Naren's indie round-up/ April 2022, Ep 2

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR

Subhash Kamath/ The Only Real Thing

Label: Self-released 

Rating: ****

An advertising professional who loves to sing, Mumbai-based Subhash Kamath was inspired to record this song after meeting blues legend Buddy Guy at a Mahindra Blues Festival party some years ago.

With instrumental inputs from Indian musicians located in the US, he sings, "Love and hate, both four-letter words, one has been forgotten, the other rules the world", while emphasising that "the only real thing is the blues". The song, whose lyrics are written by Subhash, also mentions his encounter with Buddy.

Composition is by Christopher Vaz, who also plays piano. Former Indus Creed guitarist Jayesh Gandhi comes up with a stylish solo. Bassist Neil Mathias and drummer Anil Das complete the line-up. Surely, this is a valuable addition to the Indian blues catalogue.

Aditi Iyer/ Deleted Your Number

Label: Self-released

Rating: ***

Last year, Mumbai-based singer Aditi Iyer released her EP Dollhouse which was a pretty mature effort for her age. The 17-year-old now comes out with the song 'Deleted Your Number', which is about getting over a broken relationship and moving on.

The sound is catchy electro-pop with synths and guitars in good measure. Production is by Rohan Solomon, and typical lines are, "I deleted your number 'cause you're now with her, and you don't know how hard it was".

Aditi has had some opera training, and that seems to have helped her technique though the song genre is totally different. One looks forward to more from this youngster.

Lucky Ali/ Intezaar

Label: Self-released 

Rating: *** 1/2

It's been 26 years since Lucky Ali stormed the Indipop world with his album Sunoh. Today, he still has it in him to take you back to sounds from that golden era.

Lucky's latest single 'Intezaar' is reminiscent of songs from his second album Sifar. It has a catchy hook, a clean melody, and relatable lines like "Intezaar aur tamanna har kadam saath chale, saanjh se ubharti subah mein jaake woh ghul mile".

Old associate Mikey McLeary has co-composed and produced the song, with IP Singh as co-lyricist. Lendrick Kumar's street video stars Madhavan Krishnesh, Anupama Atherya, and some birds and lambs. It has a simplicity that goes with the song.

Irfana/ Southside Menace

Label: Found Out Records

Rating: ***

After releasing her EP Ko-Lab last year, Kodaikanal-bred hip-hop artiste Irfana is out with her single 'Southside Menace'. Regular collaborator Kalla Sha produces the song.

It's a desi English hip-hop number with a southern music influence. The rap goes, "Southside menace, southside curse, southside fetish, love a white boy curse, always fight with the man tryna fill my purse, always move with the gang tryna fill my hearse, southside menace, southside curse..." That much for the rhyming.

Suhyab Mohammed's video is all about goatfights, six-pack abs, cigarette smoke and Irfana's steps. Rap along.

Armaan Malik/ Rehna Tere Paas

Label: Sony Music

Rating: ** 1/2

Music director Anurag Saikia recently composed the song 'Khamakha' in the cricket film Kaun Pravin Tambe? He now teams up with singer Armaan Malik on the non-film song 'Rehna Tere Paas'.

It's a simple love song with Kunaal Vermaa writing, "Mujhe rehna tere saath hi rehna, mujhe rehna tere paas hi rehna". Nothing complicated. Even the tune is simple though it needed a stronger hook.

Ravi Jain's video follows those predictable beachside storyboards, with those same trees seen in the distance. Models Priyank Sharma and Shivaleeka Oberoi look good together, though the former lip-syncs in such a manner you think he's humming some other song.