Naren's indie round-up/ Aug 2023, Ep 2

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR

Schwa/ Mother's Instinct

Label: Self-released 

Rating: ****

A few weeks after releasing their Vedic metal song 'Rudrabal' on YouTube, Pune band Schwa puts out 'Mother's Instinct', an epic seven-minute 42 second English track that has all the trappings of a metal anthem.

Vocalist Uday Iyer displays his range as he begins, "We all live in the convoluted peace and harmony, on Planet Earth, she's our mother" and till he reaches a 'We are doomed" scream.

A proggy vibe, smart tempo changes, inventive guitars and keys, a tight rhythm section and a sudden chorus lead to a melodic ending. The track is made for the live scene.

Sanjeeta Bhattacharya/ X Marks The Spot

Label: Self-released 

Rating: ****

Singer-actress Sanjeeta Bhattacharya displays immense range and strong songwriting prowess on 'X Marks The Spot', which she wrote in 2019 while she was going through a rough phase.

The song has brilliant lines like, "What good a story when you got no-one to tell them to, well I want to be gentle, yes I want to be sure, you're pen to my paper, and brush to my canvas, though the frame is broke, but baby, why don't you love me no more, no no no more?"

Produced by Prabhtoj Singh, the song has keys and strings in the background early on, and picks up smoothly mid-way. Sanjeeta's voice and expression are bang-on.

Ishaan Nigam feat. Brite Roy/ Yaari Ke Dhaage

Label: Self-released 

Rating: *** 1/2

Singer Ishaan Nigam and composer-lyricist Brite Roy have worked together on likeable singles like 'O Chaand', 'Woh Raazi Hai' and 'Qafirana Shayrana'. They now release the friendship song 'Yaari Ke Dhaage'.

It's a simple song backed by Sourabh Joshi's neat acoustic guitar and ukulele. It has relatable lines like "Toote na kabhi bhi yeh, yaari ke dhaage, choote na kabhi bhi yeh, yaari ke dhaage".

The lyrical video helps you hum along with Ishaan's voice, which has the right amount of feel and modulation.

Justin-Uday Duo/ Gol Gol Ghume

Label: Judo Music

Rating: ***

Justin-Uday Duo has had long experience in advertising jingles, besides creating songs like 'Vada Pav On My Mind'. They now release a brisk, quirky number called 'Gol Gol Ghume'.

Just two minutes and 16 seconds long, the tune has a chill-out club vibe and some neat electronic effects. Still trying to figure out what lyricist Akshay Raja Shinde means by, "Gol gol ghume, dam nas nas mein, zohar hai kaala neela, gol gol ghume".

But obviously the intention was not to create a deeply profound piece, but something that makes you shake your leg and end with an earworm. It succeeds in doing that, with the colourful, animated video adding to the effect.

Siddhant Bhatia/ Din Shagna Da

Label: SoulTrax Originals 

Rating: *** 1/2

Here's a fresh take on the popular Punjabi wedding song 'Din Shagna Da', originally written by Ashu Khurana. Singer Siddhant Bhatia uses a folk-fusion sound and gives it fresh treatment.

Music is by Raghav Mehta. There's some excellent work on the violin by Danish Ali Khan, with Igor Bezget joining on acoustic guitar.

The video, directed by Saubhagya Prasad, alternates shots of singer Siddhant in a heritage location and a wedding sequence. It's ideal for the marriage season, without being noisy like some shaadi songs.



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