Naren's indie round-up/ Dec 2023, Ep 1

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR 

Abhijeet Hegdepatil feat. Khan Zeeshan/ Piya

Label: Self-released 

Rating: *** 1/2

Influenced by French duo Deep Forest and African sounds, composer-producer Abhijeet Hegdepatil decided to create the track 'Piya'. There's thus a mix of Afro vocals sung in Swahili, Hindustani classical and drum n' bass.

Khan Zeeshan peppers the Indian part with sargam stretches, also singing 'Piya nahin aaye, jiya ghabraaye'. Lyrics are credited to Mahajabeen Khan.

The video begins in black n' white to reflect the traditional African sounds, but quickly transitions into a colourful dancefloor segment. The song has a heady, loungey aura that builds up slowly.

Kanoo Sahajwala feat. Chaitanya Deshpande; words by Premchand Sahajwala/ Jagmagaate Shahar 

Label: Self-released 

Rating: ***

This is an ideal tribute by a son to a father. Kanoo Sahajwala has thus composed music to 'Jagmagaate Shahar', a ghazal written by Premchand Sahajwala. It has been sung by Chaitanya Deshpande.

The subject revolves around urban paradox, where progress casts a shadow on struggles. The opening lines are, "Jagmagaate shahar ka har makaan aiwaan lagaa, garche dil se har-bashar be-intehaan veeraan lagaa".

Chaitanya's singing gives good expression to the words and tune. The references to 'sach' and 'jhooth' have been well-written, and there's a charming wordplay all over.

Ishaan Nigam & Brite Roy/ Gumshuda Main Hoon

Label: Self-released 

Rating: *** 1/2

Singer Ishaan Nigam and composer-lyricist Brite Roy make a wonderful team. After collaborating on songs like 'O Chaand', 'O Jaana' and 'Yaari Ke Dhaage' they now release 'Gumshuda Main Hoon'.

Like the earlier songs, this has a catchy hook and simple lyrics. Ishaan sings, "Gumshuda main hoon, khud se hi jaana, ya chhupa mujhse, saara yeh zamaana; Ghoomta main raha, khwaabon mein jaan-e-jaan, kya hua sach mein, koi yeh bataana".

The lyrics video is available on YouTube. Once you get a hang of the tune, you can do a cellphone karaoke.

Aadya Jaswal/ Hooded Figures

Label: Self-released 

Rating: ***

Young Delhi-based singer-songwriter Aadya Jaswal tackles interesting subjects. Earlier this year, she released 'Aisha', which though inspired by rain, talks of the child within us.

On her new single 'Hooded Figures', she writes on how thoughts within one's head find their way into our dreams. In cleverly-constructed words, she talks of self-doubt and fear.

The sound falls in the folk-pop category, with Barun Sinha on production. Aadya has an expressive style of rendition and a good sense of writing.

Aruna/ Good Guy

Label: Pop Division

Rating: ***

UK-based singer Aruna has released her fourth single 'Good Guy', which is actually about someone who isn't a good guy.

Along with Kamran Ramsden, she writes, "But when the lights go out at home, he's got 10 girls on the phone, he tells me I'm his No 1, now I know, you're a big game smooth talk sociopath, your delusion's never proven you're all of that".

The daughter of writer Amit Chaudhuri, Aruna has a clear style of vocal rendition. The song has an early 2000s punk-pop feel, and also makes for good listening on a drive.