Page 14 - Masala Lite Issue 161 May 2024

14 TRENDING NOW

Surfing the sonic waves of
India’s up-and-comers.

BY GRACE CLARKE CONTEMPORARY

DITTY
Sun’s out, buns out, and the festival scene is hotter those their sonic palette draws inspiration from iconic English
high 40s. Coachella may have wrapped, but Summer Sonic bands like The Cure and Slowdive. The band’s fluid Aditi Veena, dubbed Ditty, is
is just around the corner, and trust us, the only thing hotter musical identity mirrors their outlook on an unpredictable a singer, songwriter, and urban
than those sizzling lineups is the fire India’s underground future, characterised by the delicacy of Aarifah’s vocals ecologist based in New Delhi and
music scene is spitting. So, ditch the Top 50 and your tired and the potency of their lyrics. Their latest offering, the Berlin. In 2019, she released her
playlists because we’re here to inject your summer with a EP “How the Mighty Will Fall,” serves as a poignant debut album “Poetry Ceylon” that
serious dose of aural coolness. exploration of contemporary uncertainties, featuring was named ‘Album of the Year’ by
India Today. Ditty’s tracks echo the
standout tracks such as “Skin to Sea” and “Lovesong for
We all know the thrill of unearthing a hidden gem, that essence of Joni Mitchell, weaving
an Apocalypse”.
artist who blows up before anyone else catches on. It’s Instagram: @longdistances.ig gentle melodies with poignant lyrics addressing themes of
like snagging that limited-edition sneaker before it sells inclusion, capitalism, and environmental conservation. Her
out, or discovering the coolest speakeasy before the LO! PENINSULA music creates a melodic journey, punctuated by emotive
influencers flood it. That’s the vibe we’re serving: access Esteemed among tastemakers, this hums and instrumental flourishes, delivering powerful
to India’s freshest sonic offerings. These rising artists are band originating from Imphal stands messages within a soft, atmospheric soundscape. Beyond
making serious waves, from genre-bending fusion, to at the forefront of India’s shoegaze her music, she rocks carbon-neutral live shows, making a
heart-pounding house beats and ethereal shoegaze. So, scene. The trio seamlessly melds green impact while sharing her art.
grab those headphones, get ready to hit save, and prepare shoegaze, psych rock, dream-pop, Instagram: @heyyditty
to become a music insider. and the organic sounds of nature
into their compositions. Their sonic SHANTANU PANDIT
concoctions, comprised of distinctive This Delhi-based singer, songwriter,
fuzzy guitars and trance-inducing melodies, exude a laid- and producer brings you on a
FUSION back coolness, attributed to their hands-on, DIY approach powerful journey of the self through
to production, which often arises from spontaneous jam his music. His tracks delve deep into
Aksomaniac sessions. With their debut album “AKA Lo Peninsula” turning the intricacies of personal growth,

Hailing from Trivandrum, this budding heads since its 2018 release, the group continues to charm mortality, and the fleeting nature of
musician, also an engineering student audiences with its rich harmonic textures and immersive existence. With a raw and unfiltered
and accomplished pianist, is making atmospherics, enhanced by the vocalist’s raw, garage-like approach, his songs resonate with
a splash in India’s music scene. His energy. honesty, capturing the spectrum of emotions stirred by
work as a songwriter, vocalist, and Instagram: @lopeninsula life’s unpredictable twists and turns. Having debuted with
producer, showcases his hands-on the EP “Skunk in the Cellar” in 2014, he further solidified
approach to music creation. His RAP & HIP-HOP his presence in the music landscape with the release of his
sound is a skillful blend of R&B, full-length album, “Milk Teeth” just three years ago.
jazz, blues, and ambient influences, with his debut album SHAUHARTY Instagram: @shantanman
“Great Depression” serving as both a standalone work and Delhi-based underground artist
a soundtrack for a short film by did you eat pictures. The Shauharty is innovating the HOUSE
album features his mastery of the piano, intertwined with domain with his sub-genre blend
electronic and intelligent dance music (IDM) elements, of alternative hip-hop. This artist FAKE TATTOOS
complemented by nods to dubstep. is cultivating the audio landscape Residing in Bangalore, Samprukt
Instagram: @aksomaniac with new sounds and perspectives
Mohanty, better known by his
PAKSHEE through his latest EP, “Paint it, Dull”. stage moniker Fake Tattoos, is
Drawing inspiration from the iconic track “Paint it, Black” causing a stir with his electrifying
Based in New Delhi, this dynamic by The Rolling Stones, Shauharty infuses his music with rhythms. Fusing elements of house
six-member ensemble is causing a elements reminiscent of classic rock while paying homage and techno with Eastern influences,
stir with their boundary-pushing to the vibrant desi culture of the 70s and 80s. Through this DJ is at the forefront of the
musical style. Seamlessly blending gritty, hard-rocking vocals and fluid rap verses, the EP scene, captivating audiences with
jazz, blues, and funk-pop influences, evokes a profound sense of melancholy, juxtaposed with his pulsating beats. Fake Tattoos is a regular fixture at
their music serves as a testament to an underlying urgency. His adept use of soundscapes Bangalore’s premier clubs, where he keeps the dance floors
the rich diversity within the medium. creates tracks that are both introspective and energetically alive with his infectious concoctions of sound. His latest
Pakshee, through their innovative vibrant, inviting listeners into a world that is simultaneously offering, “Unfazed”, comprises seven original tracks and
fusion, skillfully weave elements of Hindustani and Carnatic haunting and playful. one remix, delivering a listening experience brimming with
classical vocals in Hindi and Malayalam, underscoring their Instagram: @nawaaabjaaan bouncy rhythms and infectious grooves.
ability to harmonise sounds into a cohesive listening journey. Instagram: @faketattoosmusic
Their debut album, released in 2019, displays a mosaic of THE SIEGE
influences, from the velvety textures of smooth jazz to the ANYASA
infectious rhythms of funk, marked by intricate drumming A budding prominent figure in
patterns and electrifying guitar riffs. Mumbai’s underground rap scene, Anish Sood, known under his alias
Instagram: @paksheeofficial Siegen Moopanar, originally from Anyasa, is taking his Indian Melodic
Bangalore, is making a significant House sounds to global heights. Born
SHOEGAZE impact with his refreshing lyrical and raised in the coastal state of Goa,
narratives. Drawing from his this DJ remains deeply connected to
South Indian heritage and urban
his roots, infusing classical Indian
LONG DISTANCES sensibilities, he injects a distinctive flavour into his flows. elements into his contemporary
Emerging onto the scene in 2022, Departing from the clichés often associated with rap music, electronica. The fusion of genres in
this fresh trio, comprised of Aarifah he sheds light on the everyday struggles of the middle-class. his music creates a mesmerising, almost cinematic ambiance,
Rebello, Zubin Pastakia, and Apurv Since debuting in 2019, the artist has been steadily gaining inviting listeners into a harmonious and dance-infused
Agrawal, injects a newfound vibrancy momentum, culminating in the release of his latest EP, journey. With three EPs under his belt: “Gaya”, “Athena”,
into India’s shoegaze landscape. “BHAAGNA, CHUHUPNA, DOOBNA,” last year, showcasing and the latest, “Apollo”, Anyasa demonstrates a masterful
Fusing elements of shoegaze (a his evolution as an artist unafraid to challenge conventions command of elements that evoke a transcendent, almost
subgenre of indie and alternative and offer a fresh perspective on contemporary life. spiritual energy within his compositions.
pop), dream pop, and post-punk, Instagram: @reallifesiege Instagram: @anyasamusic

MASAL A LITE ISSUE 161 - MAY 2024