India’s independent music scene continues to thrive, and it’s not just singer-songwriters or rappers leading the charge. Bands are also carving out a niche for themselves, making their collective voices heard loud and clear. In this edition of Indie Unpacked, we spotlight some of the standout new indie music releases, including Bengaluru/Darjeeling act Obliterating Vortex, New Delhi rock band Nowhere Station’s second album, Pune post-hardcore/shoegaze band Cvrses and more.
Shalmali Kholgade – “All Good?”
Mumbai artist Shalmali Kholgade has often veered away from her Hindi pop persona to showcase her R&B and hip-hop influences. If that was “Grind” last year, this year, Kholgade drops the shimmering “All Good?” With Bengaluru/Mumbai producer Clifr adding all the right elements to the beat, Kholgade proves she can really do it all with this bop. The artist says in a statement, “This song is like a mirror to the world we live in today. We keep running after material things and forget about the real meaning. I wanted this song to start a conversation while still making people enjoy the music and feel something.”
Cvrses – “Marionettes”
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Pune-based band Cvrses are the latest act on the block, delivering a familiar but fresh debut single called “Marionettes.” Well, familiar to those who know their post-hardcore and metal in the vein of Bring Me The Horizon, but fresh to those who may just be getting introduced to genres like alternative, emo and shoegaze. The band says about their song, “Melancholy and anthemic in equal measure, ‘Marionettes’ is a last kiss in a room on fire; a metaphor for watching someone you love fade away as you hold them in your embrace for one last time.”
Archiesman Kundu, Rawhit – “Kasa Kai”
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Kolkata-based Archiesman Kundu and producer Rawhit try their hand at a more Mumbai-flavored rap on the latest single “Kasa Kai,” featuring a hook that taps into college throwbacks and his philosophy on life. With a guerrilla-style music video shot right outside The Park hotel in Kolkata, “Kasa Kai” is different from Kundu’s previous Bengali-informed material, but shows he can still kick back and throw down some carefree Hindi bars. He says, “‘Kasa Kai’ is a fun, nostalgic hip-hop anthem that captures the essence of college life in India—full of late-night parties, chai at roadside dhabas, last-minute exam stress, and unbreakable brotherhood.”
Lotus – “Share A Piece”
Fresh off a few shows on the road with brutal death metal band Gutslit, Pune/Bengaluru prog metal band Lotus bring back their instinctual intensity, and it sounds like they’re having fun getting into it. Their latest single, “Share A Piece” is their first release since the 2022 album Dear Diary, and also marks their debut with vocalist Aman Virdi (from Bhayanak Maut). It’s soaring, crushing and clearly shows a renewed energy from the band. They say in a statement, “The line ‘So high, so far, from home’ is repeated like a quiet prayer, a reminder of the spaces that grow between us, even when we try to hold on. It’s not just about distance; it’s about searching for something familiar in a world that keeps changing.”
Balasaheb, Kalakaar, Hamp – “Khapa Khap”
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Pune-based hip-hop artist Balasaheb is unabashed about just how easy songwriting comes to him. So what better way to do that than in a satirical song like “Khapa Khap”? Joined by fellow artist Kalakaar and producer Hamp, “Khapa Khap” is a gloriously irreverent Hindi and Marathi mix, with percussion that throws you right in the middle of a street procession mixed with EDM beats. In the music video, directed by Milan Rathod, there’s plenty of debauchery and humor straight out of a local bar.
Ergo – Mammoth EP
Not many bands can say their first collection of songs has been in the works for a decade, but that’s Bengaluru-based rock band Ergo for you. The result? Their journeying debut four-track EP Mammoth is a tip of the hat to weird, wiry prog (“Magnificent”) as well as the Seattle Sound and experimental alternative music (“Anew”). Guitarist Rahul Srikrishna describes Ergo as “an intersection of contemporary Western music and intricate Indian rhythms.” The band adds in a statement, “At its core, the EP stands as a testament to progress—a solid, enduring structure built on persistence, passion, and an unrelenting drive to create music that matters.” With its Tool-like flourishes, “Observations” stands out, as does the shape-shifting, key-changing track “Power Soul.”
Obliterating Vortex – “Everything Is Nothing, But Nothing Is Everything”
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Bringing an Indian aura to metal in their own way, Bengaluru-based, Darjeeling-origin tech-death metal band Obliterating Vortex adapts the tenet of Aham Brahmasmi and lays it over pulverizing riffs and growls on “Everything Is Nothing, But Nothing Is Everything.” Often writing about self-care and mental health (and adding screeching solos while they’re at it), this song is the band’s way of offering support. A spoken-word portion in the song states, “Inner strength is what we will eke… out of our unconscious, out from our dreams…Into the dimension of our reality. To keep us determined and to hold our thoughts; That we stand up tall in the face of adversity.”
Nowhere Station – Red Earth Reverie
Five years after their debut album, New Delhi-origin rock band Nowhere Station have released their second album Red Earth Reverie. Born out of the jam room, there’s certainly a well-delivered intent to take listeners right into the action, where the band’s chemistry is palpable as they each feed off the other’s energy. Vocalist-guitarist Rijul Singh says, “We approached the album as a mini live set—a curated, meandering and at times rewarding experience. To re-create that same intensity, we kept post-production to the absolute minimum.” From the melancholy of “Summer’s Bride” to the bluesy energy of “Darling, Won’t You Dance?” and the mellow groove of “Makes Sense,” the band also manages to sneak in some unexpected jazz-inflected turns in “Coming After You” before ending on a psychedelic note with “Play It Cool.”
Utsavi Jha – “Maan Jao”
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Harkening back to a different era, nostalgia is the prominent mood for singer-songwriter Utsavi Jha on her latest single “Maan Jao.” Following her more emotional EP Khata last year, this synth-pop-informed, groovy single is a breath of fresh air, no doubt scented in the “love potion” that Jha vouches for in the music video by filmmakers Pencil & Frames. The artist brings dance moves, 1970s Bollywood vibes and colorful sarees in the video. “’Maan Jao’ is about making the first move, the art of persuasion, and the sweet tension of desire,” says Jha.
Gaurav Tophakhane – “Dooba”
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Pune-bred singer-songwriter Gaurav Tophakane signs to music duo Salim-Suleiman’s Merchant Records for his latest single “Dooba.” Paired with producer Aryan Thorve, “Dooba” injects a lively disco-funk sound to lyrics about a protagonist lost in love. While funk is everywhere these days in pop music, “Dooba” thankfully shakes off any formulas with a piano bridge that turns into a groovy beatdown.
Fire In The Rodeo – Fire In The Rodeo
Kolkata hard rock band Fire In The Rodeo grabbed a bit of attention when they released their single “Viper’s Kiss” earlier this year, and now, their full-length debut album is out. The self-titled 10-track album is everything you can expect from a band that’s inspired by Eighties glam rock, including the likes of Def Leppard and Skid Row. The lyrics might be drenched in clichés, but Fire In The Rodeo double down—from the roaring “Life In Chains,” the ballad-like “Cupid Have Mercy,” and more. If you’re there for the arena-ready riffs, however, “You Drive Me Crazy” will scratch that itch just right.
Cymbol, Chitralekha Sen, Markel XL – “Distractions”
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New Zealand/Mumbai DJ-Producer Cymbol aka Shivnesh Sumer enlists singer Chitralekha Sen and American rapper Markel X.L. for “Distractions,” a song for the hustlers. Sen delivers a Punjabi hook and a Hindi verse about standing tall in her convictions, while Markel lends bars about the daily grind. The title track from his album, “Distractions,” sees Cymbol deftly journey through genres without breaking a sweat.
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