Naren's indie round-up/ Mar 2024, Ep 2

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR 

Aanchal Bordoloi/ Ruins (from the EP Letters To Bombay)

Label: Self-released 

Rating: ****

With songs like 'Whiskey Blues' and 'Anyway/ Eitherway', singer-songwriter Aanchal Bordoloi showed a maturity beyond her early-20s age. The musician, who hails from Assam and started her career in Bengaluru, has now released a three-song EP Letters To Bombay inspired by a series of e-mails she wrote to a pen pal.

All the songs - 'Energy', 'Ruse' and 'Ruins' - are characterised by expressive vocals, strong lyrics and acoustic guitar layers. To shortlist one song for a longer description, we'd go for 'Ruins', with its hard-hitting words. "I'm still stuck in the ruins of the castles you left behind, all those promises and the playlists consume my mind, you piece of dirt, you'll be getting what you deserve".

The song tells a story of betrayal and Aanchal's vocals have the sting, even on the wordless stretch towards the end. There's a depth in all three songs that's impressive.

JAFA/ Words Leave 

Label: Molfa Music 

Rating: ***

Another young singer, 22-year-old Ananya Jafa, who goes by the name JAFA, chooses a similar subject of loss of friendship in her second single 'Words Leave'.

Ananya's words have maturity and darkness, as she sings, "Hindsight is often such an astonishing blow" and "Blood in the rain from my love, loving the pain from my blood".

Despite the strong writing, the composition gets a bit abstract, without a proper hook. To. compensate, Yuvrajaago's video has an interesting narrative, and makes good use of illustrations shown on a computer screen.

Vaani Bhasin/ Spotlight

Label: Self-released 

Rating: *** 1/2

Delhi-bred, Mumbai-settled singer-songwriter Vaani Bhasin has dedicated the song 'Spotlight' to her family, specially her sister. However, the lyrics could apply to any close relationship, of friend, companion or life partner.

The song has a certain pleasantness, and Vaani's simple rendition is backed by subtle guitars and a wonderful cello, played by Lavine D'Costa. The song begins. "Like two dolls, we stick together, in innocence, we swing".

The rest of the song talks of togetherness and how another person can inspire you to be in the spotlight. It's a subject people will relate to.

K.C. Loy/ The Morning Star

Label: Self-released 

Rating: ****

Singer-songwriter K.C. Loy's new song 'The Morning Star' begins with the sound of birds chirping before using some natural sounds. It builds up slowly and has been wonderfully constructed.

Loy's words have an optimistic air, as he sings, "Let's stand before the sun, feel the power run, open your eyes to the sky" and "The morning star gives us power to hope that the day will be better today". 

Aashish Rego's production and Nirmall's guitars add value, as Loy's expressive vocals hold centrestage.

No Neighbours Around/ Shadow

Label: Self-released 

Rating: *** 1/2

Starting off as a college band in Bengaluru, No Neighbours Around or NNA went on to be part of the local rock scene. Their style is influenced by alternative rock and, as they say, they keep "resisting the urge to go metal".

The lead vocalist Vishwesh Siva also plays bass, and one interlude of his on the new track 'Shadow' is simply wow. Guitarist Vignesh Siva and drummer Vikas Gotla complete the trio.

This is the band's third single, and has a solid guitar-driven energy, aided by the tight drumming The black n' white video has been shot as a live performance, and listeners can sing along from the moment Vishwesh begins, "Don't you know I've been staring at the shadows...."