Naren's indie round-up/ Aug 2026, Ep 1

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR 

Runway Historia/ Like No Tomorrow

Language & genre: English, fusion rock

Label: Self-released 

Rating: *** 1/2

I recently heard Pune hard rock band Runway Historia play Guns N' Roses and AC/ DC covers at Mumbai's AntiSocial, opening for Teemeer Chimulkar's Sceptr3. They also did their original 'Like No Tomorrow'.

The song was released in June, and what's interesting is that a sitar has been added to the hard rock sound. Vocalist Rons Thakur sings, "And we go, we go, we go at it like no tomorrow".

The band has composer-lyricist Varun Singh on guitars and bass and Anshuman Walia on guitars, besides guests Stavya on sitar and Deep Menon on drums. The video shows them live in.a studio with Aarum on bass and Ranveer Singh on drums. The 'sitar aur guitar' jam lends some variety to this burst of energy.

Peep Peep & Akash/ Tipsy Topsy Tears

Language & genre: English, ballad

Label: Self-released 

Rating: ****

Preeti Kuber, who uses the name Peep Peep, makes her debut with the single 'Tipsy Topsy Tears'. As the title suggests it's a drunken eulogy about trying to hold on to a fractured relationship.

The lyrics go, "Do you want to let me go, or do you want me to stay? I'll hold on to it, until you push me away, until you push me away". Peep Peep's singing has an emotion that suits the words.

The song has been co-composed by her and Akash, who also plays guitars. Satyajit Chatterjee is on piano, with Rono handling production. The song has a bar-room/ rainy day feel, with a hint of old-school jazz. Add to that a fabulous video by Taab, Rono and Peep Peep, and what you get is quite classy.

Dr Prakash Sontakke Group (DPSG).with Mats Eilertsen/ Fast Five

Language & genre: Instrumental, Indo-fusion

Label: Self-released 

Rating: *** 

Bengaluru-based slide guitarist Prakash Sontakke has been doing some interesting collaborations of late. After teaming up with Chennai bassist Keith Peters on 'Wild Chase', he is now joined by Norwegian bassist Mats Eilertsen on 'Fast Five'.

It's a brisk two-and-a-half minute number where both musicians show good coordination. Sargam passages lend variety, and the steady rhythm peps up the track. Only wish it was a bit longer, with more improvisation. Five minutes would also work with 'Fast Five'.

On a related note, for those who haven't heard Eilertsen before, his albums are available on the streaming apps. Besides his skills as a bassist, they showcase his abilities as a composer.

Simran Sharma/ Apna Sa (Acoustic Version)

Language & genre: Hindi, ballad

Label: Self-released 

Rating: ***

Last November, Mumbai singer-songwriter Simran Sharma released her song 'Apna Sa', which talked of meeting someone in a new city. She's now released an acoustic version of the song.

The new rendition uses only voice and keys, played by Krishna, to tell the story. Besides the main vocals, Simran herself does harmonies and overdubs. She sings, "Apna sa laage re, na hai mera toh, na kabhi tha, phir bhi is dil ko apna sa laage re". 

The keyboard instrumentation is gentle, and the focus is on highlighting the lyrics. The main tune is catchy and can be hummed along.

Vine Sweetland/ The Universe Into Existence (album)

Language & genre: Instrumental, indo-fusion/ new age

Label: Self-released 

Rating: ****

Now based in North Colorado, US, Vine Sweetland is a multifaceted person, involved in poetry, music, art and writing. Having played with and produced for late sitar exponent Rahul Sakyaputra and tabla player Ramesh Kumar, he is well-versed with Indian classical music.

Vine's new album The Universe Into Existence uses many Indian elements, specially sitar and tabla, blending them with ambient soundscapes and new age layering. There are seven tracks with a total run-time of 1 hour.

The titles have influences of spiritualism and nature - examples are the opening piece 'In The Beginning, God Spoke', 'The Goodness of Earth and 'Gathering Of Waters' and 'Wings Take Flight Above Living Seas'. Personal favourites are 'Heaven Above, Waters Below', which uses sitar and horns, the 10-and-a-half minute 'Light Divided, Night and Day', using flamenco influences, virtuoso acoustic guitars, strings and cymbals, and 'First Breath, Formed From Clay', with its smooth flute-sitar coordination.

The last piece 'Raga: Seventh Day, God Rested' perhaps signifies that each of the seven pieces represents a day of the week, bringing the universe into existence. As such, it's a concept album in the true sense.




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