loved ones will be accepting and welcoming of her choices and she can finally declare her love.

Unlike budding singer/songwriters at his age, what makes Dhall stand out from the rest is his beyond-the-years understanding of complex issues, a perspective lacking even in seemingly woke folks around us. Released earlier in 2020, his EP covers a diverse range of talking points from homosexuality, mental health, separation, ambitions and aspirations.

Sampling acoustic and electric strings, ‘Coffee’ is a major testimony to the many surprises that Dhall has in store for his listeners.

You may now listen to the track streaming on Radio City Freedom.

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Singer/songwriter and vocal artist from New Delhi, Tanya Nambiar’s relationship with music just gets stronger and more mature with every new release. A recipient of the VIMA Global Music award as the Best Female Act in 2019 for her single ‘Two Lost Souls’, Tanya has now released a trippy, electro-pop lounge single, ‘Midnight Run’.

Portraying the emotions of a protagonist wanting to forget her worries and dance the night away, ‘Midnight Run’ perfectly samples electronica influences laden with Tanya’s vocally rich pop vocals that instantly registers into the minds of its listeners.

When the catchy hook line loaded with heavy bass arrives, you’ll see yourself breaking into a jig instinctively. Produced by Rahul Rathi aka Atmus, the artwork of the track which sees a woman riding atop a giant motorcycle, reflecting her taking accountability for her life choices, has been designed by Ujjwala Bassi.

‘Midnight Run’ is now streaming on Radio City Freedom. For all the carefree ladies out there, this is a track that you must add to your playlist, pronto.

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Featuring musician Arsh Goswami and visual artist Shrey Kathuria, Delhi’s new collaborative duo on the block, Hitherto is a consummation of an idea that aims at experimenting and progressing towards newer definitions of post rock.

The EP which features five tracks namely, ‘I Won’t Be Long’, ‘Opioids Make My Brain Slow’, ‘Evacuate’, ‘Inertia’ and ‘Her Voice Was Static’, offers an audio-visual narrative to its ultimate listeners covering voice samples from the John F. Kennedy speech, visuals inspired from Apollo 13 and occurrences in the outer space that would prompt unearthed emotions.

Written and produced ably by Arsh, the EP has been further lifted by Shrey’s graphic prowess as reflected in the EP’s artwork that represents astronomical bodies.

‘Hitherto’ is available across all leading music platforms and can also be streamed on Radio City Freedom.

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Following the acclaim and warm reception received by his earlier singles, ‘Khud Se Hi Baatein’ and ‘Free’, Dehradun’s Goyell Saab offers a moving rock ballad with ‘Fade Away’.

An ode to a love that once felt significant but remains a fleeting memory now, Goyell Saab infuses groovy bass and drums accompanied with smooth vocals, effectively bringing life to his well thought-out and penned verses.

Adding a touch of their expertise to his able composition, Goyell has been assisted in his labour of love by guitarists Bishan Pukhrambam and Arunav Roy, bassist Akhil Sindhwani and drummer Bharat Chandore. The track has also been mixed by Anuraag Arora.

‘Fade Away’ is now streaming exclusively, on Radio City Freedom.

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Replete with heavy drumwork, groovy synths and evocative drops, Delhi’s 22-year old music producer and DJ BeatCrush combines forces with rapper Alpha World to highlight the dependency on potent substances by the millennial generation.

Besides conventional use of drugs, the song also speaks about how our abstract obsessions about people or material can more or less, be equally consuming.

Written and sung by Alpha World, the song has been mixed and mastered by NDS with the artwork done by Smridhi Gupta.

You can now listen to ‘Puff’ on Radio City Freedom.

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Perfect for the hopeless romantics dealing with lockdown blues and with social distancing playing a major hindrance in their romances, singer/songwriter Mallika Mehta has released her debut Hindi solo, ‘Kahan Hai Tu’.

A song about pining for the affection of one’s beloved, Mallika’s seamless vocals convey exasperation, confusion, frustration and longing. The composition ably blends in influences of rains and thunder to add further effect to the emotions on display.

Written and composed by Mehta, the song was conceived during the peak of the lockdown period in May. Mehta instates that the song was brought to life through mundanity. There were no verses penned or tunes arranged. A few samplings on the keyboard and Mallika knew a song was in the making. The onset of monsoon towards May-end gave further clarity on how would the song shape about since most romantic songs are centred with rain.

The singer is elated over the release of her first single. She adds, “I never thought I’d write and release a Hindi single so soon. I thought it would still take me a while to write one since I had never tried that out but it just happened.”

‘Kahan Hai Tu’ is now streaming on Radio City Freedom.

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Following the success of their previous releases, ‘Invisible’, ‘Pill’ and ‘Lose Me’, Nimish Sethi and Rishabh Bhola aka Zeus and Crona have arrived with their latest electro-pop single, ‘Back To You’ featuring Veronica Bravo on vocals.

‘Back To You’ emotes the state of mind of a woman who lets go of a love that was good enough for her, only to regret it eventually. Currently, she hopes that their love gets a second chance to fulfil itself and she longs to go back to her man.

Sharing their excitement over the release, Nimish of Zeus X Crona said, “With this song we wanted to explore something different from the stuff we usually do. It’s a beautiful soothing and chilling track about a girl and her unbreakable love for a guy. We like to experiment with a variety of styles and genres, and hope this song appeals to the people the way we envisioned while creating it.”

Rishabh further adds, “We want to reach out to people and appeal to them with our music, spread love, and inspire young budding artists to conquer the world with their talent. We believe our music plays a role in transforming people`s lives and leads the way to elevate the electronic scene in the country. This track is actually a testament to how electronic music, which is originally a western concept has inspired us to deliver a unique form of expression through these Indian narratives.”

‘Back To You’ is now streaming on Radio City Freedom and Radio City Electronica.

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Vocalist-guitarist Saurabh Roy, bassist Shalom Benjamin and drummer Jeremy D’souza better known as the pop indie trio from Mumbai, The Lightyears Explode, offer a roaring escapade from a situation nobody really wants to confront, with their latest single, ‘Satire’.

Featuring 70`s esque rock guitars, Sly+The Family Stone style funk bass, gunshot drums and rhythmic pop inspired vocals, the songwriting is solace and respite from being trapped in a state of mundanity and hopelessness. The track is the first release from the band’s upcoming EP, ‘Mellow’.

‘Satire’ seems inspired from the monotony brought by the ongoing pandemic which has witnessed patience and perseverance wear themselves out, with every passing day.

Produced By Achint Thakkar, mixed by Ganesh Singaram and mastered By Richard Lake, the artwork of the song has been conceptualized by Harmeet Rahal.

‘Satire’ is now streaming on Radio City Freedom.

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Once the frontman of Pune prog/alt rock band Skylight Vision and a freelance photographer widely known in the city’s indie circuit, singer/songwriter Gaurav Topakhane has released his latest single, ‘Kahaani’, close on the heels of his last release, ‘Dheere Se’.

‘Kahaani’ is a bitter-sweet lingering of a heartbreak with influences largely sourced from old indie-pop tracks of the 90s. Deploying the use of whistles, the song makes the listener ponder upon the sadness of a fragile moment, but with a spirited smile.

Written by Tophakhane and Vicky Hajeri, the song has been produced by Ashish Kujur, recorded, mixed and mastered at Gray Spark Audio, Pune. The artwork which depicts loneliness and longing has been designed by Pooja Sreenivasan.

‘Kahaani’, is now streaming on Radio City Freedom.

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Feminine energy at its rawest display, Mumbai’s rap artistes Pratika and Krantinaari are hopeful for a world that is unified through its diversity. Where labels don’t exist, where marginalization isn’t a norm. A world that thrives solely on equality across all divides irrespective of caste, creed, colour and gender.

Fanning the flames of that hope, the two rappers come together to offer us their new hard-hitting collaboration, ‘Labels’. Through the song, both the ladies upend the narrative woven for decades by age-old racial slurs and bigotry where class distinctions have furthered the divides between the elite and the deprived, causing a complete social mayhem.

Krantinaari has also lent her creative expertise to the song’s artwork which ably displays the venom being spewed by vicious serpents in pursuit of their depraved means. Mixed and mastered by Arsh Sharma, the song also marks the debut production of PrabhuNeigh, a well-known sound engineer and multi instrumentalist in Mumbai’s indie circuit.

‘Labels’ is now streaming on Radio City Freedom and Radio City Hip Hop

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For the longest time, Mumbai’s hip-hop collective Swadesi has maintained its reputation of being one of the pioneers of the underground hip-hop movement in the city. Having carved a distinctive identity for themselves in the cult, Swadesi is all set to display its musical genius combined with digital art through an exclusive virtual showcase on the 11th of September.

The collective will be joined by renowned graffiti artist Zake who has redefined graffiti in India scaling it to newer heights and moving on to represent the country at the world`s biggest Graffiti festival in Brazil.

Swadesi and Zake will recreate the best works of the former as a collective. Featuring their acclaimed work in ‘The Warli Revolt’, Swadesi will cover a wide range of interests from environmental concerns to inspirations from Saint Tukaram’s poetry.

Tickets are available on Insider.in, priced at Rs. 100

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Diametrically opposite of his last release, ‘Roothey Hue’, Siddhant Mishra’s latest single, ‘Is Qadar’ sweeps you off your feet with its innocence that is reminiscent of happy-go-lucky love songs from the late 90s or early 2000s.

Handling vocals, songwriting and production together, Mishra’s electro-pop act witnesses a meeting of influences from Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, Amit Trivedi and even A.R Rahman. What’s more impressive is Mishra’s expansion in terms of experimenting with genres besides his consistent vocal prowess. While ‘Roothey Hue’ was woven through somber acoustics, ‘Is Qadar’ sees the musician sample more instruments.

Easy, poetic and sprightly, for the lack of a better word, ‘Is Qadar’ will immensely make you long for the one you love. And if they are with you, you might want to grab them and start jigging away.

‘Is Qadar’ is now streaming on Radio City Freedom.

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A widely celebrated social media influencer, singer/songwriter Shreya Jain, who has been singing since the age of five, makes a confident debut about the power of one-sided love in ‘Pasbaan’.

Impassioned and liberating, Shreya emotes the melancholy of loving someone who won’t love her back, yet it’s a love that empowers her and enables her to look out for her beloved, against all odds.

Speaking about the song, the artist comments, “Loving someone without expecting them to love you back is the most empowering feeling.  We give without wanting in return is a higher emotion that fills the heart with peace and satisfaction.  My path to fame has been my rendition of covers and I am very excited about my debut release.  I look forward to the response of my fans and audiences in general.  My close collaborators in the song, Abhijeet Srivastava and Aman Moroney have been a pillar of strength for me.  I am also very grateful to my family at Springboard Records for charting out this new path for me.”

Shot in Nagpur, the singer’s hometown, ‘Pasbaan’ has been composed by Jain, Abhijeet Srivastava and Donna Debroy. Produced, mixed and mastered by Ashish Manchandaa and Aman Moroney for Springboard Records, the song also features additional vocals by Sayantika Ghosh and Srivastava.

‘Pasbaan’ is now playing on Radio City Freedom.

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Following the success of his quartet’s first release, ‘Dr. Escher’, a couple of weeks ago, renowned jazz drummer and composer Tarun Balani and his collective Dharma have rolled out their second consecutive release, ‘As We Lay Under The Trees’ from the former’s upcoming EP, ‘The Shape of Things to Come’ which is slated for official release on October 2nd, 2020.

Sticking true to Balani’s interpretation of contemporary global sounds rooted in rich Indian influences, Dharma’s sonically rich line-up features New York trumpeter Adam O’Farrill, Finnish guitarist Olli Hirvonen, and Balani’s long time friend and bandmate pianist Sharik Hasan.

Replete with apt storytelling, Balani draws his listeners to an immersing union of acoustics and electronic influences. ‘As We Lay Under The Trees’ has been conceived from a noon spent at Christ Church Meadow, in Oxford, England where Balani was unwinding with a friend after a prolonged Summer tour across the UK and Europe in 2018.

Recorded by Grammy winning producer John Davis at Bunker Studio, New York, the artwork for the song has been designed by Travassos, an artist from Portugal, inspired by the works of Indian artist Prabhakar Barwe.

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While listening to Mumbai-based singer/songwriter Roshan Bhat’s debut single, ‘Janey Kahaan’, one can sense that the song is a reflection of the musician’s personal fulfillment as an artiste over the course of his journey.

‘Janey Kahaan’ was a track in progress since 2016. Roshan, who debuted into the independent music circuit with his bands Yaan and Boys from the South Park, had intended to execute the track as a collaboration. But things wouldn’t take off till mid 2019 when the singer decided to re-produce the song with Nikhil Medappa who laid the basic framework. Drummer-producer Moin Farooqui, guitarist Jay Rathod and bassist Abhinav Bora lifted the track further with their skillful composition. Initially scheduled for a release in April 2020, the track is finally out now across leading music portals.

Trained in Hindustani classicals, Roshan’s voice effectively conveys the purpose that fuels our existence and propels us to chase our dreams even if the possibilities seem bleak and uncertain.

‘Janey Kahaan’ is now streaming on Radio City Freedom.

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Left Turn, an indie-pop act, offers comfort and solace while surviving times of adversity through their delightfully new release, ‘Khoya Rehta Hoon’.

Featuring vocalist and guitarist Suraag Subhedar, Jairaj Joshi on drums, bassist Reagan D’Mello and Sasmit Rudra on keys and harmonium, the music video of the track witnesses individual performers across the globe come together to express solidarity and compassion amongst each other.

In the words of the band as stated in their official press statement, “This song is dedicated to all those who feel lonely. We want you to know you’re not alone. As a crucial step in the right direction, this song allows for people to open up and talk to each other without judgement.”

The song briefly reminds us that our individual strengths can add up and multiply the joys around us, eventually making the world a better place.

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Singer/songwriter Saptak Chatterjee questions the uncertainty of love with his second release, ‘Kyun’, close on the heels of his earlier release, ‘Paheli’.

Emoting the state of mind that overwhelms and confuses a person who has just fallen in love, Saptak raises pertinent questions about how can the feeling of love and being loved take over and dictate the course of a person’s actions and words.

Voicing his thoughts about the same, Saptak says, “It`s an intense, intimate and honest story of the lovers state of mind. It calls out to today`s youth, which falls in love easily, feels a lot, and hurts a lot too”.

‘Kyun’ is now streaming on Radio City Freedom

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Are you proud of the decisions you make in life irrespective of their outcomes? Composers Archit Shah and Smit Ruparel come together to explore the limitless possibilities of a reckless mind who is unafraid to play with danger and wishes to live life to the fullest, with their latest song, ‘Dil’.

Joining them on the song is vocalist Abhiruchi Singh who has also penned the verses for the song. Smit says, When we sat for a jam to make this song, all we had on our mind was the idea of this goofy girl and thankfully we had just the exact same character with us in real life too, Abhiruchi Singh. Probably one of the most pure hearted persons you`d come across, she has not only voiced the track so beautifully but also co-written the song along with us.As and when we progressed with the melody we realized that lyrically, this song could be this girl`s brain, ranting about having to deal with her most recent fudge up.”

Mixed, mastered and recorded by Shane Macwan, the track features guitars and ukulele by Soumil Pandit, drums by Jignesh Patel, percussions by Omkar Salunkhe and Pulkeet Kakkad and bass by Lavin D`Souza.

‘Dil’ is now streaming on Radio City Freedom.

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New Delhi’s revolutionary hip-hop duo Seedhe Maut and Mumbai-based trap and bass producer Karan Kanchan combine forces to present a brand new sound with their latest collaboration, ‘Dum Pishaach’.

Coupling elements of hip-hop and nu-metal, the trio offer an electrifyingly sonic experience, breaking the chain of sombre offerings that have frankly repleted the indie music space throughout this lockdown period. 

‘Dum Pishaach’ represents the energies that both indie entities stand for. While Seedhe Maut is affirmative about its position as one of South Asia’s most promising hip-hop acts, Karan looks to cement his position as the go-to producer for path-breaking sounds.

Keeping in mind the mutual love for anime and mythology, the artwork, cleverly designed by Seedhe Maut’s frequent collaborator Santanu Hazarika further establishes the foothold of both artistes in the indie music scene.

‘Dum Pishaach’ is now streaming on Radio City Freedom and Radio City Hip Hop.

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Pune-based young and emerging band Nawazishein mark a remarkable debut with their single, ‘Saajan’, a plea to love.

Featuring band members vocalist Siddhartha Sarkar, Siddharth Sagar on bass guitar, drummer and percussionist Akash Gupta, Lakshay Sharma on lead guitar and Abhishek Noel on keys, ‘Saajan’ sees a helpless heart humbly requesting her beloved to not look away from the depths of her unconditional love and remain cold and unperturbed.

Blending in Marwari influences into their Hindi songwriting, the band offer an enriching soft-rock experience.

The song is now streaming on Radio City Freedom.

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Mumbai-based music producer and DJ Harshit Agarwal better known by his stage name Zenith has released his latest single, ‘Waqt Tham Gaya Kahin’ as part of his first movie, a short film called ‘Flow’, directed by Archit Kumar from Currious List, in partnership with the artist management label, Shark and Ink.

Embracing the themes of self-love and discovery, the song prompts people to pause and ponder about themselves and urges them to explore life beyond the rat race.

The song has also been released alongside a music video directed by Kumar, who is best known for his work in Bollywood projects such as ‘Sultan’, ‘Manikarnika’ and ‘Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl’. The video features actor Gurfateh Singh Pirzada, who was last seen in the Netflix film, ‘Guilty’. Through the music video, one witnesses an artiste’s journey to self-discovery.

The song is now featuring on Radio City Freedom.

Making the most of the lockdown period to their productive best, Bengaluru-based rock band Another Kind of Green have released their catchy fourth single ‘Moonlight Swing’ from their upcoming debut album, ‘Plain Good Feeling’.

Featuring vocalist Shikha Chandrashekhar, drummer-producer Sanket Chakraborty, bassist Vishal Varier, Chethan Kadoor and Ibin Rigia on guitars and Anand Murali on keys, the happy six-member line-up have successfully released three songs from their album since November 2019 namely, ‘Hey Polly’, ‘Plain Good Feeling’ and ‘Captain Couch Potato’. Each track has fairly piqued the interest of the listeners who are eagerly awaiting the release of the full-length album, which is an 8-track offering.

Coming back to their latest release, ‘Moonlight Swing’ touches upon the euphoria and thrill, a carefree rider experiences through his midnight escapades. Replete with powerful riffs, the song captures the spirit of the young and reckless.

‘Moonlight Swing’ is now streaming on Radio City Freedom.

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Close on the heels of his earlier single, ‘Jhooti Si Baatein’ which received tremendous reception across leading music platforms, singer/songwriter Sourabh Joshi has released his new single, ‘Ek Pyaali Chai’.

An easy-flowing acoustic composition produced by Debarpito Saha and written by Pinky Poonawala, the song traces the innocence of love chancing upon a couple over a cup of tea. Young couples and millennials are likely to relate to the verses and tunes.

Originally from Jabalpur, Sourabh is one of the few names to be ably dabbling his musical prospects independently and through mainstream movies. His work has been featured in filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj’s ‘Haider’ and he has also been nominated in the past for his Marathi film song, ‘Aamhi Befikar’ as Best Playback Singer Male.

‘Ek Pyaali Chai’ is now streaming on Radio City Freedom.

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Keeping up to their promise of delivering multiple collaborations, this year, music production duo Zia are back with their second track, ‘Chor’ with Daira frontman Piyush Kapoor, in less than a month following the release of their earlier track, ‘Meri Azaadi’ with Winit Tikoo.

An out-and-out rock revelation, the song touches upon whether one should compromise on individual beliefs to fit into a society that sucks you into its murky depths of shallowness and hypocrisy and robs you off your innocence and naivety.

The official music video of the song is now out on YouTube.

‘Chor’ is now streaming on Radio City Freedom.

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Mumbai-based singer/songwriter Nikhil Pose has been releasing multiple singles from his upcoming debut album to keep the audiences engaged with his music.

But the latest single, ‘Give Me Love’ is personal. It’s a labour of love that has been in the making for over two years. Sampling pop and soul influences, Pose’s vocals oscillates between references of John Mayer and Ed Sheeran.

Speaking further about his track, the singer suggests, “After developing a basic melody really early in 2018, almost a year long quest now seems negligent, now that, ‘Give Me Love’ is finally set to release. Writing this song was comparatively refreshing, being written from a third person’s perspective. I’ve attempted to define the vulnerability of a person in love. ‘Give Me Love’ for me is one of most well-written songs of my album.”

The song is now streaming on Radio City Freedom.

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Multi-lingual pop-folk outfit from Kochi, When Chai Met Toast who have been winning fans over their latest lockdown releases, ‘Maybe I Can Fly’ and ‘When We Feel Young’, have collaborated with ace singer/songwriter Ankur Tewari to offer their first definitive Hindi release, ‘Kahaani’.

The verses, penned by Tewari, is a heart-achingly beautiful ode to a love that never found fulfillment, yet served a purpose. The band further echoes, “We’ve all had that first love that didn’t work out. Sometimes even when things seem perfect, they do not go the way we plan due to reasons we are unable to handle at that point. We feel the essence of the song is the emotion of acceptance.”

The idea of a Hindi song by the band that consists of non-Hindi speaking natives was conceived through a fan suggestion. Infact, the band does feature a moving closing verse in their earlier release, ‘When We Feel Young’ in Hindi. Unlike that song, `Kahaani` takes a while to grow on you when you listen to the well-meaning verses intently.

Featuring vocalist Ashwin Gopakumar, Achyuth Jaigopal on guitars, Palee Francis on keys and drummer Sailesh G Pai, When Chai Met Toast have performed in English, Malayalam and Tamil majorly since four years, following their sensational debut, ‘Firefly’ in July 2016.

You can listen to ‘Kahaani’, now streaming on Radio City Freedom.

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Chennai/Mumbai-based singer/songwriter and former finalist on The Stage 3, Zoe Siddharth offers a sensational and poignant debut with her independent release, ‘Human’.

Written, sung and composed by Zoe, ‘Human’ delves into the emotions and thoughts that make us overcome the adversities of life and give us a sense of purpose. The singer believes that every human, irrespective of their social standing, is blessed with a support system that they call family and friends. A support system that is unfailing and unperturbed by the shortcomings of an individual.

Zoe further adds, ‘Human’ takes the listener on a journey of appreciation and gratefulness for the people who love them and have their backs. They’re all anyone really needs.”

A sound alike a ballad, you are likely to reach out for a box of tissues while listening to the track.

Prior to her debut, Zoe has had a rather loaded profile since her stint on ‘The Stage’ in 2017. Besides singing and composing, she is also an actor, model and a content-creator as one half of the creator-duo Zoe and Urgen.

A Bachelors’ degree holder in Music, with a major in Popular Music Performance from the prestigious LASALLE College of Arts in Singapore, she has also sung three songs for Mikey McLeary in the second season of the popular web show, ‘Four More Shots Please’

‘Human’ is now streaming on Radio City Freedom.

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26-year old Bangalore-based musician who originally hails from Coimbatore, Saravana Gowtham is proud to have moved to the Garden City to pursue his prospects in the indie music space, given the opportunities presented by the evolving musical aesthetes of its audience.

Having vowed listeners with his debut single, ‘Lost Sight’, the artist has now released his second act, ‘A Distant Wave’, an instrumental rock composition that focuses upon the ups and downs that life puts all humans through. Using waves as a metaphor, the musician emphasizes how life takes us through the highs and then plummets to the deepest lows, enriching and repleting our lives with experience and wisdom that fuel our existences.

Gowtham, has released both singles as a part of his solo project. Both tracks have been composed, recorded, arranged and programmed by him with mixing and mastering done by Hreedish Kakoty. Gowtham firmly believes that Instrumental music, if done well can garner an audience too.

Besides, the musician also handles guitars and bass for celebrated indie acts namely, The Sahej Project (ambient rock), Prime Rage (death metal) and Verses (melodic metal) with influences ranging from rock, metal and post rock.

‘A Distant Wave’ is now streaming on Radio City Freedom.

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Barely weeks following the release of their Hindi collaboration, ‘Raat’ which is climbing up the charts across leading music platforms, singer Shashaa Tirupati and music producer Sid Paul have rendered a pleasing Tamil spin to the track with ‘Po Irave’.

The Tamil lyrics have been penned by Mohan Rajan, a renowned name from the Tamil film music industry with an experience spanning over a decade.

Speaking about choosing to alternatively release the track in Tamil, Sid implies, “Over the time listening to the song, I felt Raat can be expressed in Tamil, which is my mother tongue too, while also keeping Shashaa’s audience in mind.”

Tamil is Shashaa’s stronghold having won her National Award for the song, ‘Vaan Varuvaan’ from the movie ‘Kaatru Veliyidai’, which was composed by maestro A.R. Rahman.

‘Po Irave’ is now streaming on Radio City Freedom.

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Following the success of his last release, ‘Duniya’ from his upcoming sophomore album, ‘Andar Rated’, electronica maverick MojoJojo from New Delhi keeps matters somber, discreet yet upbeat with his second release, ‘Sone De’.

