This week, we dive into the must-hear new music releases, from Kunwarr’s new club-ready EP and singer-songwriter Rahul Advani’s rock anthem for a brand new animated collection, to Irene’s soulful, bilingual debut album, Mumbai loss of life metallers Atmosfear’s rattling return to type, and plenty of extra.
Rahul Advani – “The place I Belong”
Singer-songwriter Rahul Advani ranges up with a theme tune for the Indian animated collection Domain8 known as, “The place I Belong.” Produced by Mondeblue with guitarist Sharukh Makani (from steel bands Last Ride Home and Anthracite and can also be a reside guitarist for rap star KR$NA), there’s an intentional Linkin Park inspiration right here within the rock anthem that lands excellent amid action-packed animation. Advani says, “Marrying the internal rage and angst of Linkin Park’s sound with the storytelling of Disney protagonist theme songs, ‘The place I Belong’ conjures the dystopian panorama of Domain8 and the battle for reclaiming hope in instances of darkness.”
Tron 1982 – “Somebody Else’s Dream”
Bengaluru-based synthwave band Tron 1982 began out in 2018, and have been releasing music since 2021. They’ve even managed to take their tunes reside by opening for the likes of American synth band The Midnight on the latter’s India tour. Their new venture tune, “Somebody Else’s Drea,m” leans right into a traditional synthwave sound. Comprising vocalists Rachna Ramdin and Venky Nayak together with producer-guitarist Premik Jolly, there’s an apt retrofuturistic, wistful sound that may immediately set the temper. “The tune dives deep into the sensation of chasing paths that have been by no means really ours, wrapped in our signature synth-driven sound,” the band says.
The Down Troddence – “Binary Solar”
Kerala folk-metallers The Down Troddence have launched the third tune off their upcoming second album, As You All Know This Is How It Is. “Binary Solar” is described as a “reckoning” from the album and “a chant from the attention of the storm, the place gentle meets shadow.” It’s a daring stroke for the band to supply up a extra djent-leaning all-English tune after opening the undertaking with “Maharani,” that includes Carnatic vocalist T.M. Krishna, and following it up with the all-out thrash-informed Malayalam tune “Ejjathi,” a scathing takedown of still-prevalent caste discrimination. “Binary Solar” takes a extra philosophical flip with its lyrics, that are a name for unity amid chaos—a message amplified by a slick animated lyric video made by the artist A.J. Mix.
Dhruv Visvanath, Peej – “Items”
New Delhi singer-songwriter Dhruv Visvanath’s first tune of the 12 months is a collaboration with Filipino artist Peej aka Paulo Alampay. Visvanath says, “We met at a music convention in Singapore final 12 months, and what began as a friendship became this stunning piece of music. We wrote and recorded it from our bedrooms—Peej in Manila, me in Delhi—with out ever being in the identical room. Nonetheless, in some way, this tune introduced us nearer.” The result’s a fist-tight but breezy pop bop that considerations itself with being alone, and the clincher is a candy saxophone solo from Peej. The artists say, “‘Items’ is about loneliness, concerning the areas between us, and what it means to achieve throughout them and really join.”
Irene – June Coromandel
Singer-composer, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Irene takes a lush dive into Carnatic, indie, and singer-songwriter traditions on her debut album June Coromandel. That includes Tamil and English songs, Irene is joined by producer Vavae for a vocally wealthy set of seven songs. “Nooru Kodi” is heartfelt and intimate, as is the introspective and honest monitor “Pakal Kanave.” After which there’s the trippy “Would I Ever?” the place Irene’s vocals stretch from soul to Carnatic. June Coromandel additionally brings in trip-hop power on “You Say It Again,” a mirrored image on previous love, and whispered jazz and soul influences on the minimalistic-turns-maximalist closing monitor “Fly Away.”
