Naren's indie round-up/ Nov 2025, Ep 2


BY NARENDRA KUSNUR 

Rahul Wadhwani/ Time Travel (album)

Label; Self-released 

Rating: ****

Rahul Wadhwani is one of the most gifted and prolific pianists and keyboardists on the Mumbai jazz scene. As expected, his latest album Time Travel is filled with sparkling numbers.

On five of the six tunes, Rahul uses a trio formation with Shashank Das on bass and Gini Banks on drums. The title track, whose video was released a few days ago, and 'Dot In A Circle' are marked by tight playing. 'Melody Of A River' is a beauty with subtle playing. The last two tracks had a solo arrangement in Rahul's previous album Awakening In Silence.

The six-and-a-half minute number 'And It Continues' has a certain energy at the start, but changes pattern mid-way, and keeps changing course, blending rawness with improvised passages. The first video was of 'Morning After War', which has good coordination between piano, upright bass and drums.

One of the highlights is the opening track 'Song For Zakir Hussain (Zji)', where violinist Apoorva Krishna and maestro Fazal Qureshi join the trio. It's a subtle tribute, with smooth solo passages and Fazal's recitation of bols. All through, Rahul shows his dexterity not only on the instrument, but in compositional skills too.

Roshnee/ sun & dreams

Label: Self-released 

Rating: *** 1/2

Ritik Mehta aka Roahnee has released 'sun & dreams', the debut single from his album Roshnee & The Roots. What strikes you is the way he blends guitar and sitar, playing both proficiently. Because of that combination, one senses a George Harrison influence.

The song has a relaxed, loungey sound, with words of a positive nature. "I feel alive, let my sun rise", he sings. The video shows him alternating between the two instruments. The film nothing out-of-the-box, but showcases the artiste well. Importantly, the track is soothing.

Dev Singh/ Aahatein

Label: Self-released

Rating: ** 1/2

'Aahatein' is another of those songs which talks of memories of love. Written and sung by Dev Singh, it has a pleasant tune and smooth flow but needed more expression.

In the video directed by Deep Shikhar, Dev Singh is accompanied by Prachi Bansal. It's a cute video which somewhat saves the song which gets monotonous after a while.

Savneet Singh/ Fidaa

Label: Self-released 

Rating: ****

Ludhiana singer-songwriter Savneet Singh goes in for a 1960s sound on his new single 'Fidaa'. Siddharth Ahuja's black n' white video and its styling match the retro sound, as Sankalp Joshi and Komal Munshi pose like Dev Anand and Nutan, or at least try to do so.

Savneet has a melodious voice. He sings, "Teri nigaahon mein main tha fidaa, main tha fidaa aaj main tha fidaa, gaalon pe tere woh chanda jo tha, main tha fidaa, main tha fidaa, main tha fidaa; jabse dekha tujhko pehli dafaa, dil toh mera kyon pighal gaya". Simple and effective.

This kind of sound has earlier been used in the OTT series Jubilee and by singer Paushali Sahu in the song 'Haule Haule Piya'. Clearly, the throwback style still has its charm.







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