Coupling influences of pop, dancehall and Indian folk, the artist is joined by the vocal prowess of Tyesha Kohli and Akshay Oberoi, who has also penned the lyrics of the song. Composed, arranged, produced and mixed by MojoJojo, the track has been mastered by Camilo F Silva.

The song has been released across leading music platforms with a lyrical video out on Youtube, which has been conceived, illustrated and animated by Aabir Baoni.

‘Sone De’ is now streaming on Radio City Freedom.

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Mumbai city rapper, lyricist and poet Specter, who also moonlights as one of the crew members of the hip-hop collective FTS, has released his latest single, ‘Rain’.

The song retrospects upon the time spent with a beloved and the memories that are meant to be cherished.

Performed by Specter, the song has been written by Abhijit Nair and produced, mixed and mastered by Tienas, who incidentally is also one of the six members of FTS. The artwork has been designed by Gunjan aka MAD HERMIT.

‘Rain’ is now streaming on Radio City Freedom and Radio City Hip-Hop.

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Taking cues from his influences John Mayer and Ed Sheeran, Indore-based singer/songwriter Ashwin Adwani paints a picture of innocent romance and enchanting naivety with his second release, ‘Parchaiyon Mein’.

Produced by Aman Arakh, replete with breezy vocals ensuring an easy listen, Advani shares his excitement over the song stating, “When you’re in love, your mind creates a dreamlike world of its own; full of joy, hope, love, excitement and positivity. The song very simply encapsulates this world and highlights all the little things, moments and inside jokes in a relationship that usually go unnoticed.” The artwork has been designed by artist Aman Wandra.

Ashwin, has vowed audiences for a while with his mellifluous voice on Instagram by rendering various cover versions of celebrated film music. Earlier this year, the artist also collaborated with electronica duo Lost Stories and Jonita Gandhi for ‘Mai Ni Meriye’.

‘Parchaiyon Mein’ is now streaming on Radio City Freedom.

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Palakkad-based singer/songwriter Sridev Ramesh might just have cracked the code for many young millennials trying to gain perspective and be objective towards their everyday routine, given the anxiety and uncertainty caused by the lockdown.

Succeeding his earlier release, ‘Musafir X Wanderer’ which he released alongside Jaipur band Yugm, Sridev has now hit the tube with his latest release, ‘Lemonade from Apples’.

The singer/songwriter puts it out upfront and clears the air through the song. He evidently expresses how we often blame everything else and everyone else for the outcome of our actions and deeds, except ourselves. The artist makes a simple point. He asserts, “Listen up buddy. You want lemonade, go get lemons! You can’t try making lemonade with apples and be like they were bad apples.”

A non-conformist, Sridev loves experimenting with his genres while performing. His influences range from John Mayer, Rogue Valley, Novo Amor, Tom Misch, Lucky Ali and FKJ.

‘Lemonade from Apples’ is now playing on Radio City Freedom.

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Mumbai-Guwahati-based singer/songwriter Arham Fulfagar has had an eventful year in 2020, despite the restraint on his opportunities imposed by the ongoing global pandemic. With three successful releases in ‘Red Wine’, ‘Waiting For You/Intezaar’ and the recent ‘Make It Alright’, the young musician concludes his work for the year with the reticent, ‘A Little More’.

‘A Little More’ speaks about letting go of a love that is extremely toxic and consuming. While one would want to still reel under its charm, he/she would have to be practical and come to terms with the absence of their beloved.

Through this song, the artiste expresses gratitude and love to fans and critics for acclaiming his work through the months. He would be setting off to work on debut EP which he hopes to share with his fans soon.

Arham has also released the official music video of the song which he has directed and edited. The song has been produced by Tamzid Rahman with artwork designed by Archita Agarwal.

‘A Little More’ can be heard on Radio City Freedom and across leading music portals of your choice.

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After treating rock enthusiasts with their eclectic fusions in ‘Todi’ and ‘Bhimpalasi’ and exploring modern sounds of Hindustani classical through ‘Jog’ and ‘Bageshri’, contemporary classical duo Honeysuckle Weekends, featuring vocalist Apurva Kulkarni and composer Vaibhav Kulkarni have released their recent work, ‘Malkaun’.

Deploying the use of the classical Indian raga, HW emote Karuna or pathos with an electronic arrangement that is contemporary and modern, yet retaining the sanctity of the raga intact. While the guitars and bass make a fine appearance, the sounds of the harmonium are particularly transportive.

‘Malkaun’ is now streaming on Radio City Freedom.

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GNARLY’s passion and drive for music production crystallises with this release. The double A sided single is produced using her iconic finger drumming style & penchant for genre-bending futuristic beats.

‘Loving Dream’ sees the London born, Florida brewed artist Isaac B express love in all its shapes and sizes through his poetry and voice while GNARLY’s layered beats hold space for manifesting magic. Isaac B is known for his freestyle prowess. Combining alternative earthy poetic Hip-Hop lyricism flipping between subtle meditative sultry vibes and trap eclectic sonic backdrops.

‘Dimensional Travel’ made in collab with the Dubai/Alanya based producer, songwriter & Dj Bangzy, flaunts his style of vocal chops and heavy distorted drums over GNARLY’s melodic synths. Both GNARLY & Bangzy showcase their sound and aesthetic with a unique sense of identity and class to their production.

Artwork comes courtesy the Brazilian/Mexican artist Fefe Talavera

Gnarly is a London born female producer of Sri Lankan heritage. Most known for her live finger drumming performances with her online content reaching over 20k followers all over the world. You can find her performing a highly skilled and captivating live show using Native Instruments Maschine MK3.

The song is now playing on Radio City Freedom

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One of India’s leading Hindi rock acts, Daira is all set to commemorate five years of the release of its eponymous album with the band’s latest single, ‘Basar’.

The song is a celebration of everyone who dream, wake up and work towards its fulfillment. For those who are unafraid to tread down the path less taken, with all the lemons that are hurled their way, ‘Basar’ also reignites the fire for some who might be struggling to find their mojo.

Besides the audio track, the band will also release the official music video which will feature prominent appearances by Arunaja, Siddharth Basrur, Sahil Khattar, Anand Bhaskar, MC Mawali, 100RBH and others.

The songwriting of the track has been kept simple with the aim to reach out to a wider audience. Mixed and mastered by Arsh Sharma of Fuzzculture fame, the video has been compiled and edited by Fahad Sheikh.

Given the minimal to barely existing sources of income for live musicians and artists, Daira hopes to open a patreon account to enable funds sourcing. Following three full-length albums in the past, the band will release independent singles through the crowd-funded amounts gathered. Basar is the first of many singles by the band in the months to come.

The track is now streaming on Radio City Freedom.

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Pop singer Subhi is one young, enterprising indie artist who is establishing her brand in India and in the West alike. Having acquired fanfare by winning the Individual Artist Program Cultural Grant awarded by the City of Chicago in 2019 and 2020, besides having won the Best Asian Entertainer 2019 at the Chicago Music Awards, the Delhi-Chicago based songstress has arrived with her latest single, ‘Aagosh’. Accompanied by an animated music video, Subhi addresses love and longing amongst young couples who are staying away from each other and maintaining social distancing.

The song has stemmed from a very personal space for Subhi. Through the song she has collaborated with well-known composer Kanishk Seth, whose beats weave life into the verses penned by the singer herself.

Mixed and mastered by RAABSA Music Lab, the composition is replete with meldic use of keys and violins. The composition weighs between mellow and rousing in equal measure.

‘Aagosh’ is available on leading music platforms and is also streaming on Radio City Freedom.

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Canadian sibling duo Cartel Madras and Los Angeles-based GWS, both artistes of Indian origin have teamed up for a banger of a track with ‘Stay Up All Night’. Combining collective forces featuring trap and hip hop, the composition is a hat tip to the growing influences of South Indian subcultures to the evolution of global hip-hop.

Chennai born sister duo Contra and Eboshi who make Cartel Madras spew verses in Tamil and English while 19-year old GWS aka Glen Koshy George blends in with his bars in Malayalam.

Accompanied by a music video shot across Calgary, Toronto and Los Angeles during quarantine, the track has been released by Vancouver-based label Snakes x Ladders and produced by GWS’ frequent collaborator and Bangalore-based producer Dan Pearson. Produced by THOTNATION, the music video has been directed by Cartel Madras and Asim Overstands.

‘Stay Up All Night’ is now streaming on Radio City Freedom and Radio City Hip Hop.

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The release of ‘Kaala Dil’ following a prolonged wait of over two years, finally found fulfillment in September 2020, when Udaipur-based alt Hindi rock band Khanabadosh’s three-track EP hit leading music streaming platforms.

Featuring band members vocalist and frontman Gaurav Solanki, Arpan Jain and Kartik Ganotra on guitars and bassist Divyansh Sharma, the diversified influences of the band reflects through their EP. ‘Kaala Dil’ is an offering of comfort and confrontation. It puts forth the internal conflicts between the mind and the heart when faced with evolving new equations and relationships. The heart wants to take a leap of faith, but the mind holds it back, owing to the trauma fuelled by past experiences.

The band urges its listeners to place self-love and acceptance before putting themselves out to be at the receiving end of love from others.  Through their three songs, ‘Vaqt’, ‘Rangdeh’ and ‘Fizool Hai Sab’, the band, from the city of lakes, brings in a fresher perspective to homegrown sounds.

‘Kaala Dil’ is now streaming on Radio City Freedom.

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The recent lockdown following the outbreak of a global pandemic has encouraged many independent musicians in India to nurture and hone their skill sets, thereby enabling them to put out their creative and productive best.

27-year old singer/songwriter Saleha Paatwala from Udaipur, who is currently based in Hyderabad working as a Content Developer besides pursuing her musical prospects, is all set to discover her calling through her debut single, ‘Kismat’. Written, composed and sung by Saleha, ‘Kismat’ is about taking your best shot at life and finding one’s self. The singer/songwriter adds, “This song is a celebration of myself and all those who have emerged stronger from their worst heartbreaks. The love you seek in others is hidden inside you. All you need to do is find it.”

Co-composed and produced by her bandmate Joshua Roy, the track has been mixed and mastered at Grayspark Studio and its artwork has been designed by Aneesha Reddy.

‘Kismat’ is now streaming on Radio City Freedom.

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Barely a month following the release of their last track, ‘Back To You’, New Delhi-based EDM duo Zeus X Crona have hit the musical charts with their latest release, ‘Bad Habits’.

Released under Elysian Records in collaboration with Enrosa (former stage name Nilka), ‘Bad Habits’ reflects the ramblings of a young woman who is stipulated within the confines of a relationship. She is worn out emotionally, mentally and physically, yet she is unable to withdraw herself from her relationship as her lover is an odd habit, she can’t seem to get rid off.

Talking about the release, Nimish Sethi, of Zeus X Crona said, “Bad Habits is a very special track for us. The song is a dark and emotional track which tells the story of a relationship between a guy and a girl. We wanted to capture the emotional energy and intensity that we experience when we decide to walk away from something that was a significant part of our lives. With this track, we wanted to frame that type of energy in a positive way and there’s nothing but intense, feel-good energy on this track, with crispy clean sound design”

“With this song we wanted to explore something different from the stuff we usually do. Not many songs focus on how you may want to spend the rest of your life with someone but there are times you need to be alone. This song not only evokes emotions but also makes you dance at the same time. We hope Bad Habits appeals to the people the way we envisioned while creating it”, said Rishabh Bhola.

‘Bad Habits’ is now streaming on Radio City Freedom.

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Kochi’s When Chai Met Toast has been winning hearts with their music, a case that is evident with their recent single, ‘Kahaani’, which incidentally is also their first Hindi original.

Like many of us, the band has a fan and friend in one of the most promising faces of the Malayalam film industry. With a remarkable debut in ‘Kumbalangi Nights’, followed by ‘Helen’ and ‘Kappela’, young star Anna Ben makes a delightful appearance in ‘Kahaani’s official music video, which was dropped on YouTube, earlier this week.

A DIY video, the shoot was done during the lockdown with a 6-member crew only. “We shot the video for Kahaani in the span of two days in a single location, changing it around for each sequence. We created a makeshift cafe, and shot half of the video inside a single room, which was actually our art director`s home in Calicut,” the band adds.

Cat lovers are in for a surprise as the video witnesses an appearance by Kimchi, an adorable kitten.

‘Kahaani’ is the third release by the band from their upcoming album, ‘When We Feel Young’, following the earlier releases, ‘Maybe, I Can Fly’  and the title track, ‘When We Feel Young’.

You can check out the official music video on YouTube.

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Owing to a warm reception for his previous releases, ‘Keep Holding On’ and ‘Victoria’s Secret’ in 2020, Singer-Songwriter, Composer, Vocal Coach and Audio Engineer Rohan Solomon, famously known as the voice of cult Delhi band Cyanide, is back with this latest release, ‘Without A Trace’.

Highlighting the uncertainty and insecurity following the pinnacle of success, Rohan reinstates that it is completely normal for a person to be unsure and feel insignificant, in order to reach the light at the end of the tunnel. Replete with powerful vocals, acoustic guitars, and symphonic use of violin and the cello, the musician offers a rousing ballad.

“Without ATrace, talks about self doubt and contemplation about you`ve left a significant and positive mark on the world. It`s a state of uncertainty, unrest and confusion… when one’s moving through life without being able to spot the proverbial guiding star or being able to see that light at the end of the tunnel. The takeaway however, is that everybody feels these emotions of uncertainty and confusion at some point in their life and these are absolutely normal feelings. We must embrace the sentiment in order to overcome it,” says Rohan.

‘Without a Trace’ is now streaming on Radio City Freedom.

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When the Kathua rape case happened, rapper Spitfire aka Nitin Mishra was only 19 then. But he was well-aware of what did he hear then and how it affected him. He cried and then went on to express his rage. Through his verses.

The rapper wrote ‘Black’, his latest single then. Two years later, at 21, he realizes that irrespective of when does he release his song, the relevance remains as years may pass, but the reality hasn’t changed. The victims names differ but not does their plight.

Composed and produced by Anushka Manchanda who performs alongside Spitfire as Nuka, ‘Black’, released by Ranveer Singh’s IncInk Records, is a reflection of the teething rage and anger that refuses to settle down, unless the stringent laws proposed in the interest of women’s safety and rights are not implemented and enforced upon a society that continues to oppress and gag the voices of our women.

‘Black’ is available on leading music platforms of your choice, if you’d like to listen. It’s also playing on Radio City Freedom and Radio City Hip Hop

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Following the release of their previous single, ‘Satire’, Mumbai’s The Lighthouse Explode are certain to perk up your mood in these gloomy times, with their latest single, ‘Mellow’.

Quite an irony that their groovy new single carries such a subtle title, considering that their composition is reminiscent of pop culture from the 80’s. Blending in the influences of indie pop from those years featuring thick synths and an elaborate use of guitars and drums, The Lightyears Explode guarantee you a footloose party number.

Accompanied by an animated lyric video featuring pop colours, artist Harmeet Rahal propels the sentiments behind the song further.

‘Mellow’ is now streaming on Radio City Freedom.

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Inspired from the prose of celebrated neurologist Victor E Frankl’s noteworthy literary account, ‘Man’s Search for Meaning’, funk/Jazz fusion band from the national capital, The Revisit Project’s latest single, ‘Locked Away’ featuring Vrnda Dhar finds semblance in the normalcy of a life restored, following a prolonged state of isolation, in the midst an ongoing pandemic.

Keeping the mood of the composition easy and tranquil, the smooth sax and effective bass kicks leave an outstanding impression upon the ears of the listener. The composition makes for effective listening on a mundane afternoon if the mood is demotivated.

Featuring vocalist Chetan Awasthi, bassist Karan Wadhwa, Kanu Gangahar on guitar, Varun Rajasekharan on percussions, drummer Aditya Bhagvatula and Abhay Sharma on saxophone, The Revisit Project released their first album, `Here We Go` in 2017 and followed it up with two back-to-back singles in 2019 with ‘Brown Man`s Funk’ and ‘Born in Delhi’.

‘Locked Away’ is now streaming on Radio City Freedom.

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Following the releases of her Hindi singles ‘Aagosh’, ‘Cage’ and ‘Mehfil’ in 2020, Indo-American singer/songwriter Subhi is out with her first English single, ‘In My Way’.

As a part of her upcoming EP scheduled to release towards the end of 2020 or beginning of 2021, Subhi wrote the song at her producer Chris G. Wright’s studio. Through the song, the young singer/songwriter recounts the horrible ordeal of dealing with sexism and condescending male behaviour which hampered her personal growth as an artist and as an individual.

She says, “I connected with the arranger of my album through Facebook. We met and started working on the project. He got some great musicians on board to record the album and play with me on tours and gigs. Although he was very talented, he was a male chauvinist. He mentally abused me for almost two years. He always tried to take over, control my vision, and show he was far more talented than me. He tried to reduce my own worth in front of my bandmates and made me believe that females are not good band leaders and that he should lead my project in all possible ways. It took me a little over 2 years, to get out of that hell. It was a very rough experience for me and when I finally got the courage to fire him, I became very ‘closed` as an artist. I realized I needed to have complete control over my project. I needed to arrange my own songs and audition musicians before hiring them. The idea of collaborating was a scary one as I just didn’t want to deal with someone like my past musical arranger anymore. I closed myself to the world and felt like I was in some kind of a rut. It wasn’t until 2019 that I realized if there are bad people in the music industry, there are also some amazingly good people as well. I was fortunate to have met some wonderful and kind-hearted musicians who made the process of trusting people again easy for me. But all this took time and I realized that I was stopping myself from growing earlier. One bad experience had hampered my own growth as an artist. I needed to get out of my shell, meet people, and collaborate. In My Way is a song about getting in our own way of growing, learning, and achieving our goals. It took time but there is always a silver lining to every dark cloud.  We just have to find it and I am so glad to have discovered it in the years to come”.

‘In My Way’ is now playing on Radio City Freedom.

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Indie virtuoso Raghu Dixit and Kannada actress turned animal activist Samyukta Hornad join forces to propagate animal love with their latest bilingual collaboration, ‘Tsunami’.

Written by Neeraj Rajawat in Hindi and Raghavendra V Kamath in Kannada, ‘Tsunami’ encourages listeners to adopt animals and give them a sense of security and longing. The release of the song has been accompanied by a music video featuring Raghu and Samyukta’s pets Thunti and Gunda, respectively.

The video features over 1500 photos sourced from listeners featuring their pets which was thought of by Samyukta. Raghu adds, “We had filmmaker-friend Samuel Adams to shoot a bit of live footage at Charlie`s Animal Rescue Centre, Bengaluru. Samuel Adams edited the video too under Samyukta`s direction. The result is a video which fills up everyone`s heart with joy!”

The singer also emphasises the motive behind making this song. He says, “The song was originally planned as a tribute to my lost pet `Thunti`, a female Indian street mongrel whom I adopted from the pet rescue home `Lets Live Together` two years ago. I believe Thunti had a purpose behind her entry into my life. There is no other way to explain her presence in my life. She came at a time when I didn`t want to live any more, under acute depression and suicidal. Thunti made me realise how simple it is to be happy, taught me how to forgive, not carry baggage, how to live in the moment and nothing else really matters and all we need is endless supply of Tsunami of Love!”

‘Tsunami’ is now streaming on Radio City Freedom

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Featuring five artistes from different walks of life namely, Brigit Jose (Poet), Rebecca D`Costa (Hula Hoop Artist), Jia Singh (Wellness Consultant), Anveer Mehta (Skateboarder) and Anna Vyas (Dancer/Model), New Delhi-band Antariksh urge listeners to live life on their terms with their latest video single, ‘Jee Le Zara’.

The band, featuring vocalist Varun Rajput Joshua Peter on keys and backing vocals, drummer Dan Thomas and Shrikant Biswakarma on guitars, offer a pop/rock rendition replete with thought-provoking lyrics and a groovy dubstep blended into the composition.

Interestingly, Varun dedicates the song to his father. Although he believes that the song wasn’t designed as such, he felt as if he was singing it to his dad. The band reiterates that living in the moment without fretting about tomorrow is what the song is about.

‘Jee Le Zara’ is now playing on Radio City Freedom.

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Singer/songwriter Kamakshi Khanna has many reasons to be joyous. For instance, ‘Qareeb’, her latest single which is now streaming across leading music streaming platforms, is her first Hindi release since 2017, following the release of her debut album in English, ‘Cakewalk’.

To the Delhi-based singer, who has now moved to Mumbai, ‘Qareeb’ isn’t just personal. It is a reflection and introspection upon a time when Kamakshi gave precedence to everything and everyone else but herself. She reiterates, “I wrote Qareeb when I was in a relationship where I was constantly neglecting my needs and the things that I stand for. I wanted to take the same emotion to pay gratitude for how much love teaches us about the world, about giving and how the letting go helps us rediscover ourselves in new ways each time.”

The song makes listeners feel thankful towards the experiences and learnings that enrich their lives, irrespective of the outcomes of their relationships and equations with people in general. The track has been produced by electro-duo Anhad + Tanner, with whom Kamakshi has also collaborated on their debut album, ‘In Other Words’.

‘Qareeb’ is now playing on Radio City Freedom

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Kolkata-based dreampop artist Sayantika Ghosh aka Ghoshpop has released her latest single, ‘Samurai’, a celebration of the diametrically opposite characteristics of an individual, the yin and yang within which propel him towards the direction he wishes to tread upon.

Written by Ghosh and Aman Moroney, the song was conceived at a time when Ghosh had stumbled upon a creative block during her process, She asserts, “I wrote this at a time when I was very disturbed, which had landed me in a creative block. One part of me would tell me to take it easy and have fun with the process; while the other told me to get the hell out of my limbo and keep trying, pushing harder every time! Samurai was the first song I wrote in that span of 3 months, after I finally found balance within myself. I owe it to this song for showing me the way!”

Produced by Moroney and Ashish Manchanda for Springboard Records, ‘Samurai’ reiterates how it takes the goodness and the grey shades of an individual for him to attain personal fulfillment in life. The song is Ghosh’s third release in 2020 after ‘Embrace Yourself’ in English and ‘Aami Banglar’ in Bengali. The singer/songwriter made her foray into the Indian indie music scene last year with her four-track EP, ‘Yesterday Forever’.

‘Samurai’ is now playing on Radio City Freedom.

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Following the success of their last release, ‘Shayad Ke Main Zinda Nahin’, Delhi-based alternative/indie pop duo Cha’bi have released their brand new single, ‘Phir Hum Dekhenge’.

Comprising of Akshay Kapoor and Paras Khanna, ‘Phir Hum Dekhenge’ is about an anger that has been long simmering within, which now finds an outlet, in silence. The songwriting of the track is reminiscent of a Mexican proverb which suggests, “They tried to bury us, they didn’t know we were seeds.”. The emotion brought out by the song is of resolve and determination to not allow one’s voice be gagged by a system that dictates and suppresses.

Cha’bi has been active in the indie music space since 2017. They broke ground with their debut single, ‘Raat Ka Aayina’ in January 2018 which featured on Apple Music’s Future Hits playlist, Indian Pop playlist, The A-List Indian Pop playlist and was also listed at #38 on the Alternative Genre charts.

‘Phir Hum Dekhenge’ is now streaming on Radio City Freedom.

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Succeeding the release of the first track, ‘Lead’ from his upcoming sophomore album, ‘Outlast’, Mumbai-based singer/songwriter Tejas unveiled the second single, ‘The Bombay Doors’, a celebration of a city that never sleeps. A city that an individual embraces whole-heartedly, despite its visibly multiple flaws.

The track features an interesting line-up of Mumbai’s best indie talents who’ve lent in their expertise behind the composition and arrangements. Written and composed by Tejas, ‘The Bombay Doors’ features Jehangir Jehangir on backing vocals and drums, horns and trombone by Ramon Ibrahim, keys and synths by Rohan Rajadhyaksha, backing vocals by Mallika Barot, bass and keys by Adil Kurwa, trumpet by James Miranda and Rhy Sebastian on alto saxophone.

Mastered by Grammy-nominated Mastering Engineer Shawn Hatfield at Audible Oddities, the artwork of the song, designed by illustrator Vibhav Singh further captures the unconditional love that a resident feels towards his city.

Replete with sonically rich and energetic sounds, ‘The Bombay Doors’ will fuel your love further towards the city of dreams.

You can now listen to the song, streaming now on Radio City Freedom.

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The composition and songwriting in singer/songwriter Vaibhav Malhotra’s EP, ‘Afsana’ urges listeners to contemplate and reflect upon life experiences that have moulded them over the years, irrespective of how memorable or ugly they seem.

Through his five-track EP, Vaibhav starts conversations about heartbreak, redemption, yearning and acceptance. The first track ‘Bin Tere’ speaks about the void left behind by the absence of the beloved. ‘Bikhra’ reflects upon on trying to gather himself/herself after a fraught relationship. ‘Toota Taara’ pins hopes on chancing upon a miracle. ‘Tum Jo Saath’ is about finding someone who completes you. Lastly, ‘Manzoor’ is about accepting and letting go.

Through each song, Vaibhav places importance upon effective lyrics as means to reach out to his eventual listeners.

The EP can now be streamed on Radio City Freedom.

