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



BY NARENDRA KUSNUR

The Songsmiths/ Coming Home

Self-released 

Rating: ****

Hailing from Hyderabad, the Songsmiths have been around for over 12 years, using influences of rock, funk, blues and jazz. Songs like 'Blue Guitar', 'Citylights' and 'A Song For You' have had their fans.

Now they are out with their latest 'Coming Home'. Vocalist-bassist Saikat Basu, guitarist Avinash Ekka and drummer John Mark come out with a cracker of a tune that's straight-ahead retro-rock.

The words go, "Long road finds me within, takes my hand and the wind, long road have time to keep, engine clocks while my soul beats". Add to that a very Dickey Betts-meets-Jerry Garcia-styled lead guitar solo, and we have a clear winner here.

As an add-on, the band has made a 12-minute YouTube film on the song. It starts with R.D. Burman's 'Musafir Hoon Yaaron' in the backdrop, builds up the narrative, and takes you on a scooter ride to open fields with the song. Keep it rolling.

Zian B feat. Tizaan Alphonso/ Fallin'

Label: Self-released 

Rating: *** 1/2

Mumbai singer-songwriter Zian B moves from her usual jazz and funk style to get into more soul and rhythm n' blues territory on her latest song 'Fallin'. She's accompanied by a smooth spell on the piano by Tizaan Alphonso, who's also produced the song.

Zian's vocals are strong on expression, as she moves from heartbreak to positive transformation. She begins by talking of feeling low, her mind like a battlefield, but moves on to a situation where "I knew that I had to be strong".

The singer will also perform at this month's Jazz@Prithvi on December 28 with her group Zian & The Chromatic Cats, comprising Dhaivat Tapodhan on keyboards, Shashank Das on bass and Rohan Parihar on drums. That will be some good brunch-time jazz.

Sarthak Kalyani feat. Anyasa & Lost Stories/ Patasa 

Label: Indo Warehouse

Rating: ***

Singer Sarthak Kalyani teams up with producers Anyasa and Lost Stories to come up with the track 'Patasa'. It's a song that blends traditional folk sounds with modern danceflooe vibes.

The popular line 'Bari barsi khatan gaya si' is set to a club groove. The accompanying visualiser pays tribute to the warrior tribes of Punjab by showing soldiers in traditional robes on horseback.

Though it's a routine dance track, it's good enough to shake a leg to.

Taran Singh/ Bejaa Mere Kol

Label: Self-released 

Rating: ***

Also in the Punjabi dance music space is the new single by Taran Singh, who uses a quintessential techno sound on 'Bejaa Mere Kol'.

This song has a catchy hook, typical of uptempo Punjabi numbers, and is perfect for naach-gaana parties. "Tu bejaa mere kol, beja mere kol, tenu taareya di sair main karaava, teri ik ik reej main pugaavan, le begi tere kol, tu beja mere kol", go the lyrics.

Cross-vocal back-ups by Anahita Singh add a twist, with producers Zeus X Crona giving it the right punch. Dance to that. Aahoon aahoon!

Subhi/ Yaadein

Label: Desi Trill

Rsting: *** 1/2

With tracks like 'Gulzar', 'Ishq Chalava' and 'Intezaar', New Delhi-born, Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Subhi has made a mark on the indie scene. She has a distinct voice, on the earthy, rustic side, with compositions that are contemporary in feel.

On her new song 'Yaadein' she's in nostalgic mode, singing, "Shehron mein tera kaisa junoon, uljhi raahon mein tukde is dil ke dhoondoon kahaan".

The song has an alternative rock hang. A neat guitar solo enhances the middle part, and there's a smooth transition to a string section is composed by Aman Moroney and played by the Budapest Symphony Orchestra. In a video showing studio gear, musical instruments and shelves filled with LPs, Subhi takes centrestage.



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