Viepsa Arora – “Turbulence”
New Delhi pop artist Viepsa Arora continues pushing her genre-hopping methods on “Turbulence,” mixing hip-hop, Indian percussive, pop and R&B. There’s in all probability much more within the combine, it’s simply arduous to pin down, as a result of Arora is leaping from rap to Hindustani classical earlier than it. Invoking whirlwinds and chaos, there’s nonetheless a really assured artist standing in the midst of all of it, giving us a brand new earworm.
Kunwarr – BBB EP
Punjabi-Canadian artist Kunwarr groups up with producer JayB Singh for a four-track EP known as BBB that’s aimed toward dancefloors however doesn’t maintain again on the feelings. Kunwarr sings about heartbreak in fast raps on “Gall” and “Kohinoor.” There’s a extra melodic pop activate “Misplaced,” and Kunwarr—finest recognized for his 2021 tune “All Lies”—goes full throttle on the closing monitor “Demon Time.” He says, “BBB (Unhealthy Boy Blues) is extra than simply an EP—it’s six months of my reality, my chaos, and my coronary heart. We’re doing this for the artwork, we’re doing this to specific.”
Fallen Letters – “Everdream”
Bengaluru-based prog rock/steel band Fallen Letters are steadily constructing as much as their debut full-length album with their second single, “Everdream.” Beginning with whispered vocals and a slow-trudging beat, the band builds the tune “across the idea of a dream,” in keeping with vocalist Vishal Naidu. Attempting to emulate the sensation of “getting out of a dream,” Fallen Letters channel the likes of A Good Circle and Katatonia on a monitor that simmers as much as a grand ending in true prog storytelling trend.
Atmosfear – “Colossal Abhorrence”
Almost a decade after their 2017 self-titled album got here out, Mumbai loss of life metallers Atmosfear are again within the highlight for his or her new single “Colossal Abhorrence.” With drummer Ananya Blastphegor now behind the equipment, vocalist-guitarist Bruce McKoy and bassist Shawn Phulpagar come collectively and provide a masterclass in swift, cutthroat steel that “delves into the human situation in an virtually apocalyptic world we now reside in.” McKoy’s growls on the present state of world politics echo powerfully on the closing strains, “Simply one other statistic to your trophy cupboard.”
Saachi – “Now’s The Time”
After upending societal expectations on “E.L.T.” earlier this 12 months and grappling with existential angst on “Cruise Control,” Mumbai alt-pop and R&B/soul artist Saachi turns her focus to a extra carpe diem theme on her third single this 12 months, “Now’s The Time.” Described by the artist as “a particular tune to me with an particularly necessary message” with “banger manufacturing” made with producer Ankit Dayal, the tune encourages standing one’s floor, and saying what you need as an alternative of staying silent. It’s the sort of pleasant recommendation we may use every so often.
Derek & The Cats – “Cubbon Park”
In Might, Bengaluru act Derek & The Cats obtained to do what no band had completed in about 10 years—play on the bandstand on the beloved Cubbon Park. Earlier than then, it simply so occurred that they’d prepped a love letter to the town’s inexperienced haven. So now, it will get a music video that includes footage from the present, a digital camera connected to a canine’s harness, video games within the park and picnic vibes, all set to the sounds of feel-good, carefree jazz. The band says in an announcement, “Being a Bangalore band, we needed to write a tune about the place we’re from, one thing iconic concerning the metropolis. This tune is an ode to Bangalore, and it was actually particular making this tune come to life.”
Emergency Set off – “Territory”
Mumbai/Ambernath experimental metallers Emergency Trigger take the primal route on their seven-and-a-half-minute new tune “Territory,” which isn’t a lot thrash steel (like their earlier data) however extra groovy, with one mellow bridge. The band says it’s a tune “based mostly on an imaginary but doable story.” The uncooked growls (and maniacal laughter, at one level) hint the journey of a person “who’s fed up of how the world is usually operating with biased ideas, forceful day-to-day struggles, liars with egocentric advantages, corruption for egocentric progress.” In his frustration, the tune’s protagonist “decides to seek out his personal bodily land or territory, the place he can begin a brand new life in a extra delicate means that respects the all dwelling beings.”