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Pune based singer/songwriter Akshit Dhall, who originally hails from Rohtak, Haryana has been away from home since two years, owing to his studies. Of course, homesickness is inevitable.

In his new single, ‘Home’, the artiste defines his acceptance and embracement of another city as his home. It’s the first song that he has produced by himself in his bedroom, although he has been assisted by his bandmate Akash Gupta on percussion and bass.

For the composition, the young singer has deployed the use of natural sounds from the streets, having taken inspiration from his idol, American singer/songwriter and producer Finneas.

Mixed by Dhall and Gupta, the track has been mastered by Ashish Nagraj and the artwork has been designed by Khwaish.

‘Home’ is now playing on Radio City Freedom.

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Producer/songwriter Nishant Nagar aka Khwaab and singer/songwriter Raghav Meattle combine forces to create a spiritually stimulating experience through their latest collaboration, ‘Parchayi’ that sucks you into its world from the first beat.

Featuring Khwaab’s signature synths accompanied by Meattle’s effervescent vocals, the song is a dedication to the former’s late mother, reflecting upon finding the silver linings in times of adversity.

Besides Meattle, Khwaab is also joined by Mansij Madaan on guitars and Keshav Dhar on mixing/mastering. With effective songwriting and production, Khwaab transports his listeners to a parallel universe away from reality and engages them in an immersive, listening experience.

This one is meant to be heard with a clear mind and with the most effective headsets on.

‘Parchayi’ is now playing on Radio City Freedom.

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Who would’ve thought that a chance comment by a random social media user on singer/songwriter Aditi Ramesh’s livestreamed gig, could be the title of her new indie release on the block.

Titled ‘Sambar Soul’, the track is the young songstress’ answer to anyone who is hell-bent on putting her music under a bracket. She states, “I find myself without a real answer when l’m asked what my musical genre is, yet people always want to know. Which made me think: we’ve become obsessed with labels, genres, adjectives and classification as a society; we don’t understand things in the absence of these. We’ve become afraid of having original thoughts, moulding our actions on societal notions of success, beauty and happiness.” The song has been produced, mixed and mastered by Ramesh’s longtime collaborator Mohit Rao.

Although her best abilities lie in rendering soothing Jazz with effective Carnatic vocals, Aditi admits that she find this categorisation stunting towards her growth as an artiste as she feels that her unique musical style is yet to be discovered.

You can now listen to ‘Sambar Soul’ on Radio City Freedom

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Following the success of her lockdown release ‘Fallin’, Delhi-Pune based singer/songwriter Pragnya Wakhlu is ready with her second release of the year, ‘Akele Hi Sahi’ in Hindi.

An upbeat and energetic pop-rock composition, Pragnya rejoices over the joy of being in one’s own company, irrespective of external validation or being a crowd-favourite. Replete with some of the most prolific indie names on-board, the composition is inundated with drums by Dan Thomas, bass by Sonic Shori, Shailendra Wakhlu on lead guitar and Rauhan Malik on backing vocals. Pragnya’s vocals are evocative of nostalgia and melancholy.

The music video of the song is in the pipeline and will be released post Diwali on November 20. Shot by Yeashu Yuvraj, the edit has been done by Divya Gopalan.

You can listen to ‘Akele Hi Sahi’ streaming on Radio City Freedom from October 31st onwards.

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Indian electronica’s tour de force Nucleya combines forces with global EDM giants Major Lazer with vocalist Rashmeet Kaur to give you the grooviest dance number of the festive season.

Titled ‘Jadi Buti’, the song will surely get you dancing and offer you some respite from the lockdown blues. It celebrates the high of Mary Jane (please get the reference) and its influence on the lives of those who adhere to it. ‘Jadi Buti’ marks Major Lazer’s collaboration with Nucleya, one among several global compilations as part of their upcoming album, ‘Music is the Weapon’, which has dropped on music platforms across the world, this October.

Speaking about this collaboration, Nucleya comments, “I’m excited to see how people around the world are going to respond to the track. My hope is that even though they might not understand what is being sung instantly, the audience will see that sometimes it doesn’t matter and they’ll be receptive to this global sound.”

Adding to the sentiment, Major Lazer has stated, “India is special and its beauty has absolutely humbled us every time we have visited. We have an incredible fan base there, and we know that India absolutely loves Nucleya. We’ve been trying to work on a song together and ‘Jadi Buti’ was just the kind of song that we wanted for ‘Music Is The Weapon’. Major Lazer has always been a cultural mashup, and the album reflects that,”

You can listen to the track across leading music platforms.

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Close on the heels of his recent album, ‘CI3’, Vancouver-based producer of Indian origin Shamik is back with his latest offering, the seemingly trippy, ‘Gaali’.

An emotional South Asian-infused electronic compostion replete with Kannada accapella, moving instrumentals and footwork, the song has been accompanied by psychedelic music video, directed by Prithi Khalique of Bangladeshi origin, based in New York. Using references from ancient aesthetics of masks, monsters and mythological tales, the tracks reflects upon humanity and utopianism.

To his credit, Shamik has performed in over 15 countries with some of the world’s most leading music acts. He has toured with Method Man & Redman, Tanya Tagaq, DJ Kentaro, and DJ Q-Bert, opened for Flying Lotus, George Benson, Dam Funk, Kool Herc, The Glitch Mob, Dub FX, and Excision. Shamik is also the founder and curator of his own record label, Sensing Waves, which focuses on deep, ambient, and leftfield music. He is also one half of the electronic duo, Too Attached with his sister Vivek Shraya.

‘Gaali’ is now playing on Radio City Freedom.

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Bangalore-based singer/songwriter of Chennai origin, Sidharth Nair has released the first track ‘Afterglow’ from his five track debut EP titled ‘In My Void’. An emotion of hope and longing, ‘Afterglow’ is a reflection upon finding light at the end of the dark tunnel.

In collaboration with Rishab Ravi, the song has been rendered with backing vocals by Kausthub Ravi, electric guitars by Mark Shu and production by Ashwin Vinayagamoorthy.  Its mixing and mastering has been done by Sivanesh Natarajan at Shimmr Studios, Chennai.

Sidharth began his independent music journey in 2019 with his debut releases, ‘Wander’ and ‘Stay’, which premiered on Rolling Stone India.

‘Afterglow’ is now streaming on Radio City Freedom.

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Interspersing renowned Kashmiri poetry with her impeccable Hindi lyrics, folk songstress Aabha Hanjura is all set to add some much needed cheer to your festivities, through her latest release, ‘Khoobsurat’.

A song about seeing the beauty of the world, despite adversities, Aabha paints a scenic picture of Kashmir’s vibrant valleys and lanes which will lead you to positivity and happiness.

The composition is replete with the melodies of the banjo and the ukulele with accents of santoor and the tabla infused to retain the traditional sounds of the valley.

It’s a joyful composition which will sparkle your festive spirits.

‘Khoobsurat’ is now streaming on Radio City Freedom.

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In a rude shock for ardent Indian metal fans across the world, Primitiv frontman and celebrated vocalist Nitin Rajan, known for his rip roaring vocals and electrifying stage presence, breathed his last on Tuesday night, following a year-long battle with cancer.

In an update posted on the official Facebook page of the band, the post read, “Unfortunately, after a long and hard battle with cancer, our vocalist Nitin Rajan passed away last night. Please celebrate his life, his music, and his legacy, and respect the privacy of his family and friends at this unfortunate time.”

The Indian Metal community is yet to comprehend this irreplaceable loss. Penning a heartfelt tribute to his contemporary and senior, Demonstealer aka Sahil Makhija of Demonic Ressurection wrote in his Facebook post, “I remember it as the day I saw it, at IIT Bombay either `98 or `99. This band was on stage playing, they were called Morticide and this massive voice hit me from the stage. That was my introduction to Nitin Rajan. I will never forget their cover of Sepultura`s The Hunt that night and I couldn`t believe what a monstrous voice he had. Nitin was one of the cool guys in the scene, he was older than me and he had his band and I remember going to see Morticide at Razz and he was probably the first Indian death metal vocalist I heard. And I wanted to sound as deep and vicious as he did and be as good a vocalist.”

Born on April 4, 1978, Nitin began his musical stint as the frontman for death metal outfit Morticide in 1998. His eventual success and following propelled him to initiate Domination The Deathfest in 2000, a stage where aspiring Indian metallers would be heard. In a career spanning 20 years, Nitin has also been associated with Reptilian Death, Sledge and Killibrium, some of Mumbai’s dynamic metal acts.

Simultaneously, Nitin in his tenure as the Vice President and Head of Digital Media at Radio City 91.1 FM, fronted Radio City Freedom Awards, the ultimate recognition and celebration of the best Indian independent artists and music from across the country, irrespective of languages and genres.

Long-time colleague and COO at Radio City, Rachna Kanwar fondly remembers, “Today, at Radio City, we`ve lost someone really precious and we feel devastated. We lost our dearest Nitin Rajan, who worked with us for nearly 13 long years and throughout, his zeal for doing something new and different remained unfazed, even until the very end. His dedication towards creating a special place for Independent Music at Radio City gave rise to a brilliant IP like Radio City Freedom Awards. He was a very sorted person; disciplined, level headed and a hardcore professional. A multi-faceted personality, Nitin was a stalwart of India’s Metal music scene and apart from being an accomplished musician himself, he mentored many upcoming artists from his favorite genre. Earlier this year during a break in his treatment, he came back to work and told us that Radio City felt like home. Though he may not be with us today, he will live in our hearts forever.”

How his band would want to remember him? Primitiv co-founder and bassist Riju Dasgupta says, "We at Primitiv today haven`t just lost a band member, but also a very dear friend. Seeing the outpour of grief we all have shared today on social media, it makes me very happy to witness how Nitin has touched several lives with his presence apart from being a commendable musician. Not only has he championed for the reach and visibility of Metal in our country, he has ensured that Indian independent music is heard and discovered. And knowing him, he’d want us to remember him without the waterworks.”

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Singer/songwriter/composer CMagic 5 has released her new single, ‘The One’, close on the heels of her last release, ‘LEGO’.

Coupling stratospheric waves and a deep modern synth bass, the track features a distinctive 80’s styled retro theme replete with rhythmic strings and a bassline that instantly hooks you.

An ode to emotional wreckage in a relationship, CMagic5 imbues the song with the right blend of naivety and maturity, making listeners instantly connect with her song.

The 18-year old musician’s sound is contemporary pop with a refreshing blend of old school vibes and futuristic sounds.

‘The One’ is now streaming on Radio City Freedom.

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Singer-songwriter and one of independent music’s most accomplished names, Ankur Tewari weaving magic with his sounds and verses never ceases to amaze his listeners.

In the wake of relentless grief and anxiety surrounding us, Tewari has released his labour of love, ‘Tootay’ through Jio Saavn’s Artist Originals, a song about hope and healing in times of despair.

The award-winning composer behind ‘Gully Boy’, ‘Made in Heaven’, ‘Yeh Ballet’ and ‘Guilty’, Tewari reassures his listeners that they will find the shores they seek when the storm is over. It conveys to all that everyone bears pain equally, irrespective of how less or more do they seem.

‘Tootay’ is an opportunity for one to seize a moment of calm, peace and composure. A moment to seek patience and positivity and detox one’s mind and soul from the negativity lurking around. It also serves as a gentle reminder that we can be kind and understanding to one another, if we try.

Frontman of his revered Hindi rock band, Ankur and The Ghalat Family, Tewari recently concluded the third season of MTV Sound Trippin`, which features musicians Sidd Coutto, Johan Pais, Vivaan Kapoor and Gaurav Gupta on their line-up.

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Having successfully established herself as a playback singer for close to a decade, Shalmali made the independent music space her new playground in early 2020. The runaway success of ‘Kalle Kalle’ reinstated her beliefs that she could gauge with her listeners on her own.

Though through her lenses, Shalmali reckons that this was always her calling. To be able to call herself as a singer-songwriter who performs in English. In a video chat with us while promoting her latest album, ‘2X Side A’, she confessed that the lockdown gave her a perspective as to how she wanted listeners to associate with her music.

Shalmali emphasizes, “I wasn’t able to express myself the way I’d wish through playback singing in Bollywood. I knew I would be in complete control if I were to write and perform on my own music. ‘2X Side A’ is me convincing myself that I can put together an album and stick true to my craft.”

When you listen to her album, you are convinced by Shalmali’s conviction. The songwriting and the composition, with due collaborative inputs by programmer Sunny MR and Stuart Hawkes weighing in behind the mixing and mastering, bares the sheer unabashedness and truth of one’s innermost feelings.

When you listen to ‘Language’, you’ll sense a valid explanation being offered on why an artist would prefer staying authentic with performing in English than appease a crowd in a tongue familiar to them. ‘Love You Double’ is about an effort to compensate in a relationship gone sour. ‘As Far As We Get’ is about how external validation can make or break an artist. ‘Here Is Beautiful’, the standout collaboration with Sunidhi Chauhan, is a giant celebration of sisterhood and feminism. ‘Uncool’ stems from a time of immense isolation in a New York apartment, post a fight. Infact, it’s the first song that was written for the album. ‘Sora’ is an ode to an irreparable loss that cannot be filled.

In totality, ‘2X Side A’ is a winning composition for both the artist and her audience.

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Popular Bollywood playback singer turned independent singer/songwriter Shalmali spoke to Team Radio City recently, over an interaction as part of the Artist of the Month activity where she confessed about how the imposed lockdown in 2020, following the outbreak of the COVID 19 pandemic, gave her a chance to introspect upon her career and eventually helped her in releasing a full-length album in English.

“I thank the circumstances that led me to this decision because I would tell people around me for the longest time that I was working upon my English music and that I would put out something soon. Especially to those people who’ve known me since college because they knew I had an inclination towards English music. But I couldn’t materialise on what I wanted to put out and how. 2020 really gave me the time to ask myself, if this is really something I want to do. Is this something that will speak about my musical identity? I immediately realised that this who I am and this is what I want to do.”

The 31-year old singer/songwriter released her six-track EP ‘2X Side A’ which features songs about love, loss and self-discovery. The album is winning hearts across the board with many fans hailing her for her hit collab ‘Here is Beautiful’ with Sunidhi Chauhan.

You can check out her interview below.

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Deploying the simple arrangement using a flute and a piano, Mumbai-based singer/songwriter Anirudh Deshmukh has released his second single, ‘Rehnuma’, following the well-received debut, ‘Besabriyaan’.

A poignant expression about fading love, Deshmukh’s song is for those who have loved and lost. Written and composed by the singer/songwriter himself, he is accompanied by Lokesh Dadhich whose flute notes hit you in the gut . The song has been recorded, mixed and mastered by Pranshu Jha.

Anirudh opines that ‘Rehnuma’ takes the story of ‘Besabriyaan’ forward, which spoke about the journey of a love lost all the way through to acceptance.

Streaming on all leading music platforms, you can also listen to the track on Radio City Freedom.

Team Radio City

Singer/songwriter Shalmali, who recently released her six-track EP, ‘2X Side A’, weighed upon the need of constructive feedback and criticism from an audience.

While chatting with Team Radio City as part of the Artist of the Month initiative, the 31-year old performer felt that she shares a love-hate relationship with her audience. Her EP features the song ‘As Far As We Get’ which discusses about our fixation with social media apps and the need for validation from them.

When asked about when must an artist decide to accept and reject feedback, Shalmali responded, “There comes a time when you feel extreme conviction with whatever you are doing. If you can build that faith enough to not let anybody taint it, that’s where the line gets drawn. Now, I’ve been told not to make English music because it wouldn’t fetch what I am looking for. I would turn around and say that sure, I respect opinions. But I will continue doing what I am doing. Because if I did not have the faith and wasn’t convinced myself, I would’ve swayed. But opinions are very much welcome. We need them to know what people are thinking and what they want.”

In 2020, Shalmali ventured into the indie music space with four singles, ‘Kalle Kalle, ‘For You’, ‘Ruka Ruka’ and ‘Regular’.

You can check out her interview below.

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This weekend, multi-talented musical sibling duo Pratika and PrabhuNeigh, Mumbai-based singer/rapper and producer, respectively, are all set to release their brand new collab, ‘Survival’.

A reflection upon humans’ selfish motives, the song tears apart the double standards that we marinate ourselves in and eventually end up being content with. While we question the moral depravity of the forces that govern us, we refuse to acknowledge our own inner demons. It helps us understand that we cannot fight a morally corrupt establishment without embracing the larger well-being of people around us.

Written and performed by Pratika and produced by PrabhuNeigh, the track has been mixed and mastered by Mumbai-based based rapper/producer Tienas. The artwork has been designed by Mumbai-based rapper Krantinaari under the name Boldstroke.pdf.

You can hear the track streaming on Radio City Freedom and Radio City Hip Hop.

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Ludhiana-based 21-year old rapper Akshay The One is all set to release his brand new single, ‘Ramayana’ alongside a captivating music video which features the backdrop of the historic epic against a video game.

Mirroring the evils of contemporary society that dictate lives today, the rapper blurs the line between black and white through the song. The song further highlights the prevalent hypocrisy in every aspect of the society. A winner of the Indian reality TV show ‘Dil Hai Hindustani’ in 2018, the young rapper manages to resonate with his audience through his unique concepts and impactful verses.

The song is being released through Big Indie Bang, a platform housed under Big Bang Music, which showcases young emerging talents from across the country. Speaking further on the development, musician and singer/songwriter Raghav Meattle, Head of Big Indie Bang and New Initiatives adds, “It’s all about artistic expression and when Akshay played us this song, we knew it came straight from the heart and had to support it.”

The song will premiere on Radio City Freedom from May 21st and you can check out the music video on Big Bang Music’s YouTube channel.

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Rapper Prabh Deep has emerged as one of the most prominent Indian rappers from across the country, in the last few years, following the super-success of his debut album, ‘Class Sikh’. Earlier this March, the rapper released his critically well-received sophomore album ‘Tabia’, a fifteen track feature that encapsulates his rise to stardom, fame, success and love. Following weeks witnessed him release the music video of ‘Waqaf’, one among the fifteen tracks listed on the album, which saw tremendous reception from fans and the indie music fraternity.

This week, the Delhi-based 27-year-old rapper drops the music video of the second song, ‘Paapi’ from the album. Shot under harsh conditions in Leh, Ladakh, the video displays the singer’s raw energy and unmistakable ability to create fascinating narratives. The song delves into the delusions that an artist immerses himself into following overnight popularity, which leads to utmost denial of reality. It further showcases the man’s absolute submission to the materialistic pleasures that lure him into becoming content with a distorted environment he has created for himself.

Directed by Mikhail Anand and shot by Prabhudutta Mohanty, the video has been conceived by Arsh Sayed and edited by Sarang Aigalikar.

The video premieres on Prabh Deep’s YouTube channel from May 21st, 2021 onwards.

You can also stream the song on Radio City Freedom and Radio City Hip Hop.

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The second track from a yet-to-be released EP, ‘Mann Darne Laga’ by Pune-based singer/songwriter Akshit Dhall, addresses mental health faced by young minds during their childhood.

As a means to address the subject given the Mental Health Awareness month, Dhall deploys his song to unearth the harsh realities that children are made to endure because the elders around them lack empathy and concern towards their mental plight.

Using his signature composition which blends Hindustani classical with modern contemporary pop, Dhall sticks true to his objective behind making music that initiates discussions. His earlier works ‘Coffee’ and ‘Heartbeat’ spoke about sexual relationships and sexual abuse, respectively.

‘Mann Darne Laga’ is now playing on Radio City Freedom.

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Former bandmate of the popular indi-pop band Aryans and one of the most defining voices from the 90s, Sadasivan KM Nambisan aka Sadu is all set to enthral his fans with his latest labour of love, ‘Farar’.

Infusing Arabian influences alongside his signature rendition, ‘Farar’ is about the void left behind one’s beloved. Their absence screams memories about the time spent together, when both lovers would assess over little details about what they like and dislike, making efforts to win each other and creating memories that they’d cherish. The song establishes hope that maybe the paths would cross again and love can be rekindled.

Speaking further about the process of creating the song, Sadu adds, “Farar is an expression of a situation where your beloved leaves you. The track was given a live feel with guitars playing a major role and oboe and bassoon were used to create a nostalgic ambience. The cross of the song has a symphonic strings support which enhances the emotion of desperation… of separation.”

Streaming across leading music platforms, you can also listen to ‘Farar’, playing on Radio City Freedom.

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Following an eventful 2020 with the release of his songs, ‘Soch Lo’ and ‘Fade Away’, Dehradun producer Goyell Saab is all set to enthral listeners with his latest feature, ‘Aaj Bhi Vahi’.

Accompanied by vocalist Dr. Pallavi Shyam Sundar, the song is a moving dialogue between a woman and her man. Pallavi ably communicates the protagonist’s pain of being deserted by the man she loved deeply, without turning her into a sorry figure.

Goyell’s seamless production infuses violins, piano and bass to offer a captivating chorus that in his opinion, will be an apt fit for Instagram reels.

‘Aaj Bhi Vahi’ can be streamed on Radio City Freedom.

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If you, alike us have heard Mumbai-based The Sleeping Satellite’s first three singles, namely, ‘Ehsaas’, ‘Udd Chala’ and ‘Khoj’, then you’re possibly already acquainted with the band’s ability to create soul-stirring, alt-rock compositions.

Featuring Raja Pradhan on guitars, Mondip Kalita on bass, and vocalist/producer Albert Dyrile Lakra, the band have now released their fourth single ‘Manzil’ from their upcoming eponymous EP.

Replete with uplifting, progressive compositions and songwriting, ‘Manzil’ clearly states why The Sleeping Satellite is one of the most promising young acts to watch out for from Mumbai.

You can stream the song on Radio City Freedom and across leading music portals.

Team Radio City

Inspired from age-old folklore and fairytales, singer/songwriter Nikitaa is out with her latest single, ‘Wolf’, an upbeat, catchy confluence of R’n’B, Pop and Hip-Hop.

Blending in flutes, drums and guitars together, ‘Wolf’ has been skilfully produced by Mukund Komanduri and mixed and mastered by Pedro Theodoro. The song’s release is also accompanied by the showcase of the official visualizer on Nikitaa’s YouTube channel which has been animated by herself with graphics by Adhyan.

‘Wolf’ taps into the wild side omnipresent in each woman and NIkitaa’s playful vocals help in embracing the energy. It is going to be hard to resist breaking into a jig or two while listening to the song and it will prove to be quite the mood-setter for long, laidback afternoons and weekends. You’re quite likely to be reminded of a Beyonce number for sure.

‘Wolf’ is now streaming on Radio City Freedom.

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Collaborations in the Indian independent music scene are warmly welcomed because here is where a listener witnesses the culmination of contrasting dynamics. Songwriter and music producer Samarth Chawla aka Mosambee and singer/songwriter Maalavika Manoj aka Mali bring in their signature influences to offer their latest release, ‘Ocean’.

A song about the overwhelming emotion of doubt that engulfs all of us, Mosambee’s eclectic music arrangement is perfectly complimented by Mali’s silken, reassuring vocals. ‘Ocean’ essays our state of mind when life flings lemons at us. It reflects upon our responses, our confusion, our indecisiveness and above all, our eventual ability to overcome doubt.

Speaking further about how did this collaboration come through, Mosambee adds, “I first met Maalavika while I was interning at Cotton Press Studios in Mumbai. She was recording the vocals for her song called “Dreaming” for her 2017 EP “Rush” her talents were obvious. Later on, I met her a bunch while working at Island City Studios in Mumbai. She had come in to record her song “Mango Showers”, sort of not in the best spirits on that day. Regardless, she delivered some very expressive vocal takes in her hypnotic and deep yet bright voice. The depth in her vocal was one of timbre, not pitch- while I was considering vocalists for this song, this depth is what made me steer towards Maalavika to solidify the metaphor of Ocean.

So we recorded her at Island City later on, she pretty much knocked it out in no time. We then worked out some backing vocals to keep things interesting.”

‘Ocean’ is now playing on Radio City Freedom.

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Well-known for their politically sound and satirical verses through Urdu and Kashmiri languages, rock outfit Alif has now released the first part EP, from their upcoming album which contains 18 songs.

Titled ‘Haal’, the EP is the first part of ‘Siyah’, the album which will also witness release through three subsequent EPs namely, ‘Maazi’, ‘Musqatbil’ and ‘Hayaat’.

Through a beautifully shot music video which is now streaming on the band’s YouTube channel, Alif traces themes of innocence, confrontation with worldly horrors, disillusionment and redemption across four tracks, namely, ‘Khilona’, ‘Zindabad vs Murdabad’, ‘Dilgeer’ and ‘Shaand’.

‘Khilona’ emphasises upon the naivety and curiosity felt during one’s wonder years. ‘Zindabad vs Murdabad’ discusses our ability to hurt and heal through our words and deeds. ‘Dilgeer’ is a call for help amidst grief and hopelessness. ‘Shaand’, ultimately is a celebration of those who’ve emerged stronger.

Each composition reflects the signature storytelling of Alif, which is masterfully executed by frontman Mohammad Muneem Nazir.

You can stream the EP across leading music platforms and on Radio City Freedom.

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A former contestant in Indian Idol Season 10 and Zee Marathi Idea Saregamapa L’il Champs Season 1, young singer cum musician Avanti Patel celebrates love across gender identities with a classical thumri in ‘Saiyaan Bina’.

