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

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR

Aditya Kambhampati/ Nami Danam 

Label: Self-released 

Rating: ****

Known for The Classroom Project EP, a throwback to childhood, Mumbai singer-songwriter Aditya Kambhampati releases his new song 'Nami Danam', Persian for 'I Don't Know'.

The song reflects the feelings of a yesteryear poet who has run out of creative ideas and is looking for the right words and emotions. The lines, "Musafir khoya awaara bechara kaafiyan na likh saka, Mushairon mein baitha uljha phir suljha par kissa na jee saka" explain the poet's mood.

The brilliant words are accompanied by some striking guitars by Junaid Gavandi. The gradual tempo build-up adds to the charm.

Harrdy Sandhu/ Psycho

Label: Warner Music India

Rating: ***

Punjabi singer Harrdy Sandhu teams up with digital agency Media.Monks on the video of 'Psycho', the first single from his new EP Pleasures. It's being touted as the first virtual production Punjabi music video from India, combining real-time computer graphics with live action filming.

Featuring Akanksha Sharma, the video is directed by Arvindr Khaira, who keeps up with the song's dance flavour. The tune is ideal for clubs, with Harrdy singing Raj Ranjodh's Punjabi-meets-English lines, "Baby I'm a psycho I do crazy shit yeah, bhang warrgian naddian I just want a hit yeah, tikha nakh tikhi akh face lit yeah, haan I go crazy crazy when I look at it yeah".

Though Karan Kanchan's music has a groove, it's the kind of tune one has heard often before. The classy video makes amends.

Jasleen Aulakh/ Bhaanti Bhaanti Ki Chidiya 

Label: Self-released 

Rating: ****

Chandigarh-based singer Jasleen Aulakh's latest release 'Bhaanti Bhaanti Ki Chidiya' talks about the evils of discrimination through an interesting story of a sparrow and a crow. She had performed this song at Mumbai's Mahindra Roots Festival but has now rearranged it for the studio.

Lyrics are by Jasleen's mother Polly Saghera, with a Kabir couplet used at the end. The approach is narrative as the need for oneness is driven across.

Accompanying the singer are Hitansu Patnaik, who produces the song and plays many instruments, and Bappaditya Banik on the folk instrument bugchu. With its semi-animated lyrics video and its message, it should be enjoyed by both children and grown-ups.

Vismay Patel/ Ghoome

Label: Self-released 

Rating: *** 1/2

Known for songs like 'Dariya', 'Behne Do' and 'Pal Beeta Jaaye', singer-somgwriter Vismay Patel has been fairly prolific over the past couple of years. His latest number 'Ghoome' is about following one's dreams in a unique way.

The words go, "Udna chaahoon mein, chalna hai baaki; Sapna dekhoon, sona hai baaki", and the main hook is, "Ghoome ghoome ghoome ghoome daaye baaye daaye baaye". Vaibhav Pani's guitars provide neat accompaniment.

Akshat Srivastava's video captures known locations in Mumbai. They go well with the tune. 

Nikhil D'Souza/ Because Because Because 

Label: Self-released 

Rating: *** 1/2

Singer-songwriter Nikhil D'Souza has a repertoire consisting of both Hindi and English numbers. On his new English tune 'Because Because Because', he talks of the survival of a relationship and how breaking up can be more convenient than staying together.

The song has a 1990s pop flavour, and noted producer Jamie Hartman's contribution is an asset. The main words go "Tell me why can't we be us, Because because because". It goes on to ask, "Tired of excuses, baby what's ours?"

Tbough one finds more of his Hindi songs on the streaming platforms, Nikhil has a natural style while singing in English. After the 2021 number 'Desert Island', this is another instance to prove that.