Naren's indie round-up/ Jan 2026, Ep 3


BY NARENDRA KUSNUR

Two Summ/ We Are (EP)

Genre: Percussion meets electronica

Label: Self-released, available on Bandcamp

Rating: ****

Percussionist Viveick Rajagopalan has done some very interesting experiments using the mridangam, his core instrument. In Ta Dhom Project, he has blended Carnatic rhythms and konnakol (spoken syllables) with hip-hop. And in Two Summ, he and Anantha R. Krishnan, also a mridangam player, have conceptualised tunes that blend percussion with electronica.

Two Summ's new EP We Are contains six tracks that are strong on groove, blending intricate rhythm patterns with cutting edge electronic samples and different vocal styles. Joining the mridangam players is Harmeet Manseta, a keyboardist who makes deft use of the electronic work here.

The title track has a strong hook, and 'Little Secret' smartly blends bols with hand percussion. 'Maya' has English lyrics and 'Magnolia' with its soothing melodies and konnakol interlude is reminiscent of Shakti. The opener 'Triplet Vibe' and the seven-minute 'Long Story Short' complete this gem of an EP.

Kaushiki Chakraborty/ Phir Nayi Baat

Language & genre: Hindi, ghazal

Label: Self-released 

Rating: ****

Vocalist Kaushiki Chakraborty has been doing some marvellous work outside the classical space. Her album Pankh with composer Shantanu Moitra, supported by multi-city concerts, received a hearty response. Now, she sings a ghazal 'Phir Nayi Baat'.

Composed by Kaushiki and written by Niraj Shah, the song follows the couplet and rhyming style of the traditional ghazal. The opening lines are, "Phir nayi baat ubhar aayee ishaaron mein, Jin adaaon se kahi baat ishaaron mein". And the last sher is, "Sirf khamoshi thi koi guftagu thi hi nahin, beete se woh mulaaqat ishaaron mein".

Shadaj Godkhindi's flute plays a prominent role, with guitarist Rickraj Nath and drummer Vaibhav Wavikar completing the line-up. One highlight is the way Kaushiki adds subtle flourishes and variations in her enunciation. That's where her classical expertise comes into use.

Arijit Singh & Ananya Sharma/ Into You

Language & genre: Punjabi/ Hindi, pop

Label: Merchant Records 

Rating: ***

Arijit Singh is in the news after announcing he's quitting playback singing. And while there are divergent reports or whether he will continue independent songs or pursue classical music or even get into filmmaking, we have the release of his new indie song 'Into You'.

It's an uptempo driving song composed by Salim and Sulaiman Merchant and sung as a duet with Ananya Sharma. Words, by Shraddha Pandit and Shivansh Jindal, use Punjabi, Hindi and English. Stuff like "Thak gayee main wait karke, tujhse love-hate karke, aankhon mein meri dekh ke, tu aaja piya". Lord!

Vatsaal Vithalani's video, featuring Ananya Sharma and Dharmik Samani, has some good car shots (it promotes the Mahindra XEV 9e). Though it's a catchy song which Arijit fans may like, it offers nothing unique. Just some temporary foot-tapping maybe.

Himanshu/ When The Water Was Sweet 

Language & genre: English, acoustic folk

Label: Self-released 

Rating: *** 1/2

An interesting thing about singer-songwriter Himanshu's song 'When The Water Was Sweet' is the use of the matka or earthen pot, along with the guitar-driven melody. Besides being used as the percussion instrument played by Ashish Kukreja, it also acts as a metaphor to describe the nostalgia the singer experiences of staying with his grandparents.

"Back then my grandmother, she used a matka, that gave the water its taste", sings Himanshu. The other lines are introspective, as he sings, "And maybe I will go on, even when I am done with this song, or maybe I won't even hold on, to the time when I'd fly with his feet, to the time when water was sweet".

The video, directed by Samar Thakur, shows the two musicians playing live. It's a simple film that goes with the earthiness of the song.



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