Produced by Anshuman Sharma, the track is an amalgamation of two ragas which represent contrasting emotions. It marks Patel’s debut as a singer/songwriter and musician. Accompanied with a beautifully aesthetic video animated by her friend Apu Dutta, who came out recently as a transmasc, ‘Saiyaan Bina’ reflects upon love and longing between two individuals.

Patel hopes to generate further awareness about Hindustani Classical, a genre that she is passionate about, amongst the younger, millennial audiences of today. She wants to make it more accessible for listeners through modern, inclusive representation which would reflect across the songwriting and composition of her songs.

‘Saiyaan Bina’ is now streaming on Radio City Freedom.

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Starting from June 25th, independent singer/songwriter Tanmaya Bhatnagar will initiate the ‘Friday Fundraisers’, a series of crowd-funding collaborative concerts, that will feature the best of Indian independent music scene performing an intimate live session for an exclusive audience.

These concerts will be ticketed and its proceeds will go in aiding COVID 19 relief efforts. Featuring two artistes who will perform for 20 mins each, the concerts will also hold a 10-min conversation towards the end.

The first Friday Fundraisers bring together singer/songwriter/actor Sanjeeta Bhattacharya and singer/songwriter/composer/musician Osho Jain alongside Bhatnagar.

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In 2014, came an EP titled, ‘Much Mellow’ which brimmed of Kamakshi Khanna’s promising talent. Following a reality TV stint as a contestant on the English singing reality show, ‘The Stage’, Kamakshi continued her musical endeavor with ‘Cakewalk’, her debut album in 2017. But with her lockdown release, ‘Qareeb’, the New Delhi-based singer/songwriter tasted unprecedented success and popularity.

The subsequent music video and social media reception that followed put Kamakshi in the league of young, accomplished Indian artistes with ‘Qareeb’ clocking over a million views alongwith eight hundred thousand plus streams on leading music portals.

This summer, the young artiste combines forces with some of the finest Indian independent talents to give us a song that possesses of a haunting, plaintive melody but allows its listeners to rediscover their true beings. About detachment and disillusion, Kamakshi goes for the unexplored in ‘Duur’.

The song was first conceived back in 2017 as a brief chorus which Kamakshi gently shrugged off as a part of her compilation of unused voice demos. For long, the melody kept revisiting her but she could not think of a verse that could accompany it. Imagination worked its way on a rainy evening and Kamakshi discovered a brief idea on how would she present this melody, with a little help from her parents.

A house gig in Pune brought her to acquaint with Sameer Rahat, the virtuoso of words and verses, who’d eventually agree to lend Hindi lyrics to the composition. As a performer, Kamakshi admits that despite being well-versed with the language, songwriting in Hindi wasn’t particularly her forte. In such a case, Rahat coming on-board is a huge stimulus to ‘Duur’. In Kamakshi words, “I am so grateful to have delved into co-writing my own music for the first time with a genius like Sameer.”

A raw guitar demo sent by Kamakshi to Ahmedabad bred-Mumbai-based producer Kabeer Kathpalia aka OAFF resulted in a masterfully-produced tune that suitably compliments the verses. Mumbai-based drummer Karun Kannampilly of The Koniac Net and Dino Siren fame further lent stellar drumwork to give us a fulfilling composition.

The ethos of ‘Duur’ have been perfectly captured in its music video by visual artist Arsh Grewal, who teams up with Kamakshi again after ‘Qareeb’. While the earlier song’s music video featured brighter, peppier visuals, ‘Duur’ is envisioned in a black and white setting which is entirely DIY and essays the darker, hollower side of human emotion. As the music video has crossed over a lakh views within a fortnight of its premiere, Kamakshi aims at putting out its behind-the-scenes trivia very soon.

‘Duur’ unearths a new layer in Kamakshi’s musicality. A side where she is willing to explore uncharted territories and conquer them as accomplished voices do.

You can now stream `Duur` on Radio City Freedom and across leading music portals.

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Comprising of Rohan Prasanna on Sarod, Siddhant Sarkar on vocals, Omkar Raghupatrani on guitar, Guru Ganapathi on drums and Arman Handa on bass guitar, emerging band from New Delhi, Kitanu’s sonic palette is reflective of Indo-Western influences.

Formed in 2017 during their college days, the band has just released their self-titled EP, comprising of three songs that they played during their first live jam.

‘Kitanu’ the EP, features ‘Vacation’, a song less on songwriting which offers enough hat tips to the Indian Sarod in its composition. The second track, ‘Pebbles’, is an upbeat and groovy heartbreak song that will make you celebrate your sorrow. The closing track, ‘Faith’ is about unending belief, despite the odds.

What makes the band standout amongst others is that it refuses to stray from its intentions and holds a firm resolve to introduce the world to a newer perspective of how Rock is received and seen.

You can listen to all the tracks on Radio City Freedom and on leading music platforms of your choice.

Team Radio City

Given the festive season and the wedding season that the country is looking forward to embrace, Mumbai-based electro act Lost Stories, featuring Rishab Joshi and Prayag Mehta, and established mainstream singer Jonita Gandhi combine forces for the third time to deliver another beautiful rendition with ‘Mehndi Te Vavi’.

A rearrangement of the popular Gujarati folk track, the composition comprises the use of traditional folk alongwith additional strings by Jay Pei and flutework by Shriram Sampath. The duo have also released the song’s official music video which features Telugu actress Simran Chaudhary alongside social media influencer Mr. MNV. The video has been directed by Sarthak Cheema.  

The collaborative forces of Lost Stories and Gandhi has always proven to work its magic upon their fans. When the two forces first worked together on reworking the popular Tamil hit, ‘Vaseegara’, it created a frenzy amongst fans leading to an online petition that drew over a thousand signatures urging the artistes to officiate a release alongwith a performance video which witnessed over 14 million views. 

In 2020, the duo came together again for the poignant yet liberating ‘Mai Ni Meriye’, which proved to be a huge lockdown hit.

‘Mehndi Te Vavi’ is now playing on leading music portals and on Radio City Freedom.

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Singer/songwriter/musician from Chennai, Zoe Siddharth returns after a year, following the success of her last single, ‘Human’, with a moving new melody.

Titled ‘Chasing’, the song delves into the mind of a young woman who is coming to terms with getting out of a self-consuming relationship and how she eventually does free herself from the anxiety and stress caused by it. 

Zoe asserts, “Chasing is a song about learning to pick yourself up off the ground, to stop chasing someone and to just be there for yourself. Sometimes, we are better off on our own.”

Zoe has also released the music video of the song, in which she features as herself. Shot by Blake D’Silva, the initial frames of the music video witnesses her as the woman seeking solace in her boyfriend’s clothes and towards the end of the music video, we witness a brighter, happier person who now is content with being herself and enjoys her own company.

Sung, written and composed by Zoe, the track also features backing vocals by Urgen Yolmo and has been produced by Keshav Dhar.

You can now stream ‘Chasing’ on Radio City Freedom and across leading music platforms.

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Abhanga Repost is a Contemporary Folk Fusion Band who recreates Abhangas into songs by replacing Taals & Kartals with Drums & Guitars and fusing it with Pop, RnB, Rock & Reggae Music.

Widely known all across Maharashtra, the indie band Abhanga Repost launches its debut album called ‘Vaari’. The album consists of total 7 music tracks.

What makes the band stand out is the album’s leading track ‘Bhoot Jabar’ a Marathi Fork Artform sheds light on to searing topics such as casteism, women foeticide, equality, environmentalism, etc and refuses to go adrift. This track is a fusion of Rock & Reggae, wherein the Rock section is used in the Chorus of the song & the Reggae is used precisely in the track.

`Bhoot Jabar` can now be streamed on Radio City Freedom and leading music portals.

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Rapper Big Deal is a renowned name in the Indian Hip Hop genre. He has several accolades to his name, such as Verve Magazine Fresh List 2018, Radio City Freedom Best Hip hop artist 2016, Sennheiser top 9 artists in India, Renault Free the music contest winner. He has collaborated with industry stalwarts such as Sneha Khanwalkar, Shraddha Sharma, HardKaur, Adnan Sami as well as worked on the Bollywood movie "Detective Byomkesh Bakshy".

He has done India tours, been on channels like VH1, MTV, 9XO, been on magazines like Rolling stone, Rock street Journal and almost every newspaper. Rapper Big Deal is also a music composer and he composes all the music that he raps on. In addition to that, he composes music for other rappers and singers. He has created songs for brands like Colgate, Nissan Datsun Redigo, Big Bazaar, Brand Factory, Tixdo, Red FM, Mr.Wealthy, Skilled In Odisha.

 Odisha-bred Samir Rishu Mohanty aka Rapper Big Deal got into world of rap to express the agony of his distorted sense of belongingness. Born to a Japanese mother and an Indian father, Samir struggled to find his footing. 

It was more so for Samir because it provided him with the much-needed and unique outlet to raise his voice against the discrimination he faced because of his mixed race. Samir was born in Puri and raised in Darjeeling, and was often mistaken for a North-Eastern because of his facial structure.

 `Artist of the Month` Rapper Big Deal’s `Shah Rukh Khan Flow`, `Kalia` and `I’m Chinkey` tracks can now be streamd on Radio City Freedom and across leading music portals.

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Ankur Tewari is a master at the art of capturing moods and moments, making magic of the mundane. Aahista, his first single of the new year sees his signature Urdu infused lyrics melting into a delightfully soothing melody.

In the fast-paced post pandemic world where our phones don’t stop beeping and there’s always something to do or somewhere to be, Aahista comes as a sweet respite. Minimalism is what Tewari specialises in, making music that doesn’t confound the senses but invites you in gently to explore the serenity of his melody and the profundity of his words. 

On being asked about the sentiment he was trying to capture, Tewari says, “The same moment that passes someone like an arrow, could last a lifetime for someone else. Aahista romanticizes the moment and tries to measure the distance between two people. It puts fast and slow in the opposite pans of a scale and curiously waits for the needle to find its balance. 

Slow living has been a staple buzzword in the social media landscape but not many of us have actually been able to put it into practice, the world somehow always gets in the way. 

What makes the single exceptional is that Aahista is both a portable vacation and a sagely reminder to slow down rolled into one; the calming magic of which we could all use a little more of in these unprecedented times.

‘Aahista’ can be streamed on Radio City Freedom and other music portals January 28th, 2022 onwards.

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Anushka Jag offers a powerful statement of self-worth with her melody `Crumbs`. Carrying one’s dignity on one’s sleeve defines Anushka and this is the clear message in her song as she reaches out to her global audiences with an indomitable spirit of self-respect. ‘Crumbs’ is a statement song with a mix of Indian classical elements (so close to Anushka’s heart) with punk rock and a hard hitting hook. Produced by Duddy Brown, the track has been written by Anushka Jag, Duddy Brown and Jennifer O’Neil. 

Jag has crafted an original style melding sounds of old-world India with modern electronic soundscapes to deliver universally accessible pop. Jag’s vocal range brings Stevie Nick’s vibrant contralto to mind, with an upper register kick that will catch you off guard. With passionate vocals and lyrics, she is P!NK, Ke$ha, and Demi Lovato rolled into one fierce yet approachable personality. Jag garnered attention with the release of her original songs “Taboo, Dirty Work and Rebirth`` as she went on to perform at landmark venues across the globe. Working with some of the music industry’s most notable songwriters and producers, Jag has created music that moves you and resonates with a global audience.

Anushka Jag’s last single “Love You Like You Never Left” Anushka Jag offers a throwback 1950s feel to the audiences with her track which sings of a graceful parting of ways.  Not holding grudges may be inevitable, the ballad empassions affection for the loved one though they are not with you anymore.

‘Crumbs’ is now available to stream on Radio City Freedom and all digital music platforms worldwide

Team Radio City

Youtube and Instagram sensation Anumita Nadesan, popularly known for covers of songs like Jashn-e- Bahara . Her cover has over 6 million views on Instagram. The soulful singer, Anumita Nadesan’s upcoming original ‘Khwaab’ is about humble journey of young ambitious girl who isn’t afraid to dream big and is brave enough to chase her dreams.

Her first original feature ‘KKD’ is amongst Top 50 viral songs on Spotify India  

The track streamed Februray 4 th 2022 onwards Radio City Freedom and other music portals.

Over the past several years, the independent music industry has massed audiences like never before. Especially during the pandemic, there was a major shift observed in listeners’ choice from mainstream film music to indie artists. We witnessed many new singles/EP/albums during the lockdown. 

The indie music industry was always perceived as a male-dominated space. To prove that otherwise, many female artists are reclaiming the narrative with their resolute, experimental, and reflective music. They have been rigorously innovative and always on the hunt to find new ways to express themselves with music. 

Music truly has the power to connect and create a community. And speaking of which, here’s a list celebrating emerging as well as creative female voices of the indie music scene. 

    1. Aditi Ramesh: 

Lawyer-turned-singer Aditi Ramesh’s jazz and blues will ensure to wash away all your blues. Mix that with her in-depth knowledge of Carnatic and you’ll get to listen to something we can fondly call a masterpiece. Sambar Soul, one of Ramesh’s songs that gained overnight popularity proves how well she can blend quirky lyrics with soothing jazz and blues.

   2. Alisha Batth: 

Dynamic, powerful, and dramatic are some of the expressions that define Alisha Batth. Mumbai-based queer singer-songwriter, Batth’s style of singing and her music remind you of Any Winehouse. Her single `All I Want` is proof of that. If you’re looking for a voice that exhibits dynamism and expression at the same time, Alisha Batth is what you would want to add to your playlist. 

  3. Anoushka Maskey: 

Like many other independent artists, Anoushka Maskey started her musical journey in the lockdown, giving soothing hits that became our personal earworms. Her debut EP `Things I Saw In A Dream` has seven beautiful tracks which revolve around appreciating the little things in life. Listen to her music here. 

  4. Ashwini Hiremath: 

Ashwini Hiremath is breaking the stereotypical ceiling of “women cannot be rappers” with her track Krantinaari. Rap, where rhythm and poetry intersect, speaks to you in a compelling manner. Krantinaari does the same, challenging the male-dominated society, thus being a powerful outcry against patriarchy. Listen to the Mumbai-based rapper here.

 5. Frizzell D`Souza:

The Mangalore & Bangalore-based singer-songwriter’s journey started by posting covers on her social media pages. It was in March 2020 when a discussion with a friend sparked the idea of creating her own independent music. And that’s how ‘New’, D’Souza’s debut song was released. The song is all about the lost spark that makes a relationship feel monotonous. The genre of the song is Blues, it seamlessly fits in D’Souza’s melodious voice. 

 6. Hanita Bhambri: 

You must’ve heard her soulful voice in the very famous collaboration with Zaeden in Kahu Toh Main Bhi Kya (KTMBK). What you wouldn’t know about Hanita Bhambri is her ability to be absolutely vulnerable through her music. Her composition effortlessly fits in with her soothing voice. Her songs give out feelings of melancholy and hope at the same time. Listen to her songs here. 

 7. Kamakshi Khanna: 

Lately known for her beautifully sung single “Duur” being adapted by The Fame Game on Netflix, Kamakshi Khanna started her musical journey when she was 20 years old. The Delhi-based singer-songwriter gave soulful singles like Qareeb, Tere Jaisa, and Duur. Belonging from a family of music lovers, Khanna has been featured multiple times on various Spotify playlists as the cover artist, Rolling Stones India, and more.

 8. Zoe Siddharth: 

India’s only English singing reality show The Stage gave us many hidden talents – one of which is Zoe Siddharth. Since then, she has garnered a community of indie music lovers on her Instagram and YouTube channels. Siddharth’s versatility is effortlessly switching between indie to pop to RnB. Her single “Human” is a soulful reminder of how a little kindness can help people get through tough phases in their lives.

Genders do not define music, talent and creativity do. These 8 women of indie are proving it right and how! These are just a few names of artists we love. There’s an endless list of female indie artists that are ruling the indie space and paving their way through the pre-defined stereotype. 

Radio City Indie celebrates Women’s Day with these incredible musicians – not just today, but every single day. We wish all you women a Happy Women’s Day. Thank you for being you!

With the long-due recognition for independent artists, the indie industry is steadily forming a community of music lovers who are looking for meaningful music over the mundane one. The indie music was consumed more during the pandemic. 2020 turned out to be a fruitful year for all the independent artists who created music by ditching any commercial labels.

Over the time, the indie music rose from being selective to becoming the ‘must-listen’ playlist of the year. With every passing year, these artists are gaining global popularity, thanks to proliferation of streaming platforms, management companies, and slick visuals.

There are some artists who have more listeners in other parts of the world than in India. One of the classic examples could be Prateek Kuhad who ended up being on the former U.S. President Obama’s annual playlist of his favourite song in 2019.

We’re here to throw some light on these unconventional indie artists who have tunes for every mood and will become your personal earworms. Start making your playlist already!

1. ROMANCE

If you’re an old-school romantic like us, here’s a playlist you will treasure.

1.  Stay With You by Priyanka Nath: Remember the feeling of slowly falling in love? Priyanka’s Stay With You is about reassuring your partner and holding their hand while they heal 
2.  Wagairah Wagairah by Ankur Tewari and The Ghalat Family: That first infatuation in your early school or college days is always a feeling that you’ll remember. Wagairah Wagairah will take you down the memory lane of your first adolescent crush
3.  Qareeb by Kamakshi Khanna: Being her versatile self, Kamakshi Khanna brings a fresh melody that speaks of slowly falling in love – first with yourself and then with your partner
4.  Baarishein by Anuv Jain: One of our favourite indie musician, Baarishein fills in all your feelings when you’re out of words
5.  I Forgive You by Neel Adhikari: Love is not just a bed of roses, but also about fights and making up. Featured in the popular OTT series Little Things, I Forgive You speaks about forgiveness, a fresh start, and telling the person how much you love them despite all the ups and downs

2. TRAVEL

Mentally, we’re in the mountains having kulhad wali chai and steaming maggi. Or probably on a beach, strolling by the shore during the golden hour. Basically, we’re desperately deprived of a vacation. The closest we could get to one is through these beautiful rhythms.

1.  Pahadon Mein by Salman Elahi: Perfectly summing what we feel at the moment, Elahi brings out the beauty of the majestic mountains. This song took Instagram by a storm and ended up in being almost in every travel reel
2.  Dil Mere by The Local Train: For every wandering heart finding solace amidst the restlessness, Dil Mere transports you to a place that’s your safe haven. The Local Train’s beautiful composition will make your journey even better
3.  O Sanam by Lucky Ali: How can we miss out one of the indie classics? The OG of indie pop, Lucky Ali’s ‘Hmmmmm’ has the power to make you forget all your worries
4.  Khwaab by Anumita Nadesan: The young internet sensation known for doing Bollywood song covers, Anumita’s new single Khwaab is just the right portrayal of satisfying an explorer’s curiosity. Shot amidst the nature, the scenic beauty of the video will give you major travel FOMO
5.  When We Feel Young by When Chai Met Toast: Planning a reunion trip with your school mates or college buddies? When We Feel Young is the perfect song to reminisce the memories created during those golden days. When Chai Met Toast have beautifully designed a melody to make you walk down the memory road

3. HOUSE PARTY

If you are selectively social and prefer house parties over club madness, these songs by fabulous indie musicians will get you groovy throughout the party. 

1.  Udd Gaye by Ritviz: This was one of the first party anthems by an independent artist in the millennial era. Ritiviz, known for his groovy music and rustic voice makes Udd Gaye the perfect song for a happy-high mood
2.  Bombay Dreams by KSHMR and Lost Stories ft Kavita Seth: The lockdown release which was an instant hit, Kavita Seth’s voice makes it just the right song to groove on while you are just getting the party started
3.  Dheere Se by The Yellow Diary: If you don’t know The Yellow Diary already, we’re judging you! The band takes this song to another level, making sure your dance moves are no more Dheere Se!
4.  Dhundhla by Yashraj Mehra x Talwiinder x DroppedOut: Fading out or about to throw up? You may as well do it while humming to Dhundhla. The trio has made this single such a party-worthy song, your memories of the party of the night won’t be Dhundhla at all
5.  Might Protonic by Sandunes: If you’re in the mood to get trippy and happy high, Sandunes is going to take you on one woozy ride. We won’t say much. Listen to this masterpiece and feel the adrenaline rush

4. MOOD UPLIFTER: 

Having a bad day? These indie songs are here to uplift your mood, make you remind of how worthy you are, and vanish all your blues. 

1.  Khudi by The Local Train: One of our personal favourites, Khudi uplifts your mood, your dreams, and your life’s purpose from the very first chord. The video features Arjun Mathur and is seamlessly directed to give you a message – live your dreams because YOLO!
2.  Joy Of Little Things by When Chai Met Toast: If you’ve forgotten the joy you derive through the little things in life, When Chai Met Toast is here to give you a gentle reminder of the same. If you’re having a bad day, sit back and plug in this song
3.  Jazba by Naalayak: If you’re ever doubting your worth, Jazba is here to remind you how important you are. Giving out just the right motivation, this independent song will make you feel all the more powerful
4.  Raat Guzar Jayegi by Swastik The Band: Remember our moms used to say – it is just a bad day, not a bad life. And this song conveys exactly the same. Raat Guzar Jayegi is filled with hope of welcoming a new day with a new purpose.
5.  Jeet by Ritviz: When nothing goes right, your girl gang will always be by you. And this song conveys how spending a day with your friends, doing nothing can still have you feeling at your best

5. WEDDING: 

Whether it`s you who is getting married or your best friend tying the knot, creating aesthetic and emotional content for the `gram is a must. These beautiful indie songs will add the missing factor to them. Let the wedding shenanigans begin!

1.  Rang Saari by Kanishk Seth and Kavita Seth: Trending throughout Instagram on the reels, Kavita Seth delivers yet another indie hit, stepping out of her comfort zone. This one’s perfect for the funky couples who like doing something off-beat
2.  Liggi by Ritviz: A fun and enthusiastic dance number, Liggi describes the rollercoaster emotions of a bride. Don’t care about the world and let yourself loose with the groovy beats
3.  Kasoor by Prateek Kuhad: Perfect for a romantic reel, pre-wedding photoshoot, and couples who are inseparable, Kasoor is about falling in love with your partner all over again

So what`s your indie mood today? 

Indian hip-hop industry loses one of its young gem - MC Tod Fod aka Dharmesh Parmar passed away on 20th March. Parmar was an integral part of he popular hip-hop crew Swadesi. Following a series of tributes and mournings on social media, Swadesi`s label Azadi Records and management company 4/4 Entertainment confirmed the news. The cause of his death is yet to be confirmed.

Tod Fod was India`s first Gujarati rapper, garnering a lot of fan followings by working with producer Bandish Projekt on songs like `Dakla` in 2016. Dakla was a aprt of their collaborative EP Katal Kalaa. Later, the producer collaborated once again for the song `Khule Naagde.` 

A provocative demander of truth and justice, Tod Fod had a voice who revolted against enviornmental and human rights against corupt societal practices, as he called it. Swadesi, who came together in 2013, saw Tod Fod standing shoulder-to-shoulder with MC Mawali, producers like NaaR and Raakshas, and recent additions like 100 RBH and Maharya. Swadesi`s album in 2020 was a call of cry to increase the pressure on corporations, illogical practices of the society, and politicians. Krant Havi, a track from the album was fierce and ruthless. 

The multi-lingual hip-hop artist was a part of several other singles right after, including Plandemic. His most recent single `Truth & Bass`, produced by DJ Chromederma and featuring rapper MC Solomon was released on 8th March. 

MC Tod Fod`s sudden demise has sent the Indian hip-hop community into major grief and shock, with several other hip-hop artists mourning their peer`s death. “Rest in power brother man. See you on the other side. I remember meeting you on shows and always awestruck with your voice. This was unfair", Prabh Deep said. An official statement from Swadesi and its members is expected soon. 

There was an adrenaline rush seeing MC Tod Fod perform live at Radio City Freedom Awards. Gone too soon, we will miss the young talent of our hip-hop community. 

Romance and music are synonymous. When you add an original touch of tunes to the music, you find a soulful way to express your feelings. That`s the beauty of independent music - it haunts your mind like a beautiful melody that`s difficult to get rid of. Most of the independent artists find comfort in indie-pop music that exudes the emotions of love and beyond. 

Be it that first crush in school, love at first sight on a solo trip, the instant eye-contact at a pub, or the old school romance - the indie community has got you covered. 

These independent artists and their soothing songs will redefine romance for you. Indie music lovers, start taking notes! 

1. Stay With You - Priyanka Nath

Love is not always a bed of roses, but also walking through the hurdles and difficult times together. When you cross the `getting to know each other` phase and move to some thing concrete, the feeling is inexplainable. Beautifully portrayed through soothing lyrics, Priyanka Nath`s Stay With You is all about standing through every thick and thin with your partern while they heal themselves. 

2. Wagairah Wagairah - Ankur Tewari And The Ghalat Family

School crushes are so cute, right? The adrenaline rush within when you see them or when they smile at you is soemthing you`d never forget. Eloquently elaborated by Ankur Tewari and The Ghalat Family, Wagairah Wagairah is all about cherishing the adolescent love, silently blushing, and expressing somethign called attraction for the first time. 

