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

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR 

Trisha J/ Reality's A Bore

Label: Self-released

Rating; ****

After releasing the single 'Killer Times' earlier this year, Pune artiste Trisha J comes out with 'Reality's A Bore'. Both songs are backed by the same team - arrangements by Penguin Perception and video by Astral Glitch Production.

The song is about self-reflection and breaking away from the mundane. It's got a catchy hook and intelligent lines like "I was putting on my rose-coloured glasses when I saw the picture pretty clear; nobody gave me a handbook, so I fantasised a life for myself".

A highlight is the video, with Trisha's screen presence matching her musicality. It's the kind of stuff MTV would have loved to play back in the day.

Bulli Bainbridge/ Raghav Meattle City Life Remix

Exclusive licensee: Universal Music India

Rating: ***

In his new project Indie Remixed, producer Zain Calcuttawala aka Bulli Bainbridge has reimagined some of his favourite indie tracks. He begins with 'City Life' by popular singer Raghav Meattle.

The song thus gets a lo-fi avatar which has been treated with freshness. Zain plans to release 12 songs as part of this series. These will include artistes like Shalmali Kholgade, Anoushka Maskey, Tejas, Parekh & Singh, Kamakshi Khanna and Dhruv Viswanath. That's quite a line-up.

Milind Date/ Advait

Label: Ragaworld

Rating: ****

Here's a track that instantly impresses with its sheer melody. Flautist Milind Date, a disciple of Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, brings out a natural meditative feeling in his new release, part of his Rishikesh Chronicles project.

Though the bansuri is the main instrument, there are some marvellous arrangements on violin and other strings, with smart introduction of rhythm in the middle.

Though it's six and a half minutes long, the regular thematic changes keep you glued. A perfect piece for relaxation. Come to think of it, it would make for great theme music in a film.

Varun Nimbolkar/ Dreams For A Living (EP)

Label: Self-released 

Rating; *** 1/2

Here's more in the fusion/ experimental space, as Pune-based sitar player and songwriter Varun Nimbolkar releases his EP Dreams For A Living.

The opening track 'Rosemary, For Remembrance' is a brilliantly constructed instrumental, whereas Varun takes to singing on 'Jogiya', which has a semi-classical lilt and rather abrupt ending.

The EP concludes with 'Remnants', featuring Kaustubh Hile. Using a spoken voice track, it is totally different from the other two tunes. Actually, all three tracks are stylistically and sonically divergent.

Sarthak Saksena/ Dhun

Label: Self-released 

Rating: ***

After releasing the English song 'Phase' last year, singer Sarthak Saksena switches to Hindi on his new release 'Dhun'. It's a blend of classically-influenced vocals and western rhythm arrangements.

Sarthak has a pleasant voice, and his training under Ghulam Hasan Khan has helped. Here, he sings Shayra Apoorva's words, which talk of an artiste's longing to break through from obscurity.

The well-choreographed video uses the 'payal' as the motif, reflecting an artiste's need for freedom. The melody goes with the visuals.