Naren's indie round-up/ April 2023, Ep 4


BY NARENDRA KUSNUR

The Yellow Diary/ Mujhe Mere Naam Se

Label: Sony Music

Rating: ****

Mumbai alternative rock band The Yellow Diary is out with the inspirational number 'Mujhe Mere Naam Se'. Vocalist and songwriter Rajan Batra sings, "Mujhe mere naam se jaan lo, main hawa ban ud jaaonga, us jahaan mein".

The song is all about dreaming big, and never losing hope. The animated video, created brilliantly by Lazyom, shows an astronaut and a rocket launch as a symbol for the theme.

The song is produced by Himonshu Parikh, who also plays keys. Drummer Sahil Shah, bassist Stuart D'Costa and guitarist Vaibhav Pani complete the line-up. The lead guitar solo at the end is outstanding.

Vishal Sharma, Avanie Joshi, Inder Kumar/ Kadi Kadi

Label: SoulTrax Studios 

Rating; *** 1/2

Rapper Vishal Sharma aka Lega-C teams up with singers Avanie Joshi and Inder Kumar on 'Kadi Kadi', the first release of SoulTrax Originals, set up by New Delhi-based SoulTrax Studios.

The song has many movements, beginning with Hindi-Punjabi balladry to a couple of rap parts, a female vocal portion and a charming violin stretch by Danish Ali Khan. Sudeep Shrivastava's guitar blends well with the overall melody.

The singers appear in the video too. A highlight  is the wonderful dance sequence, choreographed and performed by Nisha Mahendra. It adds a twist to the visuals.

Paradox/ Hasti Rahe Tum

Label: Universal Music

Rating: *** 1/2

Barely 20, hip-hop artiste Tanishq Singh aka Paradox has put out a series of singles, attaining a sizeable following among youngsters. His latest release 'Hasti Rahe Tu' from The Unknown Letter EP is pepped up with relatable lyrics and a catchy tune.

It's about an estranged couple, with the boy wondering what went wrong. However, he expresses his feelings with the line, "Haan bhoola main jahaan, main masti mein ghoomoon; Main karta dua ke hasti rahe tu". A short English rap stretch adds a twist, and the percussion is neat.

PostGuru's video has a vibrant look that goes with the song's lyrics. Most important, the song has a hook that stays on.

Anurag Sharma/ Hum Bhi Tum Bhi

Label: UK Stage

Rating: ****

In his new release 'Hum Bhi Tum Bhi', ghazal singer Anurag Sharma targets younger audiences. The song has been co-composed by Raj Kapur, with poetry by the fabulous Farhat Shahzad, best-known for his collaboration with the legendary Mehdi Hassan on Kehna Usey.

Anurag has a pleasant voice and his style shows the influence of Ghulam Ali. The words, "Roothe zamaane se hai, hum bhi tum bhi; Thode deewane se hai, hum bhi tum bhi" are simple and effective, and Anuj Garg's music is aided by Keba Jeremiah's simple guitar.

The video, directed by Harper Gahunia, stars youngsters Speedy Valente and Rubyana. Though the models look very Gen Z, the video has a 1990s charm.

Archies_Vins/ 11:11

Label: Self-released 

Rating: ***

On his debut single '11:11', Mumbai-based Archies_Vins also sings about heartbreak. The lines are, "I miss you, I love you, but when I need it, you dumped me, could not hug me, you lost me, but you could never feel it yeah, feel it yeah, just feel it yeah".

The song has a contemporary rhythm n' blues feel with bassy, flutey effects in the background. The song has a boyish style without any put-on accent. It should work with the teenagers.






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