3. Qareeb - Kamakshi Khanna

When you`ve finally met your soulmate who knows and celebrates your worth, romance takes a backseat and reality steps in. A reality that`ll surprise you in a way where you`d question yourself that why`d you ever stop believing in love! Being her versatile self, Kamakshi`s Qareeb is all about falling in love all over again - first with yourself, and then with your partner. 

4. Baarishein - Anuv Jain

Madly in love yet find it difficult to express your feelings? Indie singer-songwriter Anuv Jain has got you covered with the ever calming single, Baarishein. This song is has a deeper meaning if you listen to the lyrics carefully. It weaves a strong feeling within and communicates with you seamlessly. If you`re finding a not-so-cliche proposal song, Baarishein is just the perfect indie track for you. 

5. I Forgive You - Neel Adhikari

Who said love is only about exploring the good sides of life? In a relationship, disagreements and arguments are bound to happen. But that`s the beauty of it - making up after a fight. Creating magic yet again in words on Ukelele, Neel Adhikari`s I Forgive You talks about forgiveness, taking a fresh start, and how much you love that person. Featured in the prominent Netflix series Little Things, dedicate this beautiful melody to remind them you`ll be there through all the ups and downs, unconditionally. 

There is an indie song for every mood. It is just about exploring this community. So what`s your musical mood today? 

After a two-year long break, people are finally free to travel to their favorite places. Since the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, while some embraced the work-from-home culture, others decided to move to the mountains or beaches and build their cozy, little workspace there. Speaking of travel, what`s the first thing you can think of when we say traveling? For us, it`s music. Music and travel share an inseperable bond. 

Independent music has become more of a community than an industry. Creating music and songs for every mood, here are some indie songs that are perfect for the traveler in you. Travel freaks and music geeks, start taking notes! 

1. Pahadon Mein by Salman Elahi

Spread like wild fire on every Instagram travel reel, Pahadon Mein was the closest we could get to he mountains. Composed and sung by Salman Elahi, this is the perfect track for every mountain lover.

2.  Dil Mere by The Local Train

For every wandering heart, finding solace is like bliss. The Local Train`s DIl Mere effortlessly transports you to a peaceful place. Composed and sung beautifully by the band, this song will make your journey even better. 

3. O Sanam by Lucky Ali

How can we miss out on the classic indie pop! Setting the bar high for every independent music creator, Lucky Ali`s `Hmmmm` has the power to keep all your worries at bay. An evergreen song for your road trips, O Sanam is a must have on your indie travel playlist. 

4. Khwab by Anumita Nadesan

Known to recreate mesmerizing song covers on Instagram, Anumita Nadesan has come up with her independent release called Khwab - a perfect melody for every wanderer. If you`re the kind of traveler who is spontaenous and ditches the idea of an itenirary, Khwab will summarize all your feelings. Nadesan got candid with Radio City, sharing her journey of making this song. Can you guess who mentored her to create this beautiful track? 

5. When We Feel Young by Chai Met Toast

This is not a song, it is a walk down the memory lane. Hitting hard on notslagia, When We Feel Young will remind you of your good old school and college days. Every tune and melody is desgined for this to become your personal earworm.  

So, where are you traveling next? 

Independent music has garnered listeneres and music-buffs over the past two years. Since the Covid-19 pandemic kicked in, it gave independent music space more exposure, more talent, and every artist was recognized by their songs. However, one such multi-talented artist who has imprinted the OTT space by creating music that speaks to our souls. Neel Adhikari, known for creating and designing music for popular OTT series such as Little Things, Ludo, Feels Like Ishq, Hasmukh, Afsos, and many more, is now coming up with his own album.

Early on in his childhood, Adhikari realized his calling is music. The first ever song he sang at an inter-school competition was his original composition. From that very moment, doing cover songs was never on the cards. After becoming a prominent voice in Kolkata, he was drawn to Mumbai to do something remarkable with his talent. Shifting to the city of dreams was a bold move for him.

Soon, he was discovered by Pocket Aces - a digital video property for Indian millennials. That`s how his musical journey for the web series Little Things began. 

From delivering hits like I Forgive You, Okay, We, and more for the popular Netflix web series, Neel became a sound of OTT by making more music for various series on different streaming platforms. That`s not all - the musician composed and crafted music for filsm like Why Cheat India, Kia and Cosmos, Shaheb Bibi Gholam, and more. He even bagged a Filmfare award for Shaheb Bibi Gholam. 

After being a prominent musician in the industry, Neel is now focusing on releasing his own album. Being an expert in stop-motion, the videos of his albums are a delight for the sore eyes. Neel got candid with Radio City Indie and spoke in length about his journey in music, how fatherhood has changed him, embracing Mumbai and the cut-throat competition in the industry, how indie space has evolved, and his favorite indie artists. 

His new album Four Little Things We Did has songs for every mood and will become your personal earworm the moment it is out. Releasing on 15th April, listen to his songs on Radio City Indie. Stay tuned to watch the lovely interaction we had with the musician. Till then, focus on little things that make your everyday special. 

Indians dominate globally, be it in music or business. And that`s exactly what we proved at Grammy Awards 2022. Two astonishing Indian musicians bagged the Grammy this year, making us extremely proud. On a fine Monday morning, it was announced that the Bengaluru based Ricky Kej has won the divine gramophone jointly with the The Police drummer Stewart Copeland. Kej won the Grammy for Divine Tides (Lahiri Music) for the best album. His life seemed to have come in a full circle. 

Dressed in navy blue Bandhgala, Kej bent down to touch Copeland`s feet, expressing his gratitude and quoting, “I grew up with his (Copeland’s) posters on my wall and today I have won a Grammy along with him. It’s amazing." He further added, “In India, we have a saying – Vasudev Kutumbhkam – the world is one family… living in peace with the human species, and also with all entities on this planet. Divine Tides is about that co-existence."

This is the second Grammy for the musician. he bagged the first one in 2015 for his album, Winds Of Samsara, a collaboration with South African flautist Wouter Kellerman. 

Lucky Ali is back with his new single and the netizens are thanking him to bring back a part of their childhood. Indian independent music, though picking up now, was originally ruled by icons like Lucky Ali, Shaan, Euphoria, and many more. These musicians became personal earworms of everyone in the 90s, especially the millennials of today. 

After giving hits like O Sanam, Gori Teri Aakhein, Jaane Kya Dhundhta Hain, and more, Lucky Ali is back with another original that gives out inspiring vibes. Intezaar speaks to you when you`re at your lowest and gives you the right kind of motivation to keep that spirit going. 

During the lockdown, it would be safe to say that the Safarnama singer relocated to Goa. We saw him at an aesthetic cafe humming O Sanam on the guitar, pleasing the crowd the way he naturally does. The video instantly went viral on social media and once again, the 90`s kid in us became the happiest. 

 With Intezaar, Lucky Ali has stepped out of his comfort zone. Though sticking to pop music, the video and song speaks to the self-doubts that live within you. We won`t say much but just leave the song for you here. 

The most-loved and iconic independent band The Local Train has split up as their frontman Raman Negi officially parted ways. Ever since the news is out, our lives haven`t been the same. The rumours of the band splitting up were floating since quite a while. 

After their last independent album Vaaqif, the band has been away from almost a year. Having performed at various fests and events, The Local Train became an instantly popular and loved band, thus creating a little community of indie music lovers. As I write this article, I`m just not able to fathom this fact. The Local Train was the first ever band I listened to when it comes to modern independent music. And from their very first tune, every song of the band was added to my playlist. 

The band`s management agency Spectal Management took to social media yesterday, announcing Negi`s exit and the band standing stronger together than ever. “TLT prevails stronger than ever! We’re here to stay and do what we’ve always done. We continue to wish Raman the best. We’re eternally grateful for every single one of you. There’s much more to come," stated the band. 

Answering a fan`s question on the quiet period of the band, Negi said, “I quit the band like 4 months ago!”

Speaking about their equation in an interview, the band said, "Having four different opinions in the band is an advantage that we’re now aware of. Of course, in hindsight! So, there are good days and bad but the four of us really work well together and have stuck it out together. The band does live together so that comes with its own share of new experiences!"

The Local Train is best known for their independent songs such as `Choo Lo` and `Aaoge Tum Kabhi` which was also featured in the award winning film, Angry Young Goddessess. 

Although the band was working on their third album, the former lead singer of the band shared some snippets of him recording his independent solos on his Instagram stories.  

Since the announcement was made officially, fans have been heartbroken. While there was a little hope for Negi and the rest three musicians to mend their differences and become the original band again, it is clear that the band will never be the same again. Having said that, Ramit, Paras, and Sahil will take the band ahead and continue giving us soulful music. 

So here`s a little message from a fan - The Local Train, we`ll wait for that `Aftaab` to arrive when `Aaoge Tum Kabhi` because your `Bandey` are not ready to accept your `Aakhri Salaam.`  

Weekend is here and we know you cannot wait to unwind from cubicles to comfy pajamas. House parties are the best, aren`t they? No stress of dressing up, be in your own space with your gang, talk to a dog, get drunk and pass out, or dance till your feet hurts. If you`re hosting a house party or attending one, here`s are some fabulous independent artists you need to add to your house party playlist. 

1. Udd Gaye - Ritviz

The classic party anthem for the millennials, Udd Gaye will always make you groove from its very first beat. Known for his electronic beats and rustic voice, Ritviz became on of the first independent artists to introduce party music in this space. 

2. Bombay Dreams - KSHMR and Lost Stories ft. Kavita Seth: 

This lockdown release was an instant hit. It was trending all over Instagram reels. Designed and ideated by independent musician Lost Stories, Kavita Seth`s melodious voice bought a life to the song. The popular dancer kid Akshat Singh makes the video highly relatable. Bombay Dreams should definitely be on your house party playlist, especially if you`re having a little dance battle. 

3. Dheere Se - The Yellow Diary

Leave the shyness and `what will people say` on the couch and bring on your best moves that are not so Dheere Se! The Yellow Diary is a band that has songs for all your mood. You can`t miss out on this band. 

4. Dhundhla - Yashraj Mehra x Talwiinder x DroppedOut

Discussing the drunk moments next day is so much fun. Dhundhla will remind you of all the blurry nights where you`ve either puked your lungs out or be the last one on dance floor. This independent song will even make you groove when you`re sober. 

5. Might Protonic - Sandunes 

Want to go on one woozy ride? Sandunes is the perfect track to make you feel happy high. We won`t say much, listen to this masterpiece for yourself. 

Aabha Hanjura, an artist hailing from Bangalore but a Kashmiri at heart brings to you the true essence of Kashmir served in melodious taste of her independent releases. A founder and lead singer of the eclectic pop band Sufistication, Hanjura has shattered all the stereotyoes and stormed in with her single Hukus Bukus. 

Her most loved track Hukus Bukus is a Kashmiri lullaby and was used in the Amazon Prime Video`s web series The Family Man. The music video has garnered over 3.7 million views on YouTube. 

She`s not just a singer-songwriter but also an exceptional storyteller. Her songs revolve around the beauty of Kashmir, how culturally and traditionally rich the valley is, and moreover her childhood spent in the beautiful paradise of India. Each of her music video has a story to tell.

Not everyone would know that Aabha has been one of the finalists on Indian Idol. Becoming a Kashmiri folk artist was never on the cards for the indie singer. On her trip to Kashmir a few years ago, she was sekig inspiration for music. And guess what her inspiration was - the whole valley! That`s when she decided to stick to her roots, dig them down, and portray it in front of the world in a form of a beautiful melody - her first album `The Sounds of Kashmir.`

Her another popular song Khanmoej Koor depicts the pain of a girl leaving her house to start her wedding life. A part of the song was also adapted in the popular Bollywood song - Dilbaro from the movie Raazi. 

A mum to a toddler, Aabha is creating a community which is not just musically inclined but also loves to listen to a story. She is coming up with her new singles and this time, it`s all about Punjabi folk. A blend of traditional and wedding songs, Sahibo and Kale Rang Da Paranda is going to be her next sensation. 

To all the moms, storytellers, and singers - Aabha Hanjura has so much in store for you. Stay tuned to Radio City Indie to know more about her journey. 

Independent musician Prateek Kuhad is coming up with his new album titled `The Way Lovers Do.` As he opens up about the process of writing and creating yet another magical masterpieces, he also shared the difficulties he faced in his personal life. 

It is safe to say that after the wonderful independent artists of the 90s like Lucky Ali, Euphoria, and more - Prateek Kuhad amplified the indie scene in India. Not only this, the musician also ended up being one fo the artists on former American President Barack Obama`s favorite playlist in 2019 post his popular indepenent release `Cold Mess.` 

Speaking of his upcoming album, there`s a track titled Favorite Peeps subtly throws some light on his tryst with depression and how his friends and family help him get through with the difficult times. The track is produced by Jugaad Motion Pictures and conceptualized by Dar Gai. 

Talking about how the track came into being, the singer said, "I was going through a rather difficult time, and it took me some time to pull myself together and appreciate the brighter side of things. At that point I realised how your friends and your family and people who love you - they can really help you navigate through the negativity and translate the bad thoughts in your head into good ones. And being there for them feels like a responsibility that almost makes you stronger and helps you get you back on track."

The music video shows a stark contrast of sadness and colours. Usually, adding grey undertones is the sign of dark times and depression. However, in Favorite Peeps, the director came up with a little twist to the mundane idea.

Sharing the concept behind the music video, director Pranav Bhasin said, "Despite the dark undertones of the track, the music video primarily focuses on the idea that `in the right company, sadness looks colourful.` Depression isn`t always blue. That was central to my treatment. The film depicts a slow ripening and maturity of our internal struggle. One that all of us go through." 

"One that grows over weeks, is difficult to share, to shake off or escape. A friend being there for you, in silence, makes a difference. Prateek infact turned out to be a brilliant actor to direct. He revisited memories that would authentically move him, just as he would have whilst building his song. Beyond anything else, this is another of Dar Gai`s brilliant tales, and it`s insanely impressive to witness her move the world with her scripts. It was a joy and a privilege to have worked on this with her. This film and song are special," he further added. 

The album which will release on May 20 on YouTube is under the label Elektra Records. In addition to the album, Kuhad also announced the `The Way Lovers Do` USA tour. Covering the North American stretch, the month-long tour will include a performance at the Lodge Room in Los Angeles on June 7 and will be wrapped up at New York`s Irving Plaza on June 28. 

Who doesn`t know the O Sanam singer? Lucky Ali, the OG indie sensation opens up about his personal state of mind like never before. Lucky Ali, son of the legandary actor Mehmood, felt a deep disconnect after the actor`s demise. In a media interaction, the singer got candid about leaving Mumbai and feeling like a stranger in the city he grew up in. 

Making his mark in the music industry, Lucky Ali attracted fame with his very first album Sunoh. He even bagged Best Pop Male Vocalist at the 1996 Screen Awards and the Channel V Viewer`s Choice Awards in 1997 for his first album. Garnering a community of indie music buffs, the singer then moved ahead to pave his way into Bollywood with hsi very first film, Kaho Na Pyaar Hain. Since then, he has sung in films like Anjaana Anjaani, Sur, Bachna Ae Haseeno, and many more. 

In a recent interview, Lucky Ali opened up about the undying urge of moving from one city to another. After he lost his father, the singer felt like a stranger in Mumbai because he felt there was nothing left for him in the city. 

"I am not a person who stays at one place for a very long time. I need to move around, I need to wander, otherwise, I feel like I am stagnating. But when dad (veteran actor Mehmood) passed away, I realised that I, too, wanted to go away from here, because I felt that I did not belong here. I felt like a stranger in the crowd. I knew many people here, yet I felt like a stranger."

For the unversed, Mehmood was an iconic Bollywood actor redefining the Indian cinema and storytelling, one movie at a time. He did over 300 movies till he passed away in his sleep at the age of 77. Mehmood was undergoing a treatment in the US and that`s where he took his last breath. 

Adding more to this, the singer-songwriter spoke about his current life in Bengaluru and he feels like moving away from the city too. He may have left Bombay but the `Bombayness` in him hasn`t gone away yet. 

"I felt the need to go. Sometimes I feel like that in Bengaluru too. When I feel the energy is dissipated, then I feel like moving away from there as well. I love Mumbai. It is just that the responsibilities that my parents left for me, took me to Bengaluru. I do visit Mumbai often, and I still have my `Bombayness` in me. I watch the sea, I love going to Carter Road and Nepean Sea Road and all those places that I grew up around. For me, it is like returning home. Mumbai is like a mother to me. So, yes, Mumbai is my maika (mother`s home) and I am Mumbai`s mai ka lal (mother`s son)!"

Lucky Ali recently dropped a new single Intezaar which is all about holding on to hope and positivity. Have you ever felt a disconnect to a city after losing someone you loved? 

With the music space in India going through a dark phase, we`re losing phenomenal artists. We woke up to a heartbreaking news about Sheil Sagar - an independent multi-instrumentalist and singer passed at a young age of 22. The cause of which is yet to be determined. His friends and musicians from the independent scene confirmed the news this morning on social media. 

Sheil rose to becoming one of the most listened independent artists by releasing his soulful debut single `If I Tried` last year. The song garnered over 40,000 streams on Spotify alone. Followed by three more singles in 2021, the indie musician released `Before It Goes`, `Still`, and `The Mobile Man - Live.` The latter was recorded live and filmed at Gurugram`s The Piano Man Jazz Club during a soundcheck. 

A multi-talented creative mastermind in his own right, Sagar was known for being effortless on piano, guitar, and saxophone. He was also a procuder-composer and his beautiful low-barritone voice enhanced every note of his songs. Sagar was highly involved in music, so much so, that he was the former vice-president at the music society of Hansraj College where he played a crucial role in the Delhi University music circuit.

Bagging awards was adding another father to his cap. Sagar won awards at several singer-songwriter compeitions such as Global Music Institute and Compass Box Studio. Apart from developing his own music, he also collaborated with Noida-based independent singr-songwriter Anchit Mangee`s latest release debut EP Adhoore. 

Rest in peace, young man. You and your music will be highly missed. 

Dharmesh Parmar aka MC Tod Fod was one of the finest hip-hop musicians in the independent scene. His lyrics spoke the truth and captivated hearts of thousands of hip-hop lovers. A Naigon, Mumbai resident, Parmar grew up with an old Bollywood soul and eventually fell in love with rap after listening to rap songs on Vh1. Swadesi rooted his love for hip-hop even deeper. 

Earlier this year in May, we lost MC Tod Fod to a severe cardiac arrest. He was barely 24 and left his friends, family, and everyone in the independent space in shock. A musician with such deep vision and impactful voice, his music is a legacy that Swadesi would carry forever. And for the same, the indie hip-hop band has come up with a crowdfunding campaign to honor and celebrate MC Tod Fod and his music. 

Aiming to conduct a 2-day long music festival, Dharmesh`s crew matest at Swadesi will now carry on the flag of his spirit and music forever. These two days will begin with the `Tod Fod` followed by celebrating Dharmesh`s life via Live HipHop Music, Flow Arts and Graffiti.

Funds from the music festival will be used to conduct a music festival in honor of the indie musician and creating TODFOD.org, a virtual museum containing thousands of pieces of his music, memories, and video clips shared by his close ones. 

All profits from the merchandise and event will be split in: 

- Family - 60% of the share will go to his family for a secure future

- Online Museum - 20% to build the website that will also include his unreleased work

- Environment - 20% will go to Aarey Forest and Mumbai`s ecology since the rapper was passionate about such conservation activities

We hope you`re in a better place today, Parmar. Being a loyal supporter and encourager of independent music, we are proud of what Swadesi is doing here. This is our 

Independent music has evolved beyond imagination, especially during the lockdown, more indie musicians were discovered. A platform to support and enoucrage independent artists, Radio City Freedom is hosting a special celebration for you on World Music Day. 12-hours of non-stop independent music, every indie music lover is in for a treat today. 

Everybody would know some great established artists like Prateek Kuhad and or When Chai Met Toast. But today, indie music scene has widened to areas you`d be surprised to know. Let`s make you meet some undiscovered indie talent from India whose music will sound like a breath of fresh air.

1. Akshath Acharya

A 22-year old singer based in Bombay, Akshath`s soulful single `Troubles` speaks about the butterflies you feel seeing your crush. Remember that feeling? Listen to Akshath only on Radio City Freedom Web Radio today. 

2. Anubha Bajaj x Karm Solah

The duo`s `Mann Mera` portrays the plight of two lovers who aspire to be together but fail in front of the relationship complications. Belonging from Noida, Bajaj and Solah are winning the country`s hearts with their music. Listen to their single only on Radio City Freedom Web Radio today. 

3. Arya Salvi

Originally from Pune, Arya`s latest single `Doori` perfectly defines a long distance relationship. If you are or have ever been in one, this song is the feeling you weren`t able to express. Celebrate World Music Day with Arya only on Radio City Freedom Web Radio today.

4. Bittle Singh

The multi-instrumentalist from Ludhiana has released his latest single `Khafa` and the song is absolutely surreal. Khafa talks about love, breakup, and everything in between. Listen to this masterpiece on Radio City Freedom Web Radio today.

5. Bozio Nienu

The Kohima-based indie singer released his latest single Lullaby. He wrote the song during the peak lockdwon and talks about looking forward and being hopeful after all that we`ve gone through. Listen to Nienu`s Lullaby on Radio City Freedom Web Radio today.

6. Harish Budhwani

Another Pune-based indie musician, Budhwani`s single `Saari Umar` is about one true love and how you even find them adorable when they`re being silly. Listen to this track on Radio City Freedom Web Radio today. 

7. Kalpana Sai

Kalpana`s single speaks about mental health and how you can be someone`s helpline. Listen to her track `Helpline` only on Radio City Freedom Web Radio today. 

8. Riko Lama

The Darjeeling musician`s new single `Awaz` is an ode to the LGBTQIA community. A meaningful track celebrating their courage and authenticity, listen to Awaz on Radio City Freedom Web Radio today.

9. Signal W

Devasheesh, Anukool, Nihar and Joe came together to create some brilliant indepenent music. Their track `Do You` is about unconditional love. Listen to this amazing track on Radio City Freedom Web Radio today.

10. Skinypop

A singer-songwriter from Sikkim, Skinnypop`s latest track is about voices, a mixed-bag of emotions and eyes that keep looking forward; a desperate need to hold on to the time that keeps running solo. Listen to his masterpiece `Running Solo` on Radio City Freedom Web Radio today.

11. Soham Mallick

A singer from the city of joy, Kolkata, his latest single `Mehmaan` is the song you dedicate to the ex who you don`t miss so much. Intrigued much? Listen to his track on Radio City Freedom Web Radio today.

12. Zachary Ray

`When You Know` is a track that will pick you up when you`re at your lowest. Believe in yourself when no one does isRay`s mantra. Listen to his track on Radio City Freedom Web Radio today.

Come, let`s celebrate World Music Day together with independent artists that are taking music to another level. 

LGBTQIA is a community that nurtures, encourages, and supports one another when the world stands against you. And so does music. Music doesn`t see your sexuality or gender, it only sees how you embrace the tunes. Music accepts you for who you are, what you are. These 6 revolutionary indie musicians are changing the non-labeled music, one note at a time. Let`s make you meet independent musicians who represent and belong from th LGBTQ community and are making their mark in the indie industry. 

1. Raveena (bisexual)

The Indian origin singer dropped an independent song `Temptation` which spoke about being attracted to both the sexes, which never came in from the artist. This song not only spoke about her coming out through music but also introduced us to her new artistic side with her 2019 album Lucid. 

2. Sushant Divgikar aka Rani Ko-He-Nur (queer)

Performing under the drag queen moniker Rani Ko-He-Nur, Sushant has been a ver prominent name in the community. Also leading a pop-rok band called Top Storey, Divgikar released his first independent single last December. `Diamonds` is all about mesmerizing highs lead by a powerful voice like Divgikar`s.

3. GrapeGuitarBox (non binary, gay)

Bnagalore-based queer artist Teenasai Balamu identifies as non-binary and gay with they/them pronouns. They released their first EP album in an intermittent fashion. Songs like "Wait for you", "Run", "Meant To Be Yours" are some of their songs that show inclusivity in tone and feelings. What started as a simple series of YouTube covers has now built a reputation for adding interesting twist to independent music. Currently based in London, we cannot wait to see what more they have to offer. 

4. Cartel Madras (pansexual, queer)

Indo-Canadian sibling duo Eboshi and Contra are dominating the hip-hop world and how! Breaking down the genderstereotypes and misconceptions from their early on compositions, their songs like "Kuthu Pattu" opens up interpretation with regards to one`s identity. One of their latest independent singles "Dream Girl Concept" which was fantastically lead by Eboshi is an ode to a girl building up to be one of the coolest, most savage brags in queer music. 

5. Yatin Srivastava (bisexual)

A multi-talented musician, Srivastava is a composer, producer, filmmaker, photographer, guitarist-vocalist. Going beyond his project album Chaos//Despiar in 2018, the artist collaborated with some strong and talented musicians in the indie space for his EP Quarantine Vol. 1. His music emotes expressive modern metals and subtle touches of electronic music and rock. Active since 2011, Srivastava keeps on experimenting with his tunes and music to give us somethign fresh every time he releases a new independent song. 

