Skip to stories

Karan Barnabas’ New Single Is a New Beacon for Progressive Rock

Pune-based guitarist and producer Karan Barnabas follows up on debut release ‘Stay’ as part of the pop-rock duo Sarah & Karan with the dynamic progressive rock single ‘Blueshift Horizon.’

Pune-based guitarist and producer Karan Barnabas follows up on debut release ‘Stay’ as part of the pop-rock duo Sarah & Karan with the dynamic progressive rock single ‘Blueshift Horizon.’

A graduate of Indian music legend AR Rahman’s prestigious KM Music Conservatory and engulfed in the sounds of Aussie solo acts Plini, I Built The Sky, and US-based metal/fusion group Arch Echo, Karan Barnabas adds a fresh coating to India’s glistening progressive rock scene with his second music release.

Karan composed, arranged, and produced this striking instrumental piece, giving us a glimpse of his proficiency in structuring a composition and his passion and appreciation for this genre. Keeping hope and optimism as an anchor, the twenty-two-year-old musician peels back aggressive guitars and feisty percussive throbbings associated with the genre and presents a refined prog-rock/post-rock ballad.

Clocking in at nearly six minutes, the melody lures you in with temperate guitar strokes and delicate cymbal flickers, concocting a tranquil yet brooding backdrop, soon spilling into a spirited rhythm with magnetic electric guitar segments. Karan’s assertive guitar playing steers the tune as it slowly weaves into an eloquently produced symphonic rhythm with flashy drums and bass tugs. Choir-esque angelic voices sit atop the instrumental track as it charges to its outro, underscored by a steamy guitar riff.

‘Blueshift Horizon’ sees Karan flanked by a talent pool of artists that includes Matthew Panakal on bass and Shrikar Varadarajan on drums, accompanied by echoing harmonies from Chirag Shetty, Saniya Jaiwant, and Yaashasvi Dasane, with music producer Parishrut Kanhe operating mixing and mastering duties.

Speaking about his long-term goal and vision via a press statement, the artist disclosed, “I’m just beginning my journey to become India’s next breakout prog artist. My ultimate goal is to bring my music to the world’s biggest stages and this release is a major step toward that dream.”

Find Karan Barnabas on: Instagram | Spotify | Website

You May Also Like:

Rahul U Enlists Sarah Shipchandler On New Single, ‘Shikayatein’

Sei Hek’s Debut Album Grips You With a Powerful Display

‘In My Asymmetry’ EP by Frizzell D’Souza Is Out Now

TF Word newsletter

Get TF Word in your inbox

One email a week: the stories worth reading and the shows worth going to. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

Read it here, go there next

Every story on TF Word starts with a night out.

Find the shows, festivals and club nights the magazine is writing about.

Find events near you