New Music Releases from Rono, Soha, Zohran Miranda
In this roundup, we dive into Zohran Miranda’s retro-style album, Rono’s final release of the year, Soha’s soulful performance on ‘Excuses,’ a metal-injected reimagining of a folk classic and more!
In this roundup, we dive into Zohran Miranda’s retro-style album, Rono’s final release of the year, Soha’s soulful performance on ‘Excuses,’ a metal-injected reimagining of a folk classic and more!
Soha – ‘Excuses’ ft. Trvr
Hyderabad-based singer-songwriter Soha unveiled one of her strongest performances to date with her latest soulful R&B single, ‘Excuses,’ arranged with plucky acoustic guitar and wavy synth patches. Featuring a hip-hop verse from UK-based artist Trvr, Soha offers an emotive melody woven with unfiltered and sincere lyrics that explore “the cycle of hope and heartbreak, the fragile space between hello and goodbye.”
Talking about the song in a press release, Soha stated, “This song came from a place of frustration but also reflection.” The singer further elaborated, “It’s about those moments when you’re waiting for someone to meet you halfway, and all you’re given are reasons that never add up. I wanted the track to feel like a conversation-two perspectives, one unresolved story.”
Find Soha on Spotify | Instagram
Rono – ‘Tere Jaisa’
Opening with the warmest of guitar strums and a sonic burst of optimism is ‘Tere Jaisa,’ the curtain-closing single for 2025 from Mumbai-based singer-songwriter Rono. Strapped with an ensemble of musicians, Raje, Satyajit Chatterji, and Soutrik Chakraborty on backing vocals, along with drummer Swarnavo Datta, Rono conjures a catchy pop outing, prepared in the style of a modern barbershop quartet.
Rono described ‘Tere Jaisa’ as “a song about the kind of love that you can’t let go of, whether it makes or breaks you.”
Find Rono on Spotify | Instagram
Papori Harsh Project – ‘Challa’
Bengaluru-based singer-composer Papori Harsh’s Papori Harsh Project revitalizes the classic Punjabi folk lament ‘Challa,’ integrating it with the rock and metal sensibilities of musician Vishal J. Singh to create a spectacular folk-metal theme. On this outing, the classical/folk singer’s powerful vocals soar over crisscrossing sections of folk rhythms, seething guitars, and crashing drums to assemble a hard-hitting fusion of folk and metal.
The press release conveyed, “It’s the story of a girl navigating a dystopian landscape ruled by demons, where cruelty is the air she breathes. But instead of breaking, she transforms into a War Goddess, fighting relentlessly for the ones she loves.”
Find Papori Harsh Project on Spotify | Instagram
Solaris – ‘The Last Run’
Exploding onto the indie rock scene is the newly formed post-rock/metal duo Solaris, consisting of metalheads Karan Sanchala and Vishal Mallu, with their debut single, ‘The Last Run.’ Envisioned as “an abstract-themed breakup song,” the track weaves frantic guitar riffs and clanging bass tugs with the guttural vocals of singer Anirudh Maitra, creating a dynamic mix of progressive metal, djent textures, and aggressive outerworldly sounds.
On ‘The Last Run,’ the duo conveys the story of an astronaut who drifts away from his spaceship, trying to return, but ultimately is lost in space. This echoes the song’s themes of longing, heartbreak, and the struggles of moving on.
Find Solaris on Spotify | Instagram
Bijaan – ‘Jungle’
Canadian rap artist Bijaan, whose roots trace back to India and parts of East Africa, released his newest single, ‘Jungle.’ The track interlaces tabla, horns, and violins together with a lethal hip-hop beat produced by rapper Junia-T.
Opening with a slow-burning brass section and a menacing tone, the grandiose production sets the stage for Bijaan to explore feelings of isolation and belonging everywhere yet nowhere, being connected to many places but never really at home. For Bijaan, this single, which underscores third culture identity and its ripple effects, “is about reclaiming roots, embracing heritage, and standing on one’s identity.”
Find Bijaan on Spotify | Instagram
Zohran Miranda – ‘How To Be’
Mumbai-based guitarist-producer Zohran Miranda rounded his regular troop of top-tier musicians to sculpt his first full-length, 10-track album titled ‘How to Be.’ One listen is enough to trust Zohran to channel a euphonious, distinct retro synth-pop sound, infused with his futuristic disco-pop flair.
Songs like ‘Feels Like Gold,’ ‘How to Be’ and ‘Only Man’ tap into a 90s-inspired soft-rock and pop-rock aesthetic, while ‘Suddenly’ adds a richer melodic texture to the record. ‘Why Do I’ (feat. Nikhil D’Souza) presents a delicious synth-coated groove, and ‘Only Man,’ layered over sturdy percussion, frenzied electric guitars, and bright chiming keys, showcases Zohran’s vocal chops to the max.
‘Ghost Machine,’ driven by spunky bass yanks, quick-fire guitars, and a lush chorus, arguably stands out as one of the album’s highlights. The track is sealed with works from Megha Bhardwaj (backing vocals), Natasha Pinto (keys), Aditya Ashok (drums), Nathan Thomas (bass), and hitman producer Jovian Soans.
Speaking about the album, Zohran shared in a statement, “This album is the result of over five years of work and truly defines me as an independent musician. I’ve stayed true to the vintage pop-tronic, funky disco vibe that my sound is known for. Each track on ‘How to Be’ is connected by the same message, i.e, to stop overthinking our existence and simply be ourselves, without attachments. It’s a simple idea, cutting through all of life’s supposed complexities and pressures.”
Find Zohran Miranda on Spotify | Instagram
Harsh Barar – ‘Rest of My Life’
Delhi-based indie musician Harsh Barar‘s fifth single, ‘Rest of My Life,’ is doused in indie soul and delicate finger-picking instrumentation, evoking warmth and passion with every note. The music leans on honest, straightforward storytelling, described by Harsh as “more of a confession than just another track,” and is paired with mellow acoustics and a tranquil backdrop.
About the new single, Harsh conveyed, “It’s about that feeling when someone makes your world brighter, and all you really want is to spend the rest of your life with them.”
Find Harsh Barar on Spotify | Instagram
Savneet Singh – ‘Fidaa’
Transporting you back to the era of soulful evergreen melodies of 1950s and ’60s Indian cinema is Ludhiana-based singer-songwriter Savneet Singh’s eleventh original composition, ‘Fidaa.’ The song bridges timeless classical elements, such as a harmonium-sounding intro and orchestral-like components, with a contemporary feel.
“I’ve grown up listening to old Bollywood songs – their melodies, instrumentation, and honesty always kept me inspired,” Savneet shared in a press note. “‘Fidaa’ is my small tribute to that magic; where love was felt more in silences than in words.”
Adding to that charm is the accompanying black-and-white music video directed by Siddharth Ahuja, which takes you on a trip to a bygone era of cinematic elegance merged with romantic simplicity.
Find Savneet Singh on Spotify | Instagram
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Listen to all of these songs and more on TFword’s official playlist –
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