6. Krishna K. (transman)

Chennai-bred singer-songwriter Krishna K. is among those indie singer-songwriters who hs a fine balance in the non-labeled music as well as the Tamil film industry. Often hyped and supported by fellow indie musicians like Raghav Meattle, Kevin Fernando, and more - Krishna`s original pieces are topping all the indie charts. If you enjoy simple yet high-spirited music, Krishna`s music is something you must add to your playlist. 

Wishing the LGBTQIA community a happy Pride month! 

What started in the beginning of 2022 is still seaming hot - the epic battle between India`s two best hip hop artists Emiway Banta and Kr$na - has unfolded a new chapter. The two indie artists recently dropped their new single sharing the same name `Machayenge 4` and the song is all about spitting hate against each other. This has not only added fuel to the already ongoing controversy but also disappointed Emiway fans. 

Before we give deets about the song and current battle situation, let`s take you back to the fued`s inception. It all started with Emiway Bantai`s tweet that said, "I`m the biggest artist in the world!" 

An angry Kr$na took to Twitter, indirectly contradicting to the former`s post, “I’m the biggest artist, in your girl.” As derogatory as it sounds, this bickering hasn`t stopped yet. It got ugly, so much so, that Emiway`s rumored girlfriend Swaalina started to get rape threats. 

Coming back to what`s happening now, the Grind singer dropped his new single `Machayenge 4`, an ode to demean fellow rapper Kr$na and a manical side of his fans was seen. Disappointed seeing the former saying such uncomplimentary things about the latter`s mother, the netizens started posting against the rapper. #ShameOnEmiway is trending and doing rounds amidst hip-hop lovers who have withdrawn themselves from the `Emiway fan club`.

A Twitterati wrote, "Hats off to Emiway Bantai He is putting so much effort only to disappoint us and tell us the value of true education. Congratulations #krsna for winning this battle!!"

While another said, "The sad thing is new audience will come here due to his fame and think this trash is real rap and never listen to the genre ever again." 

On the other hand, Kr$na dropped his new single with the same name which instantly went viral and has garnered over 7 million views. While Emiway`s has only gained around 7 lakh views, we think we clearly have a winner of the 2-year long battle. This isn`t the first time Emiway has entered into bad blood with another fellow rapper. His first opponent was the infamous Indian rapper Raftaar.

When asked Raftaar to pick a side in the current ongoing rap war, he chose Kr$na and we`re not surprised. What`s your take on this?  

Indie fam, if you`ve been missing Ritviz a little more, we`re here with a great news. Independent singer, songwriter, and record producer recently announced his next project - a full-length debut album Mimmi. Apparently, Mimmi is an ode to his mother. Describing as his `most personal piece of work till date`, Ritviz`s mother will also be featuring as a vocalist in the album. 

This 9-track compilation is not only a walk down the memory lane to his childhood, but also about the close bond he shares with his mother or whom he fondly calls Mimmi. Together, the mother-son duo will navigate through the individualistic musical compositions with a touch of emotions. The album is also the singer`s way to portray how life comes full circle by creating and developing an album for the one who supported him the most. 

Set to release on September 2, the album is a mix-bag of personalized emotions and groovy soundscapes to Indian pop music. 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by RITVIZ (@vizdumb)

Speaking more about his debut album Mimmi, Ritviz says, "Mimmi is a collection of songs I wrote with my mom, to understand love better. I feel very grateful for the love I have received and continue to receive – it has and always will give me the strength to keep moving forward. But where there`s love, there`s also heartbreak. Once I grew out of my cocoon and into the world outside is when I truly realised the value of the love I was taught, while being accepting of other love languages." 

"My journey of realising this, was the progression of the album that I shared with my mother only to realise that it`s not the journey even, but the company that helped me rejoice and realise, and that is why the album is an ode to my mother," he further added. 

Elaborating further, the Udd Gaye singer said, "Both my parents are musicians—my mother is a classical singer, and my father plays the Tabla. As a child, I was widely exposed to Indian classical music but in the fifth or sixth standard I started composing original music because I wanted to express myself freely and break away from the limitations under the traditional guru-shishya Parampara." 

"At the age of twelve, I taught myself electronic music production, and invested nearly sixteen hours a day working on music. By the time I was fourteen years old, I was writing seventy songs a week. At the time, school didn`t feel conducive to my passion in music so I dropped out in the eleventh grade. My parents were extremely supportive and created a protective shield around me to keep the naysayers at bay. Therefore, this album is fitting ode to them, for always believing in my vision and encouraging me to be myself," he concluded. 

What follows this great news is Ritviz`s 7-city US tour in October this year. Cities such as Seattle (9th), San Francisco (11th), Los Angeles (12th), Chicago (16th), Somerville (17th), Washington DC (18th) and New York (19th) will have the honor to see him perform. 

Adding another feather to the hat, the record producer`s two massively popular songs Sage and Thandi Hawa were featured in Marvel`s Ms Marvel while his original composition Aavegi was the highlight of the last episode of the series. 

Ladies and gentlemen, this is Ritviz for you - representing India internationally and being a desi Mumma`s boy at the same time. We can`t wait for Mimmi. Can you? 

When we think about Indian independent music, especially in the hip-hop genre, there are names who have redefined the entire hip-hop scene in the country. DIVINE is one of those artists who introduced the essence of true independent hip-hop music in India. Radio City Freedom is here to get you a step closer to know more about DIVINE and his journey to being one of India`s biggest independent hip-hop artists. 

Where DIVINE comes from

Vivian Wilson Fernandes, popularly known by his stage name DIVINE, is an Indian rapper and songwriter from Mumbai. Starting his career as an underground rapper in 2011, he gained popularity after dropping his 2013 single `Yeh Mera Bombay`. His breakthrough was with his another indepedent release `Mere Gully Mein` with fellow hip-hop artist Naezy. DIVINE became the first Indian rapper to be featured on Spotify Times Square Billboard right after he released his independent album `Punya Paap.`

The rapper also became the first Indian hip-hop artist to attend Grammy Awards, making his debut there in 2022. 

Collaborating with fellow independent artists

DIVINE has collaborated with several other prominent hip-hop artists in the independent music scene. DJ Nucleya, Deep Jandu, Gangis Khan, Naezy, Raja Kumari, and many more. 

Gully Gang Entertainment

To recognize and celebrate new talent in the indie hip-hop scene from Mumbai, DIVINE founded a company named `Gully Gang Entertainment` in 2019. The song `Gully Gang Cypher` released in 2019 marks the first collaboration of the label`s rising artists such as rap quartet Aavrutti, solo hip-hop artists D’Evil, MC Altaf and Shah Rule as well as music producer Karan Kanchan. 

However, the Indian rap legend has not limited the hip-hop radius only till Mumbai. After seeing a massive success in India and beyond, Gully Gang Entertainment signed artists outside the city too. 100RBH from Amravati and Tsumyoki from Goa are now labelled hip-hop artists too. 

When we think of indie-folk bands, When Chai Met Toast is the first one to pop in our minds. Radio City Freedom is back with another Know Your artist piece where we bring you a little closer to your favorite independent artists and bands. Let`s tell you how When Chai Met Toast was formed. 

Meet The Band

When Chai Met Toast is a multilingual indie-folk band comprising of 4 versatile, most talented musicians. The band`s lineup looks smething like - lead vocalist Ashwin Gopakumar, guitarist Achyuth Jaigopal, keyboardist Palee Francis, and drummer Pai Sailesh. They are known to create and make light-hearted music in Hindi and English with a beautiful twist in Tamil and Malyalam. 

Where does When Chai Met Toast come from? 

The idea of forming this indie-folk band was seeded at Springr, a music cafe in Fort Kochi. This is the first place where Ashwin and Achyuth met to come together and form an independent band. They were soon joined by a friend Ricky on keyboard, who along with Ashwin, left the country to pursue further education. While the band was on hiatus, Achyuth joined Raghu Dixit, the frontman of The Raghu Dixit Project. 

In 2016, Ashwin and Achyuth returned to Kochi and were later joined by Palee and Sailesh to become a 4-member indie-folk band. Their first single Firefly released in 2016 was an instant hit.

Accomplishments

Having released two EPs and several singles, When Chai Met Toast has been recognized as the rising indie band by Spotify`s RADAR program. Break Free, the band`s another single`s video, was chosen as VH1 India`s Top 50 Hit Videos. The independent band often performs at live events and music festivals including Bacardi NH7 Weekender, Sula Fest, OnePlus Music Festival, and Red Bull Tour Bus. 

US based Indian indie musician and two-times Grammy winner Ricky Kej bought in 12 refugees staying in India to celebrate the spirit of 75 years of independence. On the eve of 76th Independence Day, the Ministry of Culture shared a heart-warming video of 12 refugees staying in India, coming together to sing India`s national anthem - `Jana Gana Mana`.

The rendition of Rabindranath Tagore`s `Jana Gana Mana` was beautifully sung with 12 refugees hailing from Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Myanmar and Cameroon. Joined by independent music composer winner Ricky Kej, the spirit of free India was seen and how. 

Taking it to Twitter, the Ministry of Culture tweeted, “Love for India is pouring from around the world! On the occasion of India’s 75th Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, Grammy Award winner – @rickykej and 12 refugee singers from 4 nationalities pay tribute to the national anthem.” 

Love for India is pouring from around the world!

On the occasion of India`s 75th Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, Grammy Award winner - @rickykej and 12 refugee singers from 4 nationalities pay tribute to the national anthem.

Watch their melodious tribute here pic.twitter.com/LIgk9C2dEi

— Ministry of Culture (@MinOfCultureGoI) August 14, 2022

Love for India is pouring from around the world!
The video has garnered over 3 Lakh views and 17,000 likes. Commenting on it, a Twitter user wrote, "What a beautiful sight! This is my India I always wanted to see!! This is the story of a great & loved nation. We feel humbled & blessed that they have chosen India to be their home. Jai Hind!!!”

However, some Twitteratis had a bone to pick with Kej. Appreciating his efforts to do something so emotionally surreal, some users found refugees from several more countries missing. Refugees from countries like Tibet, Pakistani Hindus, and Bangaldesh were not a part of this. "Many refugees are missing put, tibetans (who love this country like their own), bangladeshi and pakistani hindus and more," commented another user.   

Amongst the people featuring in Ricky Kej`s video were Gheyas, Aquila and Abdullah from Afghanistan, Disanthana from Sri Lanka, and Odettte from Cameroon. Aura, Rem Mawi, Len Nuam, Victor, Maria, Muanpi, and Chan Chan from Mayanmar were also a part of this beautiful initiative.  

We think this video truly brings in the spirit of India and we couldn`t find a better way to celebrate 75 years of Independence. What are your views?

Independent pop rock band Naalayak becomes one of the first indie bands to release their music Non-Fungible Tokens (NFT) through FanTiger, a marketplace for NFTs. Launching tokens for their upcoming song Nusrat, the Chandigarh-based band becomes second music NFT through FanTiger. 

According to FanTiger, the NFTs for Naalayak`s upcoming song Nusrat has gone live. It is now open to invest and will offer a three-tiers such as platinum, gold, and silver. Investors can also earn royalty along with money unrelated priviliges. Scheduled to go live on August 24, Naalayak`s Nusrat will be released across various social media platforms and music streaming app. 

Speaking about the music NFTs in indie music space, the CEO and co-founder of FanTiger Prashan Agarwal said their goal is to introduce music NFTs acorss various genres that will benefit Indian indie musicians. “The launch aims to pave way for artists to engage with FanTiger, build their own digital collectibles and connect with fans in more ways. To my mind, technology is a part of music industry and those working in the space have always been early adopters. Post Covid, artists, especially independent musicians, have seeked to find alternate revenue streams and music NFTs have intended to bridge the gap,” he said.  

"I look forward to the possibilities NFTs can offer, for artists and art in general. I believe that music NFTs will change the way musicians and fans create community and art together. Feedback from our fans will help us grow and at the same time, popularity of the song can benefit our fans,” Sahil Samuel, the lead member of the indie band said. 

FanTiger was recently funded by Multicoin Capital with a whopping $5.5 million. The company plans to use funds to expand its team acorss product, technology, extend industry partnerships, and onboard more Indian independent artists. It aims to roll out intiatives to support careers of around 100,000 Indian indie artists. 

We can certainly see the Indian indie community growing and how. Also, we can`t wait for another Naalayak magic. Stay tuned to this space to know more about their upcoming song Nusrat. 

When was the last time you found it relatively easy to decide which song should go on your Instagram reel? Well, what if we tell you Indian independent artists have made it easy for you. With the idea of `One Minute Music` doing rounds on Instagram, your reels are going to get another aesthetic addition. Radio City Freedom talks about the evolution of one minute music and the what, why, and whom of the same. 

Read on to know which independent artist`s song should go on your next Instagram reel. 

The concept of one minute music was initated by Instagram to increase the relatability factor. For the generation that`s always on the go and looking for something new, the one minute trend made perfect sense, especially when there`s new music to elevate your social media feed. Hopping on the bandwagon are the phenomenal Indian independent artists who are creating and making one minute indie songs. These songs not only are a perfect fir for your next Instagram reels, but also will become a personal earworm.  

Being one of the first Indian indie musician to make a one minute song, Kabir Kathapalia (popularly known by his stage name OAFF) released a beautiful track called `Tu Kahaan.` Garnering a huge appreciation from fans and the indie community, Tu Kahaan marked another collaboration between OAFF and indie singer Lothika. Joining the league was another budding indie musician Mayur Sakhare. With his funky track `Nakhra` and a romantic number `Sang Ve`, both his songs were highly trending. 

Another addition to the list is the Durr singer Kamakshi Khanna. Collaborating with music composer Sameer Rahat, Khanna released a soothing track titled `Naya.`; The song speaks about moving on and letting go. All these one minute tracks are not just perfect to hop on to the one minute trend but should be on your indie playlist as well. 

There are many such Indian indie artists who have walked along with the trend and created some delightful music. So, which one minute song by these phenomenal artists will make it to your next Instagram reel?  

Indie and folk music lovers, you`re in for a huge treat. Starting September, India will see some of its coolest music festivals. After two years of uncertainity and virtual concerts. the biggest music festivals are back with your favorite independent artists lined up. From Ziro in Arunachal Pradesh to the majestic deserts of Jodhpur, book your calendars for a quick getaway with your music buffoons. 

1. Ziro Festival, Arunachal Pradesh

Nestled amidst the lush green Ziro Valley of Arunachal Pradesh, Ziro music festival is considered to be one of India`s eco-friendly festivals. Apart from the excellent line ups, what`s beautiful about it is how the ground is divided into two parts - Donyi (meaning sun) and Polo (means moon) - that have been crafted by the local artisans usinf supply from the valley itself. Since its inception in 2012, the festival has had some amazing independent artists such as Divine, Lee Ronaldo, Lucky Ali among others. After being postponed to 2021, Ziro music festival is making a comeback larger than ever. The recent lineup includes Pinky Doodle Poodle from Japan, Yelli Yelli from France and India’s very own OG rapper Baba Sehgal.

When: September 29 to October 2, 2022

How to reach: The closest airport is Northern Lakhimpur in Assam whichis140 kms away from Ziro Valley. You can also take an overnight train from Guwahati to Naharlagun, which is a 3-hour drive from Ziro.

Tickets: Day pass starts from INR 2,950 and a four-day pass will cost you INR 9,550.  

2. Jodhpur RIFF, Rajasthan

Imagine this - your favorite artists performing under a full moon night and you are soaking in the soothing desert vibes. Hosted in the majestic Merangarh Fort, the Jodhpur Rajasthan International Folk Festival is arguably India`s most prominent music festival that speaks about its roots and culture. Endorsed by HH Maharaja Gaj Singh of Marwar and superstar Sir Mick Jagger, it has featured several whose who of the independent and folk music industry. 

This year`s line up is rather interesting with artists like Warsi Brothers, Indian contemporary band Bombay Brass, Khasi folk musician Amabel Susngi, European Sinti Gypsy group Tabor, among others. Jodhpur RIFF also offers morning storytelling, music, and dance sessions for children. 

When: October 6 -10

How to reach: There are direct flights from most of the cities to Jodhpur. Train is another option if you want to opt for scenic route. 

Tickets: Day pass from INR 4,250 and full festive donor pass will cost you INR 10,625. Some shows can be accessed from museum where ticket prices are INR 100 for Indians and INR 600 for foreign nationals.  

3. Independence Rock, Mumbai

What better city to choose for rock music lovers! One of India`s biggest rock festivals, I Rock began about three decades ago. Founded by farhad Wadia, the kusic festivals conveys stories and human emotions that have been a part of rock music culture through flawless musicianship. Independent rock artists such as Pentagram and Parikrama have performed here previously. While this year`s line-up is yet to be announced, be rest assured that everything at I Rock is going to be big and loud. 

When: November 5-6

Where: Bayview Lawns, Mazgaon, Mumbai

Tickets: Sign up for early bird access here

4. Sunburn Fest, Goa

Do we need to say anything more about this music festival? "Live, Love, Dance" at Sunburn Goa. One of Idia`s coolest, most loved festivals, Sunburn was started n 2007 to celebrate and recognize electronic dance music. With eclectic tunes that offers a blend of music, dance, and other experiences - it has travelled miles across continents to have some amazing EDM artists to perform. Sunburn Goa has seen artists such as Martin Garrix, Afrojack, The Chainsmokers and Avicci become a part of this Indian music festival. 

With this year`s theme being "the future is now", we have Grammy award winning artist Afrojack and DJs Dimitri Vegas and Like Mike will be headlining the event. This will eb followed by Belgian DJ Lost Frequencies and music producer Otnika. This is the right chance to take that much-anticipated road trip with your friends to take this high-octane experience. 

When: December 28-30

Where: Vagator Beach, Goa

How to reach: Flights for Goa are connected from most of the cities. A road trip or train are also some other options to explore. 

Tickets: From Rs. 3,375

5. Echoes of Earth, Bengaluru

The unanimous love for music, nature, and Indian heritage gave birth to Echos of Earth. Hosted in the lush greenery amidst the hustle bustle of Bengaluru, this is one of the greenest music festivals of India. Each part of the festival is carefully curated using recycled and upcycled products. With its unique art installations and  ancient Indian art performances such as Gombeyatta dolls dancing to the beats of Kannada bandmasters, Echos of Earth promises to be a feast for your eyes. Though the current line-up hasn`t been announced yet, the past performances saw some brilliant artists such as Acid Pauli, drummer Sarathy Korwar and more.

When: December 3-4

Where: Venue TBA, Bengaluru

Tickets: From INR 2,360

6. VH1 Supersonic, Pune

Offering a variety of experiences in a platter, VH1 Supersonic is an amalgamation of EDM, techno, indie, pop, and reggae music. Combine this with a flea market and global cuisines, this is an ideal place to plan a quick getaway. Opening its gates for thousands of music lovers every February, Vh1Supersonic has seen artists like Prateek Kuhad and Machine Gun kelly perform. The good news is they`ve just announced the dates for their 2023 music fest. 

When: February 24-26

Where: Mahalaxmi Lawns, Pune

Tickets: Visit here for more information   

7. Swara Samrat Festival, Kolkata

Celebrating a decade of bringing in authentic classical music under one roof, Swara Samrat Festival is the biggest classical music festival in India. The current line-up comprise of classical indie maestros like Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia, Vidushi Manjusha Patil, Zakir Hussain, Ustaad Rashid Khan, among others. 

When: December 15-18

Where: Nazrul Mancha, Kolkata

Tickets: Know more about the event here

Team Radio City Freedom

Acoustic Dhol 2

Acoustic Dhol 2 is the new Sample based Acoustic Indian Dhol Instrument. It has been sampled from real Indian Metal, Wood and Fiber DHOL Instruments. Sampled with condenser mic with various Positions. It is velocity sensitive instrument with built in Round Robin AI triggered Samples. It comes with Win 64-bit VST3, AU and Mac VST3 plugins. Acoustic Dhol 2 comes with free Player, however you will require to purchase the factory expansion to Up and Run the full instrument. 20 HQ Instrument presets with Low End SUB & 808 generator OSC, Dhol Generator, Filter and Reverb. Now just play real Dhol Instrument right inside your host DAW.

Acoustic Dhol 2

Key Features:

• 20 Factory Expansion Presets (purchase separately).
• New .rdg file format for expansions.
• Over 150 articulations.
• Sampled from real Dhol Instrument.
• New Low Sub Osc.
• New 808 Osc.
• Tuning.
• New Low pass and High pass Filters.
• New Presets Browser.
• AI powered Round Robin and Velocity sensitive.
• AR with Volume & Pan control.
• Algorithmic reverb.
• Level meter.
• All major DAWs supported (that supports VST3, AU, Mac VST3)

DSK is well known for creating loads of free and pretty cool-sounding plugins.

Indian Dreamz is no different…

It features a couple different typical Indian instruments which work pretty damn well!

These instruments are; Sitar, Sarod, veena, Tar, tampura & Tabla.

All in all, it’s a great plugin, absolutely give it a shot!

Key Features:

• 6 Indian Instruments: Sitar, Sarod, veena, Tar, tampura & Tabla.
• Velocity response.
• Amp. envelope and micro-detuner.
• HP/LP Filter.
• Midi automation.

Tempo Delay is a multi-feature stereo delay AAX, AudioUnit and VST plugin for professional sound and music production applications.  Tempo Delay is based on tempo, incorporating filter and tremolo sections with separate controls for each stereo channel.  Instead of a single “delay length” control this plug-in features separate “delay”, “repetition period” and “delay panning” controls which allow you to create an evenly sounding “ping-pong” stereo echoes.

Deepak Rathore Project, being the founder of Swastik-The Band was fond of music since childhood. An engineer by chance but a singer by choice, Deepak grew up listening to his mother and grandpa. The Compositions and the lyrics journey started with Song- Tu Jo Nahi Hai Yaha and Ja Tujhko. He is loved because of his soothing and enchanting voice. He was awarded the title of youth icon by Himachal Pradesh University.

Anumita Nadesan is one of the fastest-rising artists in the Indian indie-pop circuit. In 2021, her voice went viral on the internet, and she built an active community of over 5,00,000 fans across social media. She started releasing original music in 2022 and has already amassed over a million listeners and over 20 million streams across all streaming platforms. Anumita`s music is consistently trending across the top viral charts in India along with over 500,000+ fan-generated videos on multiple short video platforms. Recently, she also became the first woman to bag the cover of the most prestigious `Indie India` playlist on Spotify. Anumita`s fans describe her music as `soulful` and `healing`. Having made a phenomenal debut as a singer-songwriter and selling out her debut live show in a few hours, Anumita is all set to put out a massive catalog of original music and go on a nationwide tour this year.

With a soulful voice, 6 strings, and a revolutionary mindset, he plans to make his mark in the Indian music industry. Dikshant  is a 21-year-old singer, songwriter, composer, and producer from Mumbai. His keen eye for detail helps him narrate his personal feelings, making his music relatable. "When words fail, music speaks", hence he believes that creating an emotional impact is important, because what is music if not a short-hand for emotions? 

Twin Strings is a music-based start-up which was formed by the twin duo Sagar and Sahil. After a short stint in Engineering, they soon realized their passion for music and decided to take it up full time. Eventually joined by Manav as the lead singer and Mohit as a percussionist, Twin Strings is now a four-piece band which has given performances all across the globe. The last couple of years has been nothing less than a roller-coaster ride for the band. From taking YouTube by storm with their unique renditions of popular songs to performing with various celebrity artists and touring across the world .

"Mitraz" is a pop/dance duo making music since 2020. Consisting of Pratik and Anmol, the duo has released a full length album as well as an EP that has got them a loyal fanbase on Youtube. The duo has the ability to produce, write and sing all by themselves as is shown in their songs. With songs such as Ankhiyaan and Junoon, Mitraz is transitioning into the mainstream genre lately while not compromising on the original sound/vibe that they carry in all their music.

Anand Bhaskar is a singer and composer, the frontman of Anand Bhaskar Collective, and even more famously, the man behind beloved soundtracks like Mirzapur, and most recently the latest Disney+ Hotstar series Masoom!

A singer, songwriter, producer, composer, and pathologist, Aditya Agarwal is the voice of the popular songs like ‘Lajpat Nagar to Meena Bazaar, Road Pe, Adao Ke Riyaaz’ including his most popular track Chand Baliyan. The song which released in 2020 has over 300,000 reels made on it on Instagram

Maqsood Mahmood Ali, better known as Lucky Ali, is an Indian singer, songwriter and actor. With several popular singles and albums, he emerged as a significant figure of Indipop during the 1990s.

Suryakant Sawhney, known professionally as Lifafa is an Indian indie musician. He spearheads two widely acclaimed and musically diverse projects — the Peter Cat Recording Co (PCRC) and Lifafa. While the former is a Delhi-based jazz band, the latter is a solo electronic music project. Lifafa offers a mix of acoustic folk elements and an old-school disco layered with a baritone voice that can be angsty and meditative at the same time.

Aabha Hanjura, is a Kashmiri Sufi folk artiste, an energetic live performer, singer, and songwriter who has won hearts at several successful concerts across India since 2005. She is a dynamic lead singer of the eclectic folk-pop band Sufistication. Her viral track ‘Hukus Bukus’ found its way into the famous OTT web series “The Family Man” which has gained over 5 million views on YouTube.

