Naren's indie round-up/ Feb 2025, Ep 1

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR

Harini Rao & Saikat Basu/ Ae Ri Sakhi

Label: The Songsmiths

Rating: ****

There have been various renditions of Amir Khusro's 'Ae Ri Sakhi', including ones by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Shujaat Khan. What differentiates this one by Harini Rao and Saikat Basu is the addition of English lyrics, sung by the latter.

The version begins with a section from Khusro's 'Sakal Ban Phool Rahi Sarson' after which Harini sings "Ae ri sakhi morey piya ghar aaye, bhaag lage is aangan ko". Saikat's English lines go, "They say there lies no fear, and tears got no place, they say there lies no ugly truth to face", with the song then getting back to Khusro's lines.

Joy Solomon's piano and Shreyas Iyengar's saxophone go well with the blend. Sateesh Saladi's video captures the musicians in different performance shots. Hailing from Hyderabad, Harini has strong command over the nuances.

Kaushiki Chakraborty & Shweta Mohan feat. Ashwin Srinivasan/ Sangeet Ka Saar

Produced by: Earphoria Entertainment 

Rating: *** 1/2

Singer Shweta Mohan teams up with the brilliant Kaushiki Chakraborty on 'Sangeet Ka Saar', composed by flautist Ashwin Srinivasan. Being a complex piece using multiple raags and even jazz progressions and orchestral layers, it may take a while to grow on listeners.

Yet, the singers are in full control, going through different patterns before getting back to Manoj Yadav's main line, "Sansaar ka saar sangeet hai, sangeet ka saar sansaar", which acts as the song's theme.

Besides Ashwin, the singers are backed by a solid band consisting of prolific musicians like guitarist Sanjoy Das, drummer Darshan Doshi and tabla exponent Ojas Adhiya. Needless to say, there's a lot of virtuosity on display.

Surel Ingale & Lyla/ Pomegranate Lips

Label: Blue Couch Records

Rating: *** 1/2

Here's a typical bar-room jazz number that should be perfect for those nights out. 'Pomegranate Lips' is composed and produced by Surel Ingale, with vocalist Lyla using her jazz and blues influences strongly, and saxophonist I.D. Rao coming out with some delightful runs.

The song talks of smoke rings in a bar and unfinished cocktails, and has lines like, "You've started forest fires in me, and I've clearly got no patience, if you're good at making the rules, I'm good at being an exception."

Ritik Sinha's guitar is used appropriately. The song has a film soundtrack-styled arrangement with a strong jazz flavour provided by the scat vocals and sax solos. Play it with a drink and company of your choice.

Temsu Clover feat. Vitz Zhimo/ Slide

Label: Self-released 

Rating: ***

From the time she released her first single 'Confessions Of A Bipolar Mind' in 2019, Nagaland-based singer-songwriter Temsu Clover has been regularly coming out with new songs, besides her album Hello Love. Her latest release 'Slide' again sees her in an uptempo pop-dance mood.

The video shows Temsu dance to the tune in a drawing room sepia setting, though one wishes a few close-ups were taken too. It's a peppy track, with Vitz Zhimo on production.

The song begins, "If you can stay, I can show you how to make it to the end, if you believe, keep it moving, grooving, loving till the end". You can move your feet as it goes along.

HumAIn/ Stuck In His Head

Label: Self-released 

Rating: *** 1/2

HumAIn, comprising St Stanislaus Bandra alumni Dean Gregory and Sheldon Aranjo, are out with their single 'Stuck In His Head'. The song, with lyrics by Sheldon and music by Dean, talks of a person who's had two brain surgeries, and is so bogged down by the past that he doesn't consider what's happening in the present or think of the future.

"What do you say to a man who won't listen, what can you do to convince him that he's got everything to live for, that he's got a lot looking ahead, not behind, that's the only way peace he will find", says the song. Using bass, guitars and synths stylishly, along with AI elements, they create a trendy sound. It's a song that motivates.



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