Kabeer Kathpalia, a.k.a OAFF, is a music producer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist who bridges the gap between atmospheric electronica and accessible, feel-good pop. The artiste from Ahmedabad — who started his musical journey while he was still in high school with fellow schoolmates and now colleague and composer-singer, Savera Mehta — had previously composed the title track for Inside Edge, and worked in a number of ad films. But Gehraiyaan was his big Bollywood break.

MC Stan aka Altaf Tadavi is a pioneer as much as the product of Pune hip hop. He grew around the neighbourhood of Tadiwala Road. Stan was introduced to hip hop when he was twelve years young by his elder brother, which made him write his first song ‘Bhalti Public’ in Grade 7. His childhood revolved around Kawali music being played at his home. Later, he drew inspiration from Lil Wayne, Eminem, Busta Rhymes, The Black Eyed Peas, and Tupac, with Rakim having the most influence on him. He escalated to B-boying and beat-boxing before finally elevating to Rapping-the third element of hip-hop, that he is popularly well known for today.

Hailing from the hills of Sikkim singer-sonwriter Anoushka Maskey has made a mark in the inie space thanks to her ethereal yet accessible sound as well as her poetic and pertinent lyrics. Her debut album Things I Saw In A Dream was informed by life during lockdown, EP C.E.A.S.E. by the damage we inflict on our planet every day. That pair of 2020 releases made both listeners and industry folk sit up and take notice – Maskey subsequently supported Prateek Kuhad on his nationwide winter tour at the end of 2021.

For people starting off in the fields of music production, podcasting or looking to set up a home studio, a good pair of headphones is a necessity. With multiple options available in the market at different price points, it becomes a difficult task to choose the right pair. Audio Technica, a brand synonimous with audio equipments has released a new set of over ear studio monitor headphones, the ATH-M20x at a budget. Here are the key features of the ATH-M20x over ear studio monitor headphones

Features

• 40 mm drivers with rare earth magnets and copper-clad aluminum wire voice coils
• Advanced build quality and engineering
• Tuned for enhanced low-frequency performance
• Circumaural design contours around the ears for excellent sound isolation in loud environments
• Convenient single-side cable exit
• Designed for studio tracking and mixing
• Easiest to recommend if you just want a flat EQ with premium quality in both sound and build
• Highly recommended for starting a home studio on a tight budget
• Almost no noise leak

Team Radio City Freedom

Anand Bhaskar, popularly known for being the front man of alt-rock outfit Anand Bhaskar Collective has been composing soundtracks for quite a few popular shows. The list includes Mirzapur Season 1 and 2 (Amazon Prime Video) and Masoom (Disney+ Hotstar) along with his latest projects, including Dr Arora (SonyLIV); a short film - Gray directed by Sakshi Gurnani for Amazon Mini. On being asked about the process he follows to score for a film or a web series, the singer songwriter opened up 

"I don`t score to the visuals, I score to the story. I read the script a bunch of times to the point that I memorise the characters and what they bring to the world that is being created. Then I sit with the director and discuss the soundscape that might work for the film, the kind of instruments which can be used based on where the story is set and what the characters are like. The idea is to build that world with the director even before the visuals (episodes) come to me. Then I write 25-30 themes, each about 3 minutes long and they start minimally developing into a grand sound. When I receive the first cut, the team loosely place the themes they liked on the timeline, which is about 15 in number. The director then asks me to develop on those 15 shortlisted themes and eventually 7-8 of them get reused through the series. "

For someone who has just ventured into the composing and scoring space, Anand is very sure of his role in the art form that is being created

"Music plays a support function in a film. For me, it is important that whatever I write needs to support the film. The hero of the project is not the music, it is the story. People are going to be invested in the story and not in the music. I feel I am succesful when someone is watching a scene that I have scored and they have not realised that there was music in it. Having said that, the melodic component of the score or its recall value is also important to me but not at the cost of distracting the audience from the story or the characters. My foremost job is to bring out the vision of the director, I am a director`s composer."

Team Radio City Freedom

Purbayan Chatterjee is considered as one of the finest Sitar players in Indian Classical music. He belongs to the famous Senia Maihar Gharana, the school established by musical genius Baba Allauddin Khan, the guru of such stars as Ustad Ali Akbar Khan on the sarod and sitar players Pandit Ravi Shankar and Pandit Nikhil Banerjee. Along with his concerts of North Indian raga music, he also performs with musicians rom the South Indian raga tradition and participates in various fusion projects with jazz and world musicians all over the globe. His musical journey began under his father Shri Parthapratim Chatterjee’s tutelage. On being asked about the pressure of inheriting musical knowledge, Purbayan Chatterjee quickly explains

"Inheritance is what you make of it. On its own it does have an intrinsic value because it has been passed on to you through generations and you are lucky that you did not have to go and acquire it but the value of it diminishes in time if you can’t make it grow. Inheritance of art is very similar to inheritance of wealth. A prime example of it is Dhirubhai Ambani and what the Ambani brothers, Mukesh and Anil have done with the wealth that they acquired. It is not just the wealth but also the infrastructure that they built around it and also the business kingdom they carried forward. In music you may inherit your “taalim“ you may inherit your musical knowledge but your musical vision is your own, nobody else can give you that. You have go to figure that out on your own. It’s what you do with the inheritance, what you leave behind is what matters."

Team Radio City Freedom

Delhi based indie act Antariksh has completed 10 years in the music industry and to celebrate this milestone the rock band has embarked on a nation wide tour. Staring with a gig at Hard Rock Cafe Kolkata on 16th Septemeber 2022, the band will travel to other major cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur and Bengaluru. Antariksh`s last release was "Ye Jhootha Samaa” where the band collaborated with vocalist Shruti Dhasmana for the first time and also featured saxophonist Abhay Sharma. 

Last year Antariksh came out with one of the coolest collabs by an Indian band when they had the iconic guitarist Marty Friedman creating magic on the track "QUEST".  Talking about the music, Quest seamlessly blends Indian and Western musical influences and is an out and out Prog-rock song. It`s a heavy, intricate song, incorporating carnatic music inspired guitar riffs, a hindustani sitar solo (Dhruv Bedi - Parikrama), and of course - Marty Friedman making a guest appearance with a killer guitar solo.

About The Band

The brainchild of music composer, singer, and guitar player Varun Rajput, Antariksh is a Hindi-Rock act based out of Delhi, India. The band`s current line-up consists of Varun Rajput on Lead Vocals and Guitars along with Joshua Peter, Shrikant Biswakarma and Dan Thomas.

Team Radio City Freedom

From composing his first song at 10 to becoming the highest streamed artist on Spotify and garnering over 200 million streams across platforms, the journey of Ritviz has been nothing short of magical. Born in Darbhanga, Bihar, Ritviz Srivastava is an Indian singer, songwriter and record producer who rose to fame with the chart topping number "Udd Gaye" in 2017.

He is a trained classical musician and has been surrounded with music since childhood thanks to his mother who is a classical vocalist and his father plays the tabla. He started his music training under the guidance of Pandit Uday Bhawalkar of the Dhrupad gharana at the tender age of 6. While his roots were firmly placed in the classical music space, he was exposed to western music as a child. This is evident from the music he makes, a fusion of electronic and Indian classical music. 

His latest release "Mimmi" is an album that testifies the bond he shares with his mother. The 9 song album was created during the pandemic and are lyricized conversations between Ritviz and his mother. 

3 of Ritviz`s songs, "Sage". "Aavegi" and "Thandi Hawa" have been featured on Ms Marvel, a series based on Marvel`s first Muslim superhero. 

Team Radio City Freedom

Chennai based indie singer songwriter Kamlesh Purohit has released his latest single Kasoor. The song depicts how memories change shape over time. Written 4 years ago, Kamlesh was insecure about releasing the track considering it reveals some of my deepest feelings. "This song dwells on how memories, once as beautiful as the sunset, can become as painful as the scorching heat in a desert. I believe that these feelings were ever beautiful as they depicted a journey that was hurtful, yet exquisite, which deserves to be seen", says the musician. The song has been written, composed and sung by Kamlesh while it has been produced by Aditya Anand and mixed and mastered by Hanish Taneja.

Kamlesh had an inclination towards music from an early age. His music introduction was through folk and regional music. As a child Kamlesh would perform for organizations in Gujarat and Rajasthan. Having a musical lineage, Kamlesh gravitated towards being a singer siongwriter. An alumni of KM Conservatory, Kamlesh was a part of a Sufi ensemble led by Dr. AR Rahman. Kamlesh has carved out a niche for himself in the Indie music landscape. His music is often praised for its familiar themes and a sort of intimacy that reels you in and leaves you in awe.

His last release came a year ago in the form of the romantic track "Nazdeekiyan" which was produced by Sunny MR.

Team Radio City Freedom

Kayan aka Ambika Nayak is a Mumbai based singer, songwriter, producer and DJ. An alumni of True School Of Music , Mumbai where she co-founded projects like Kimochi Youkai and teamed up with producer-keyboardist Nirmit Shah to become Nothing Anonymous. She is known for songs like Cool Kids, Be Alright, Please and her collab with Gehraiyaan fame OAFF in the song So Good. 

Team Radio City Freedom

Leslee Lewis is a name familiar to anyone who has followed music in the 90s and 2000s. From being part of iconic jingles like "Doodh doodh doodh doodh" or "Mango Frooti fresh and juicy" to indipop hits like Sunita Rao`s "Pari Hoon Main" or KK`s "Pal", Leslee has been creating magic with his music for over 3 decades. One of his most challenging project was producing the hugely popular show Coke Studio`s first season in India. In an exclusive interview with Radio City Freedom, Leslee spoke about how Coke Studio happened 

"It`s a funny story. I used to hang out with the business community in Pune, at the time when Coke Studio in Pakistan released. Everybody was talking about it. One of my friend foolishly went around saying that I did the music for Coke Studio in Pakistan. It wasn`t true at all. But strangely when Coke Studio came to India they approached me to produce it and I told my friend, you said it back then and it manifested."

On being asked about the brief he received for the first season of Coke Studio in India and how he interpreted it, Leslee said

"I received a fantastic brief from Red Chillies and MTV. They said Sir you know music, we leave it to you. That gave me the option to open out and explore. As much as I like Coke Studio Pakistan they are restricted. They have 8 songs in a season and we had 51. There`s music from all oarts of the country that needed representation on Coke Studio India. We are culturally very diverse. To have all of those sound into one season was definitely a challenge. On top of that we had fantastic Bollywood singers like Sunidhi Chauhan, Shankar Mahadevan, Shaan along with incredibly talented folk artists like Khogen Gogoi, thrown into that mix were some really up and coming artists like HArshdeep Kaur and Akriti Kakar. We had to create that competitive edge on the set to get the best out of them, it`s not a recording studio, it is live. " 

Check out the full interview 

Team Radio City Freedom

Singer Songwriter Osho Jain has dropped his latest single Sabun Dil and has announced a mini tour to mark the release. Sabun Dil is a fun pop rock song which deals with getting back on one`s feet post a crazy heartbreak. Recorded at Island City Studios and mixed and mastered by Utkarsh Amarpuri, the song has a fresh vibe to it. The song has has been complimented with a quirky music video directed by Himanshi Handa. 

To mark the release of his single, Osho has announced a mini tour. The two city tour starts in Pune on the 24th of September 2022 and comes to Mumbai on the 25th, both at Antisocial in the respective cities. 

Osho grew up with music all around him. He trained in Indian classical music and had been part of many music projects before wearing the singer songwriter`s hat and releasing his debut track "Khush Toh Hai Na". Osho has been vocal about his love for poetry and all his songs reflect the same.  Osho has more than 15 Million streams across platforms and about 3.6 lacs monthly listeners on Spotify, making him one of the most popular indie artists in the country. He released his first full length album "Saar" last year and his last release was the 1 minute song "Siya Hai".

Team Radio City Freedom

Dubbed as the "Adele Of Mumbai", singer songwriter Mallika Mehta has been regularly releasing earworm worthy music. Her latest track "But Tonight I Wanna Cry" is no different. With an EDM inspired sound and deep lyrics But Tonight I wanna Cry stands out because of Mallika Mehta`s vocals. The song is based on the emotion one feels when getting over a loved one and that one weak moment when it all comes back to haunt you. While Mallika`s vocals and deep lyrics convey the emotional vulnerablity of a breakup, the song has been masterfully produced, mixed and mastered by Aasa Singh giving it the edgy feel. The song can give you company on a long drive or you can vibe to it in a club. 

Mallika Mehta is a multilingual singer-songwriter and a performer. Mallika has been telling relatable stories through the songs she writes. She has released
an English EP and 5 hit singles till date - (Evolve: The Story of Her,Way Too Long, Kahan Hai Tu, Kaafi, Keh Bhi De and Bling & Pictures). A songwriter at heart and fireball performer on stage, Mallika has opened for some renowned Bollywood artists like Kailash Kher and Shankar Ehsaan & Loy. Mallika is an alumna of Berklee College of Music, Harvard University, NYU and Kellogg University.

Team Radio City Freedom

Nodwin Gaming and Bacardi are all set to welcome fans to India`s happiest music festival, NH7 Weekender from 25-27th November 2022 at the Mahalaxmi Lawns in Pune. The festival which is in its 13th year has come with with a quirky tagline "13 Mera Weekender" to showcase the strong community bond the festival shares with its fans. This year the festival will witness 40+ artists from varied genres including Hip Hop, Rock, Electronic and Pop performing on 5 different stages. Like every year the festival promises to be a celebration of all things fun, from curated F&B, the signature Ferris wheel, interactive brand engagement spaces and good music. Iconic Weekender merch like The mug, T-shirts, buntings and stickers will also be up for grabs in the Pune edition of the festival. Earlier this year NH7 weekender wrapped up its main festival in Pune followed by city take over editions in Jaipur, Hyderabad, Goa, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Mumbai. The upcoming edition 

Over the past 12 years NH7 Weekender has emerged as the go to music festival for all independent music fans. BACARDÍ NH7 Weekender is a property owned by NODWIN Gaming and is presented by Bacardi Experiences. The festival which is synonymous with Pune kickstarted the independent music festival culture in India back in 2010. 

Team Radio City Freedom

Anuv Jain is a singer songwriter from Ludhiana who shot to fame with guitar centric soft numbers like Baarishein, Gul and Misri. His songs are charaterised by deep lyrics signifying raw emotions and earm worm worthy melodies. Anuv is one of the most streamed Indian indie artists across platforms. 

Team Radio City Freedom

The Adam Audio A5X studio monitors have a wide frequency response range which helps to give very clear and natural sound. Because of it’s awesome sound quality mixing of any type of song become very easy.

This studio monitor have enough potential to give very professional sound So, this studio monitor can be used for professional studios also.

Features:

• Size: Near-field
• System type: Active
• Configuration: 2-way
• Drivers
• Low-frequency driver: 5.5"
• Mid-frequency driver: Not applicable
• High-frequency driver: 2"
• Full-range driver: Not applicable
• Driver type: Carbon Fiber
• Sound 
• Frequency response: 50Hz – 50kHz
• Max peak SPL: 102 dB
• Amplifier class: A/B
• Output power: 75W
• Onboard Features
• Input connectors: XLR, RCA
• Standby mode: Info not available
• Acoustic space control: No
• Power indicator: Yes
• Other
• Width: 6.5" 
• Height: 11" 
• Depth: 8.5" 
• Weight: 14.6 lb.
• Enclosure type: Ported

Team Radio City Freedom

Singer songwriter Bipul Chettri took to music at a very young age. His father, after retiring from the Indian army started his career as a musician and that rubbed on to Bipul. Growing up in Kalimpong which has a number of convent schools, Chettri was surroundeded with choirs and carols and that served as a major influence for his songwriting. It took him a while to find his musical identity and during the time he dabbled into many genres including American Jazz. His first single "Wildfire" was released 9 years ago and it became a huge success much to the suprise of the singer songwriter. Since then he has been releasing music in English and the Nepali language. 

Before the pandemic hit, Chettri and his band lived the typical musician life. The singer songwriter toured the US, Australia in 2019, the UK, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, the UAE and Nepal and al parts of India. In the Nepali language speaking Indian regions of North Bengal and Sikkim, Nepal, and to the Nepali diaspora around the world, Bipul Chettri is a household name. 

Apart from being a musician Chettri serves as the head of the Arts Department at the Vasant Valley School in New Delhi. He joined the institute as a music teacher back in 1999. 

Team Radio City Freedom

Navaratri is one of the most important festivals in the country. It is celebrated over 9 days, each day representing an avatar of Goddess Durga. The festival also signifies the triumph of good over evil. According to the Hindu rituals Navaratri is celebrateed four times a year, but two of them the Chaitra Navaratri and the Sharadiya Navaratri see large scale festivities. While the Chaitra Navaratri falls during the spring season, the Sharadiya Navatratri is celebrated at the onset of autumn. 

Music and dance have always been a part of Navaratri celebrations. In many parts of the country people perform Garba and Dandiya Raas to celebrate the festival. Musicians release devotional songs every year to cater to the festivities. 

Pahada Waliye Ambe Maa - Shivam Chaurasia

Singer Songwriter Shivam Chaurasia has released his latest devotional track Pahada Waliye Ambe Maa for all devotees of Mata Rani. The song is a modern interpretation of the bhajan style of music and includes the famous Navaratri/Durga Puja chane "Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu". The video has been directed by YAshi Parihar.

Dammar Daak 5 (Dakla) | Aghori Muzik

Ahmedabad based Hip Hop crew Aghori Muzik has come out with a groovy Navaratri track Dammar Daak 5. Written and composed by the crew, the song blends Hip Hop and traditional Dandiya sound effortlessly making it a winner amongst the younger Guajarati audience. 

Kesariyo Rang (Video) Lijo G, Dj Chetas | Asees K, Dev N

Composed by Lijo George and Dj Chetas Kesariyo Rang is a catchy garba track that is sure to be a hit at Navaratri festivities across the country. Sung by Asees Kaur and Dev Negi the song features Avneet Kaur and Shantanu Maheshwari.

Vadhaamana | Mystic Melodies

A soft number celebrating the feeling of Navaratri, Vadhaamana has been composed by the duo Raag Mehta and Zalak Pandya of the Mystic Melodies fame. The song is accompanied by a well shot music video featuring the gorgeous Vrajana Pandya.

Dhol | Amit Trivedi | Asees Kaur | Aamir Mir

Amit Trivedi is a master at using Indian sounds to make a foot tapping number. Just like his previous Navaratri song "Moti Veerana", "Dhol" is a song that will rule the garba festivities. A mix of traditional and western influences, the song has been composed by Amit Trivedi, lyrics have been penned by Jayashri Trivedi and sung by Asees Kaur and Amir Mir. 

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Tune Up Channel, a pop rock band based in Mokokchung, Nagaland have released their latest single "A Letter." The song is a mix of 80s rock laced with synth sounds and talks about getting back one`s lost love. With poignant lyrics penned by Sunep A Jamir, the song has some terrfific guitar and drum work. The band also dropped their debut music video for the song which scream 80s, from the shining disco ball to the outfit of the band members. The video has been masterfully produced by Kodhi Jings Films. 

Tune Up Channel were the winners of the Hornbill Festival back in 2015. They have performed at music festivals across the region from Orange festival in Dambuk to the Northeast Indigenous Music Festival 2018 and the Hornbill International festival. The band consists of vocalist Sunep A Jamir, guitarist Temjen Lemtur, bassist Meren Longchar, keyboardist Ayu Mongro and drummer Tia Jamir. 

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Prabhnoor Chahal popularly known as Noor Chahal is a singer songwriter based in Mohali. She rose to fame by making videos on Instagram and Youtube. She started her music journey very early in life, since the age of 2 she has been performing on stage. When she was in her 8th standard she opted for formal training in Hindustani classical music. As a singer she is open to singing different style and genres and considers singer Satinder Sartaj as an inspiration. 

Her professional music journey began during lockdown when she started uploading covers of popular Hindi and Punjabi songs on her Instagram and later on Youtube. Currently her Youtube subscribers stand at more than 7 lacs. Her debut single "Jhalleya Dila" released in 2022 and she also featured in the Punjabi movie Bajre Da Sitta as a parallel lead. 

Recently Noor along with indie artist Kayan became a part of Youtube`s foundry class of 2022 from India which is the platform`s flagship indie musician`s incubator program. 

Taba Chake is a finger-style guitarist and singer singwriter based in Mumbai. Originally from a hamlet, Doimukh in Arunachal Pradesh he belongs to the Nyishi tribe and his music is inspired by tribal folk and nature. He sings in English, Hindi and Nyishi languages. 

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The Jodhpur Rajasthani International Folk Festival (RIFF) is a five day extravaganza showcasing and celebrating the rich musical heritage of Rajasthan, Indian and global folk music. Hosted at the iconic Mehrangarh Fort, this year the festival will be held from October 6-10. After a two year hiatus the 13th edition of the Jodhpur RIFF will feature as many as 250 artists from across the globe mesemerising the audience. Here are a few acts from this years Jodhpur RIFF that you wouldnt want to miss

Sumitra Devi

A folk stalwart Sumitra Devi has been performing not only in India but internationally and has collaborated with famed artists like Yuni Honing Trio and Mumford and Sons. This year she will accompany other female artists to revisit the place of women in folk music. 

Tabor

European Gypsy ensemble Tabor is known to enthrall their audience through traditional roots music representing the Gypsy culture. The songs performed by the ensemble are the ones performed at their homes since centuries and thwerefore they evoke a strong sense of nostalgia amongst their audience. 

Citadel of the Sun

A collaborative project between Rajasthani and Irish musicians supported by the Arts Council of Ireland and the British Council.

Sawan Khan

Hailing from the Manganiyar community of Rajasthan, Sawan Khan is an acclaimed Sufi musician. Music runs in his family for generations, his ancetors have perfomed in the royal courts He has performed all across the globe and has worked with stalwarts like AR Rahman. 

Riff Cohen

Tel Aviv based acoustic rock artist Riff Cohen is a singwer-songwriter who performs in Arabic, French and Hebrew. She is known to experiment with various genres including French Pop, Avant-Garde, traditional North African music and classic rock.

Indie Acts

For the first time Jodhpur RIFF has scheduled a dedicated slot for indie artists. This year two talented indie will perform at the festival, Bawari Basanti and Harpreet Singh. 

RIFF Rustle

The grand finale of the festival will witness a "jam" between Rhys Sebastian, saxophonist of Bombay Brass and ace drummer Jehangir Jehangir. 

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Singer-songwriter Prateek Kuhad has announced the Indian leg of his much anticipated "The Way That Lovers Do" world tour. The tour will kickstart on 29th October 2022 and span over 2 months across 15 cities. This is by far the largest tour that Kuhad has embarked on in the sub continent. BookMyShow will produce and present the "The Way That Lovers Do" tour in India along with talent management agency Big Bad Wolf and entertainment agency Tribevibe. Kuhad will be presenting a two hour set in each city which includes Pune, Chennai, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Delhi, Surat, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Jaipur, Guwahati, Kolkata, Indore and Bengaluru, and Goa. Tickets for the tour starts at INR 499 and has gone live from 26th September 2022.

About The Way That Lovers Do 

The Way That Lovers Do is Prateek Kuhad`s 11 song studio album released in May 2022 under US based music label Elektra Records.  Recorded at Seattle’s Bear Creek Studio featuring Ryan Hadlock (The Lumineers, Vance Joy), the album talks about human love, friendship, and connectivity. He opens up about his own romantic struggles and takes the listener on a journey of self discovery through the album. Post the release of the album Kuhad went on a 16 city North America tour in June this year.  

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Prabh Deep was catapulted into the orbit of Indian Hip Hop royalty as the flagbearer of urban Punjabi music with his debut album Class Sikh which released in 2017. The album was set in Tilak Nagar, Delhi and talks about the local community reeling under unemployment and drug menace. He won the Toto Funds` The Arts Award For Music in 2018 for the album.  

Prabh Deep grew up in West Delhi. While in high school and practicing Judo he came across a small b-boying and breaking group. He dropped out of school, soon to realise making a living and pursuing his "calling"  are two different things. Then came a young producer by the name of Sez in his life and things changed. He signed to Azadi Records, a boutique Hip Hop label founded by like minded music afficianados. 

Through his albums Prabh Deep has spoken about numerous social issues including from drug abuse, student suicides, Kashmir lockdown, governemnts inciting violence and a lot more.

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Singer Songwriter Shivam Chaurasia has released a new Navratri song Pahada Waliye as an ode to Ma Durga.  The song which is a modern rendition of the Bhajan style of music has been produced keeping in mind the younger audience. "The younger generation is drawn towards modern music, not just them even in tier 2 or tier 3 towns or villages, people will not understand English but will still listen to songs by Justin Bieber. It is the music that connects. My thought process was to make a bhajan with music that the younger auidence consume, that way I will be able to pull them closer to God", says Shivam. The song was composed two years back but didn`t see a release until the singer`s mother asked for a song on Navratri, "My mother is a devotee of Mata Rani and she had asked me to make a song praising Goddess Durga. Since I already had the composition ready I wrote the lyrics and completed the song in 24 hours", shares Shivam. 

Navratri and music has a long standing relation and the singer opines "Music during Navratri has been a tradition since generations. If you look at Gujarat where Navratri is celebrated through Garba, it is almost like a music festival. But we dont have as many new songs to play every year, we only refresh old bhajans. I want the old tradition to stay but with a modern twist in terms of the sound."

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Singer Amruta Kale has released her redition of the powerful shloka Bhavani Ashtakam. Composed by Jaya Raja Kale the song is presented by Swaramrut Arts Foundation. Written by Jagatguru Sri Adi Shankaracharya Bhavani Ashtakam is a popular hymn on Goddess Bhavani (an incarnation of Ma Durga), who is known for her protection and merciful nature. The musical arrangement by Shantanu Herlekar does complete justice to the spiritual nature of the song while Amruta`s polished vocals are a treat to the ears. 

Amruta Kale is a Hindustani Classical Vocalist , known for her versatile signing. She is the disciple and daughter of Pt.Raja Kale , the senior disciple of legendary and versatile Performer, composer and Guru Pandit Jitendra Abhisheki ji of Agra, Jaipur gharana tradition. She also had the fortune to receive tutelage under Sangeet Martand PadmaVibhushan Pt.Jasraj of Mevati Gharana .

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Chicago based Indian origin singer Subhi and producer, singer, composer Kanishk Seth have dropped their latest single "Laapata". The song has been produced by Kanishk and mixed and mastered by "Gehraiyaan" fame Prathamesh Dudhane. With a folksy sound and guitar heavy arrangement "Laapata" gives perfect road trip vibes. "Laapata is about feeling inspired and lost at the same time. I am grateful for the freedom I have to do what I love the most and at the same time, I realize how unpredictable and unknown this journey is. As I am getting older, wiser, I am realizing life is bittersweet", says Subhi in a statement adding, "Originally I had a very different vision of how I`d like the music to be. Kanishk had his own ideas regarding how the track should sound. We started off with discussing ideas and with a lot of back and forth, landed at a sweet spot where we both fell in love with the track. I feel Kanishk did a fantastic job at producing the track and helped me complete the vision of the song."

"Laapata" is the third collab between Subhi and Kanishk. In 2020 Kanishk had done a reprise version of Subhi`s "Aagosh" and in 2021 he remixed her English track "Wake Me Up". Subhi’s previous singles were “Better” and “Water Raft” featuring British artist Ed Geater whereas Kanishk recently released an experimental electronic EP "Motion Emotion."

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Pop artist Pratyush Dhiman aka Pratsofficial has released his new song "Khatam" under the indepedent label IndieA Records. The song has a melancholic feel and the lyrics do justice to the theme of having loved and lost. Composed, written and sung by Pratyush, the song has been mixed and mastered by Hanish Taneja. Khatam is accompanied by a music video directed by Shailesh Awasthi and featuring the artist himself.

Born and brought up in Himachal Pradesh and based in Gurgaon Pratyush Dhiman is a trained Hindustani classical vocalist. He released his debut single "Na Jane Kyu Tu" in 2020 and simce then has been releasing songs regularly. Pratyush has a strong fan following amongst today`s youth which is evident from the 121K subscribers he has on his Youtube channel and 1.7 million monthly listeners on Spotify. His most loved track "Aziyat" over 2.9 million vioews on Youtube. 

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Having spent a considerable part of his life in Singapore, the now Bengaluru based singer songwriter Rahul Advani delivers a earmworm worthy track Ready To Breathe as his debut single. The song has a polished sound with poignant lyrics and catchy melodies. The sound seems partly inspired by 80s MoTown and partly by the piano centric sound of late 90s early 2000s. The song also features indie artists Tejas Menon and Mali as backing vocals. Talking about breaking free from all aspects of life the song is accompanied by a quirky music video directed by Waiqi Chuah and Rahul himself. Featuring Vidyuth Gargi as a call centre employee the music video talks of the challenges employees face. 

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Bengaluru based rapper Brodha V has been a pioneer in the Indian Hip Hop scene. Coming from a traditional family, the engineering drop out was surrounded with music growing up. Every morning Brodha V used to wake up to classical and devotional music. It was only when he stumbled upon the Black Eyed Peas` track ‘Elephunk Theme’ which had Ilaiyaraaja`s ‘Unakkum Ennakum’ from the Rajinikanth starrer Sri Raghavendra sampled, did the rapper get the inspiration to pursue Hip Hop. He considers Ar Rahman, Timbaland, Eminem and Jay Z as his inspirations.

He was heavily inspired by Old School Hip Hop and the culture to bring Black People together through music. The brotherhood showcased during the times is what the rapper wants to achieve through his music. Brodha stands for Brotherhood and V is from Vignesh (the rapper`s first name). His storytelling stems from real life experiences and talks about overcoming obstacles albeit being subtly political. The rapper has had a number of hits over the years including "Aigiri Nandini", "Aathma Rama", "Vainko" and his latest being a collab with Rapper KRSNA "Forever."

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Rapper Tirath Sandhu better known by his stage name tricksingh has dropped his second single My Turn/Meri Vaari. The bilingual track boasts of a retro sound and hard hitting, catchy lyrics in English and Punjabi making it a must listen. The 23 year old rapper is deeply rooted in his culture and his songwriting is inspired by his experiences and his surroundings.

The rapper`s latest track comes a month after he released his debut single "Welcome to Class" which has garnered more than 150k views on Youtube. 

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Singer, composer and performer Ishaan Nigam has dropped his latest single "Ye Raaste". The melodious track has been written, composed and performed by Ishaan, music is arranged by Siddarth Soni, guitars / ukulele is played by Sam Haldar and artwork is made by Doodlernie. The song talks about enjoying the journey while chasing one`s dream and the singer has dedicated this song to all artists who have left their comfort zone in order to pursue their craft. The singer croons "Ye Raaste par tu chale, khaab naye bunte hue" epitomising the path taken by anyone who has a dream to fulfill. With relatable lyrics and melody the song stands out for its simplicity. Ishaan`s vocals have added a new dimension to the song.  

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One of India`s biggest hip hop festival, Breezer Vivid Shuffle (BVS) has announced the launch of its sixth edition. The two day festival will be held in Mumbai on 12th and 13th of November and will witness Block Parties in Hyderabad on 5th of November and in Guwahati on the 19^th of November and a meet & greet session with the headliner along with dance cyphers. Ushering in a new wave with the best Indian hip hop musicians, BVS is bringing forth its celebratory aspect to the masses. From being a primarily dance-based competition, it will now be a celebration of all things hip hop - live music, dance cyphers, street-style souks, fun interactive installations, photo ops, meet & greet, and of course workshops at the School of Shuffle.

A NODWIN Gaming IP Breezer Vivid Shuffle is India`s first hip hop league, and the new season will be led by brand ambassadors Kriti Sanon and Vijay Deverakonda.

In its sixth year, BREEZER Vivid Shuffle seeks to provide a platform for hip hop talent from the ‘streets’ of India, in a bid to make it accessible to the youth from all walks of life. It will aid a wider crossover of sounds and build a bigger-than-ever regional representation of the best hip hop geniuses from across the country. This edition includes a Digital Dance Battle with an opportunity to participate by uploading entries in open category – street styles and a chance to win from a prize pool of INR 10 Lakhs. Three winners will be selected by renowned judges and each will make their way to one of the 3 cities with a chance to meet the Brand Ambassadors. Online registrations for the competition are due to open soon.       

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Indie musician Sultan has dropped his experimental debut single Cat Got My Tongue. Sultan is the solo project of New Delhi based artist Sultan Aftab Khan. The multi instrumentalist has been part of a number of music projects and dabbles as a vocalist, guitarist and handles synth duties while playing an Ableton set. 

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Canada based Indian origin singer songwriter Kunwarr has released his latest single Taqdeer. The dancehall-afrobeat inspired song has been produced by DJ Prodigy while Kunwarr has composed and written the lyrics. Taqdeer talks about a modern day love story relating it to the iconic romance of Heer-Ranjha. With catchy beats and simple, relatable lyrics the song grows on the listener.

Kunwar is a hip hop and R&B artist who is making huge waves in the independent music space with over 10 million+ plays on all streaming platforms with releases like All Lies, Bewafa, Befikra and his debut EP "Excuse My Pain" charting over the UK Asian Network Charts. Starting very early in life Kunwarr has been learning and plaing musical instruments from when he was 4 year old. A self confessed fan of The Weekend, Taqdeer is Kunwarr`s first collaboration with indie label Big Bang Records. 

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India`s happiest music festival NH7 Weekender has announced the first phase lineup for the Pune edition. To be held on 25th to 27th November at the Mahalaxmi Lawns, the multi genre music festival will spread across 5 stages and will cover acts ranging from metal, electronic, hip hop and rock. 

The music festival will see performances by American folk-rock group The Lumineers who were also a part of the festival`s virtual edition in 2020, Swedish Jazz/R&B band Dirty Loops, fusion act The Berkeley Indian Ensemble who are known to expertly amalgamate Indian sound with world music along with a host of Indian indie musicians.

The homegrown list of artists include Bloodywood, Parekh and Singh, Easy Wanderlings, Kamakshi Khanna, Tejas, Hanumankind, Bloodywod, The F16s, Yashraj, Hanumankind, Parekh & Singh, Dappest + adL, Easy Wanderlings, Tejas, VelvetMeetsATimeTraveller, Kraken, Gutslit, Trees For Toothpicks, Pacifist, Dohnraj & The Peculiars, Rudy Mukta, Wild Wild Women, Adi., Karshni, Kamakshi Khanna, Gouri & Aksha, Sanjeeta Bhattacharya, Fox in The Garden, Utsavi Jha, Saachi, Shreyas Iyengar, Rawal X Bharg and Perp X Linfomation.  

The 13th edition of the NH7 Weekender festival is back to its original 3 day format after almost 3 years. An IP of NODWIN Gaming, the festival tickets are live on www.insider.in.

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Back in 2016 Komal Jagtap would sing and dance at people`s houses on special occasions like weddings and child birth. That was her only source of income. As much as she would be happy that people would call her for their auspicious occasions she was appaled by their behaviour. She belonged to the transgender community and had left her home even before she turned a teen. But she had big dreams, she dabbled into films and television before auditioning for India`s first transgender music group 6 Pack Band. Curated by composer Shameer Tandon for Y Films, the youth development wing of Yash Raj Films the band as the name suggests had 6 members. Asha Jagtap, Bhavika Patil, Chandni Suvarnakar, Fida Khan, Ravina Jagtap along with Komal Jagtap. The initiative was a shot in the arm for the transgender rights movement in India.

Y Films got actress Anushka Sharma on board for the band`s first single, Hum Hain Happy, a reimagined version of Pharrel Williams` hit Happy. With hand clapping gestures and peppy Inbndian beats the song currently has more than 2.5 million views on Youtube. 

6 Pack Band`s second single Sab Rab De Bande featured one of India`s most loved singers, Sonu Nigam. The transgender band also collaborated with superstar Hrithik Roshan for a single titled Ae Raju which has garnered over 13 million views on Youtube till date and with Arjun Kapoor on the song Hila Pori La.

Having performed on prestigious platforms like Mirchi Music Awards, Economic Times Women’s Forum, Hyderabad Literary Festival 6 Pack Band won at the Cannes Grand Prix Glass Lion ion 2016 which celebrates culture shifting creativity. With all these accomplishments 6 Pack Band truly  set a benchmark in transgender rights movement in India.

Formed by Nischay Parekh and Jivraj Singh Parekh & Singh is a dream pop duo based in Kolkata. Nischay sings, plays guitar, keyboards and synths while Jivraj plays drums, drum machines and effects. The duo came into light wearing colourful retro suits for the song "I love you baby, I love you doll" in 2016 when they re released their debut album Oceans. Parekh & Singh have since maintained their signature dreamy sonic aesthetic and Wes Anderson-esque visuals in their songs. Their latest release is the EP The Night Is Clear.

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Almost 1 billion people around the world suffer from mental health conditions according to a new report released by The Lancet Commision on the occassion of World Mental Health Day. That makes it one out of eight people globally. Global pop stars like Justin Bieber and Britney Spears have spoken about how their music careers have affected their mental health. In the last decade alone we have lost some of the most loved musicians including Chris Cornell, Avicii and Chester Bennington to suicide. In a study conducted by Swedish distribution company Record Union back in 2019 showed a staggering 73% of independent musicians suffered from mental health issues. Closer home The Global Music Institute conducted a survey to understand the relation between musicians and their mental health. 79% of the respondents in the age group of 18-24 years are facing mental health challenges, the survey revealed. Mental health issues are rampant within the music community and talking about the challenges need to be made normal. Some indepdndent musicians have taken it upon themselves to normalize conversations around mental health and wellness. 

Srijan Mahajan

The 34 year old music composer found it difficult to navigate through the altered professional topograpohy during the pandemic. He looked for help from all quarters. He consulted multiple therapists only to find that although the professionals were competent, they could not contextualise the issues being faced by Mahajan. That is when he along with his childhood friend and entrepreneuer Ankur Kampani and psychologist Aditi Kapoor established Pause, an app that helps artists, creators and entrepreneurs to receive relevant and empathetic mental health services. The app provides customised programmes for specific needs and run byu a team of accomplished professionals. 

Rishab Rikhiram Sharma

The young sitarist started healing sessions termed as Sitar For Mental Health during the pandemic. During the pandemic Rishab struggled with his mental health and after multiple rounds of therapy he was suggested that he starts playing his sitar live on Instagram for an audience. Over time the number on the live sessions grew and he coined the sessiones Sitar For Mental Health. Now the disciple of Pt Ravi Shankar has taken his sessions on ground. It is a carefully curated mix of breathing exercises and Indian classical music.

Kanchan Daniel

A blues rock musician, a cancer survivor, a psychology educator Kanchan Daniel has been leading the conversation around mental wellbeing of musicians for quite some time. A few years ago she started a campaign called Mental Harmony to normalize and initiate discussions around mental health. On World Mental Health Day catch Kanchan talk exclusively with Radio City Freedom on the need to take care of one`s mental health.

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Composer duo Salim Sulaiman and singer Ayisha Abdul Basith, a 17-year-old UAE-based singer and digital content creator known for her devotional songs on social media have come together for the devotional track Salaam under the duo`s indie label Merchant Records. Salaam is a curtain raiser for Salim Sulaiman`s series Bhoomi 2022 which will release from 20th October onwards. The song praises the Prophet Mohammad and his greatness, on the occasion of his birth anniversary - Eid E Milad. The lyrics for the song have been penned by Kamal Haji.

Bhoomi is a series of albums released by Salim and Sulaiman Merchants under their label Merchant Records in associaltion with Go Daddy. The series explores Indian traidtional sounds with new age elements. The album will feature artists like Shreya Ghoshal, Sonu Nigam, Sunidhi Chauhan, Ash King, Harshdeep Kaur and many more. The second song from the album will release on 20th October featuring Sunidhi Chauhan and Ash King. 

Hanita Bhambri is a singer songwriter based in New Delhi. Even with a degree in marketing and an MBA from MICA Hanita always knew she wanted to be an artist. With a medlodious voice and poignant lyrics, Hanita has carved a space for herself in the indie music space of the country.  

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Indie music producer and DJ Teri Miko has signed with popular French record producer Tchami`s House music label Confession Records. This is the first time that an Indian DJ has signed with the famed label. The first track of Teri Miko from the label, Upside Down dropped on 7th October. The DJ/producer collaborated with Ukranian artist Vovking on the track and explored a futurisitic house music sound. The demo track was instantly shorlisted by the A&R team at Confession and finally approved by label boss Tchami. This speaks volumes of the prowess that the Indian DJ has in music production. 

Teri Miko has supported acts like KSHMR,  Dyro, DJ Snake, Marshmello, Netsky among other heavyweight artists over the years and received worldwide appreciation when shoe toured during the seven months of her pregnancy. She will be on tour again in Asia opening for Alan Walker and DJ Snake`s India tours and also play at the main stage of Sunburn 2022 in Goa. 

Althougn an indie artist Teri Miko has dropped songs under some of the biggest record labels in the electronic music space including Spinnin Records, Trap Nation, Musical Freedom and Sony Music. 

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The music festival season is well and truly upon us. Indie music lovers are in for a treat as most of the major music festivals are back on ground after a pandemic induced hiatus. Along with the favourites like NH7 Weekender, Ziro Festival Of Music, Sunburn music lovers will get to witness the return of India`s most loved Rock music festival, Independence Rock. Jumping on to the bandwagon is also India`s greenest music festival Echoes Of Earth. The fifth edition of the festival will be held on December 3rd and 4th at the Embassy Riding School in Bengaluru. Recently the Echoes of Earth 2022 lineup was announced. British acts The Yussef Days Experience, Kerala Dust, The Turbans and Tara Lily, Henry Saiz & Band from Spain, Eelke Kleijn from Netherlands, Vieux Farka Touré from Mali, Zeitgeist Freedom Energy Exchange from Australia, German artist Dauwd and Switzerland based L`Eclair make up for the international contingent at the Echoes Of Earth festival 2022. The list of homegrown talents on display at the festival include Hanumankind, Til Apes, Baalti, Anyasa and more. 

Surrounded by 180 acres of greenery the festival is all set to promote a message of mindfulness, sustainability and an alternate lifestyle. Over the past six years Echoes Of Earth festival 2022 has significantly reduced its carbon footprint with efforts like making stages from upcycled materials, using solar power, creating no plastic zones and responsible waste disposal systems. 

Echoes of earth ticket price  start at INR 2360 and is available on BookMyShow.

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Indie music lovers are in for a treat as there is a new addition to the music festival calendar this year. The Indian Indie Music festival is a five day multi genre event to support and showcase independent musicians from across the world.  The festival will be held at The Kerala Arts and Crafts Village near Kovalam from November 9 to 13. Brainchild of musicians Jay and Manoj from the band Lazie J, the debut edition of the festival will see performances by international and homegrown independent artists. The line up includes U.K.-based blues/rock guitarist Will Jones, U.S./Brazil hard rock band Sami Chohfi’s Blue Helix, reggae artist Anslom Nakikus from Papua New Guinea, Singapore-based vedic metal band Rudra, metal band Chaos from Kerala, hip hop-jazz musician Roc Flowers from Italy, Carnatic rock band Agam, vocalist Sithara Krishnakumar’s Project Malabaricus, Job Kurian collective, Lazie J, Rane from the U.K., pop-folk band When Chai Met Toast, Sherise and Lyia Meta from Malaysia. The festival will kick off with Kerala`s band Oorali.

The festival was conceptualised when Jay launched a magazine Lazie Indie Magazine during the pandemic to build a community for independent musicians. In the process he got acquainted with multiple artists from India and across the world. On looking at the indie music scene in India, Jay and Manoj realised that there is a lack of opportunity to showcase talents of indie artists. They took matters in their own hands and with suppoort from the music community they built through the magazine The International Indie Music Festival is taking shape. 

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Rapper Raja Kumari has been nominated for the upcoming MTV Europe Music Awards for her song Made In India in the Best Indian act category. The song which released on May 6 this year featured the gorgeous Madhuri Dixit in the music video and celebrates her ethnic background and the original song by Alisha Chinai. Made in India is part of the rapper`s EP Head B***h which includes five tracks and features rappers Krsna and Shah Rule. Along with Rajakumari singer composer Armaan Malik has also been nominated in the same category for his song You. 

Raja Kumari aka Svetha Rao grew up in the US and made a mark in the Indian music industry with City Slums, her collab with rapper Divine. At the beginning of her career the rapper collaborated as a songwriter with artists like Gwen Stefani, Fifth Harmony and FallOut Boy. She is a trained Indian classical dancer and has always showcased her culture through her music. 

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There is one more reason for Hip Hop fans in and around Delhi NCR to rejoice as craft beer brand Simba has announced the debut edition of Uproar 2022, a new music festival focussing on the ever growing hip hop and street culture in the country.  The 2 day event will be held at The Hub, DLF Promenade in New Delhi starting November 19. Uproar 2022 has announced "Tu Aake Dekhle" hitmaker King and rapper Ikka as the headliners who will be joined by a battery of artists from the rosters of indie labels Azadi Records and Gully Gang.  According to the organisers the festival will promote an ecosystem of curative street culture experiences across music, fashion, streetwear, urban sports, and art. 

The list of artists performing at the music festival include Ahmer, DJ BLUnt, Jelo, Prabh Deep, Rebel 7, Seedhe Maut, Tienas, MC Altaf, D`Evil, Shah Rule, Tsumyoki, Riar Saab, DJ Proof, and Karan Kanchan. Hip hop music producer Sez On The Beat, rappers DAKAIT, Ab 17, Yungsta and Aniket Raturi will also take to the stage at Uproar 2022.

The music festival season in India is in full swing with popular festivals like NH7 Weekender, Rajasthan International Folk Festival having announced their lineup and IPs like International Indie Music Festival  and Uproar 2022 announcing their debut editions. 

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Folk artist Mame Khan has released his latest album Desert Rose (Registan Ro Gulab) celebrating love, life and his colourful homeland of Rajasthan. Released independently the album has 6 songs- Rajasthan Express, Saawan- A Musical Storm, Halariya -Janam Mubarak, Sajde, Kabira, Hawa Se. Mame Khan has collaborated with some of the best indie musicians on the album. The list of featured artists include Purbayan Chatterjee, Ojas Adhiya, Taufiq Qureshi, Gino Banks, Sheldon D`Silva, Dilshad Khan, Amar Sangam and Nihal Kamboj. 

Known for his strong vocals, his superhit song on Coke Studio "Chaudhary", his unique composition glorifying his roots Mame Khan is an indie artist who has captured the imaginatons of audiences across the globe. Born into the Manganiyar community of Rajasthan, Mame Khan has been singing right from his birth. Manganiyar is a community of folk musicians who consider themselves descendants of the Rajputs and their simple yet powerful melodies have been reverberating through the desert for centuries. 

Mame Khan has been singing since 1990 and till date has performed across 70 countries. Mame Khan recently became the first folk artist from India to walk the red carpet at the 75th Cannes Film Festival`s Indian Pavillion along with Bollywood celebrities like A R Rehman, Shekhar Kapoor, R Madhvan, Deepika Padukone, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, and Union Minister for I&B Anurag Singh Thakur.

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Singer Songwriter Shalmali has dropped her latest single Chills. The song is a part of her upcoming album 2X Side B. ‘Chills’ talks about her personal experience of love, being vain and the thrill behind it where she sings fantasizing about her lover. It talks about how a beautiful emotion like love also goes through its arc with the changing dynamics of time and space during the pandemic. The song has been written, composed and sung by Shalmali while the music has been produced by Sunny MR. 

The album 2X Side B, represents the mix of all the emotions everyone experienced during the lockdown. It talks about how the pandemic gave Shalmali the motivation to write songs that explore a wide range of emotions- laughter, love, anger, despair, creating a groovy album. This album contrasts with her first one that places a greater emphasis on other emotions than love. The music this time is groovy unlike the more- easy listening tracks on 2X Side A.

2X Side B hosts other tracks like We Back, Chills, Garden Variety Hater ft. Vasundhara Vee, Interrupt Me ft. Ranj, Tum Na Mile, Enough Of You, Chalta Hai ft. Vishal Dadlani and HanumanKind, Running and Locomoco. Working together with other artists lends a varied charm and a distinctive touch into the tunes and the album as a whole.

Team Radio City Freedom

The Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival have announced Canadian Reggae/Pop band Magic! as one of the headliner`s for the festival. Magic! is known for their 2014 hit Rude from their album Don`t Kill The Magic and this will be their second trip to India after performing at the IIT Bombay`s cultural festival Mood Indigo in 2019. The music festival will be held from 24-26 November at the city`s iconic Polo Grounds. 

Shillong Cherry Blossom festival also announced a bunch artists as headliners including UK based pop star HRVY, DJ/PRoducer Jonas Blue, Portugese Linkin Park tribute band Hybrid Theory, Assamese icon Papon, Meghalaya`s very own Bob Dylan Lou Majaw and DJ promoter Nikhil Chinappa. The music festival got back to a formidable line up last year after a pandemic induced hiatus which included K Pop group PIXY, rock band Dosser`s Urge and Thailand pop act Pyra. Presented by Meghalaya Tourism tickets for the music festival start at INR 899 and are live on their website.

Along with the headliners the music festival will witness some of the best homegrown acts including R&B singer songwriter Jessie Lungdoh, hip hop acts Meba Ofelia and Dappest x adL, rock artists Street Stories, Fame The Band, Summersault and folk act Da Minot. 

Team Radio City Freedom

Dates announced, line up announced, ticket links live, the happiest music festival of the country Bacardi NH7 Weekender is set to return to the Mahalaxmi Grounds in Pune from 25-27 November. Headlined by the likes of American alt folk band The Lumineers, American rapper J.I.D, Swedish Jazz fusion act Dirty Loops and supported by festival favourites Tejas, Parekh and Singh, The F16s the line up for the festival has received a mixed reaction from people on social media. Along with the seasoned musicians on display at the music festival will be a bunch of first time performers. Here`s a list of some of the debutants at the Bacardi NH7 Weekender 2022 in Pune

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