Find a list of music releases we have been hooked on this month. For you, we enclosed music from artists who are out to rebel, pay homage to a bride, present an alternate perspective on creepy crawlers, and also work featuring a sixteen-year-old who surely has a big and bright future ahead!
Apocryphal – ‘Spiders’
Soaring high from their performance at The Stables in Mumbai last year, metalcore crew Apocryphal spring out yet another spine-jolting offering in their newest single, ‘Spiders.’ Wrapped in weighty growls from Kiran Desai and powerful intoning from Dream Anatomy, the music is crammed with virulent drum pedals and raging guitars, all tidily underscored with an eerie melancholy theme.
Producer and guitarist Karan Sanchala expressed about the song via email, “Spiders is perhaps that one single that has defined our sound more clearly. We fit in a space that we now like to call ‘Dream Metalcore.'” Vocalists Dream Anatomy and Kiran Desai further explained, “Spiders may be a creepy crawly for most of us. But if you look at it differently, Spiders aren’t necessarily a bad thing! Sure, they make us restless – all you can imagine is them crawling under your skin.”
They added, “In our song, Spiders signify a call for change – making us uncomfortable until we embrace our authentic self and escape our cobwebs by learning to receive and accept the healing presence around us. May your Spiders help you heal!”
Find Apocryphal on: Bandcamp | Spotify | Apple Music | Instagram
Dizlaw x Bhaktaaa x Calm – ‘Caramel Tax’
Taking notes from the recent clatter about the popcorn tax slabs in India, Azadi Records’ Dizlaw, one half of Seedhe Maut’s Calm, and rapper Bhaktaaa sketch a ferocious new single titled ‘Caramel Tax.’ Spelled out over a hauntingly slick rhythm, each rapper robustly delivers lyrics in Hindi that exhibit defiance and tenacity in the face of adversity while stressing class disparity, personal wrangles, and ruthless hustle culture.
Dizlaw’s hook offers a wave of the realities of systemic inequality, while Bhaktaaa and Calm fire out a flurry of introspective yet passionate rap bars. Its music video, filmed by Gauri Unnithan, Aman Singh Chauhan, and Mayur Salvi, sees the trio munching on popcorn while performing the track at various sites in the city, also including a neat shot at a barber shop.
Find Dizlaw on: Instagram | Apple Music | Spotify | YouTube
Ankit Dayal – ‘Deeper Than Indigo’
Mumbai-based musician and city head for Sofar Bombay Ankit Dayal welcomed 2025 by releasing a new single, ‘Deeper Than Indigo.’ Mixed and mastered by Siddharth Talwar and Zain Calcuttawala, the finger-snapping composition courses through slap-style guitar licks and soothing vocalizations to deliver an optimistic feel-good tune for the new year.
Lyrically, you’ll find catchy and bright lyrics such as “You got a voice, so don’t abuse it / If someone asks for help dont refuse it” patched into the song. Written, recorded, performed, and produced by Ankit Dayal, the music video for ‘Deeper Than Indigo’ was recorded in Bukhara, Uzbekistan.
Find Ankit Dayal on: Instagram | Spotify
Allan Martyr – ‘I need you’
Gurgaon-based singer-songwriter Allan Martyr has penned a “heartfelt expression of love and connection” on his latest tender-hearted acoustic ditty, ‘I Need You.’ Seamed together with blissful guitar chords and uncomplicated lyrics, according to Allan, this melody was “inspired by those moments when someone becomes an inseparable part of your life.”
“I wanted to keep the sound raw and acoustic, allowing the emotion to take center stage,” stated Allan via email. By releasing music periodically, Allan Martyr is gradually sculpting an upward trajectory within the Indian indie space. His previous song, ‘Winter Smell,’ arrived in November last year, while ‘Every Day Of The Week’ (June 2024) has gained over 10K streams on Spotify.
Find Allan Martyr on: Instagram | Spotify
Sanket Jayn – ‘Shiraz’
After being engulfed in classic Bollywood music during his childhood, Sanket Jayn took up being a musician during the lockdown and only recently cast out his debut Hindi-worded single ‘Shiraz.’ On this release, the singer-songwriter took inspiration from the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, in particular his hit single ‘Billie Jean,’ released way back in 1983.
‘Shiraz’ was written and composed to concentrate on a specific moment in a relationship and deliver a highly agreeable pop/dark-pop meets rock melody. Stitched into the music and flashes of electro-pop, dense synth textures, Sanket’s intense vocal delivery, and edgy electric guitars from Viraj Joshi.
Concerning the themes of the song, Sanket stated via email, “It’s a deeply personal yet universally relatable track that explores the emotional complexity of being someone’s rebound. The song captures a narrow, intimate moment in a relationship where one person uses the other to move on from their past.”
Find Sanket Jayn on: Instagram | Spotify
Niyati Handa – ‘Ishq Hai Nibhana’
Singer Niyati Handa leaves her mark on the enormous Indian wedding season with a warm and charming Hindi-worded ditty ‘Ishq Hai Nibhana’ (love is to be fulfilled), singling out all the brides-to-be and nodding to the rush of emotions experienced on their wedding date and the days leading to it. Produced by musician Pranshu Jha, this is also Niyati’s first release of the year and was initially penciled in for a bride for her big day.
Find Niyati Handa on: Instagram | Spotify
Aabishkar Thatal – ‘Khayeko Kasam’
Sikkim-based singer-songwriter Aabishkar Thatal, who skillfully folds folk influences with indie, pop, and rock into his music, revisits a project that started in 2017 and made its way to streaming services in November 2020. Thatal’s indie-pop number ‘Khayeko Kasam’ received a fresh redraft via a recording session at The Record Room in Gangtok and deliciously produces a pacifying melody, stitched together with picky acoustic guitars, delicate key arrangments and an airy electric guitar segment.
‘Khayeko Kasam’ translates to ‘take an oath’ or ‘make a promise.’ According to Aabishkar, it “explores the depth and innocence of adolescent love—capturing that unique feeling of beauty and commitment, even across distances.”
Find Aabishkar Thatal on: Instagram | Spotify
Gaurav Jagwani – ‘Stay Awake (feat. Pia)’
Singer-songwriter Gaurav Jagwani continues his impressive streak of nicking upcoming talents on the independent scene and latching them onto his music releases. After working with musicians Avreen, Shivang Arora, Parth ‘Parthius’ Agarwal (‘The Best Out In Me’), and Sunit Zadav (‘Trees’), the indie stalwart now spotlights fourteen-year-old singer Pia on his latest song titled ‘Stay Awake.’
With all the instrumentation conducted by Gaurav, Pia’s breezy and easygoing vocals nonchalantly grasp and deliver the uncomplicated lyrics of the easy-to-sing-a-long tune. “Ironically, it was produced like a lullaby when the focal point lyrically is about staying awake,” said Gaurav about the single.
Find Gaurav Jagwani on: Apple Music | Spotify | Bandcamp |Soundcloud | Instagram
AYSH – ‘Meri Kahani’
Aiashwarya Asthana aka AYSH, music producer from Bengaluru, follows up his December music release ‘Tera Chehra,’ with yet another sensual beat on his new release ‘Meri Kahani.’ Wheeling in the prowess of music producer Kishore Thulasiramann, AYSH carves out a gloomy, dream-like soundscape folded with autotuned vocals, peeled-back pop elements, and alternative fragments.
‘Meri Kahani’ commences with a slow, somber tempo that builds to a melancholy rhythm before accelerating to a more throbbing beat. “It’s a track designed to evoke memories of past sadness, help process them, and invite listeners to dance as a form of catharsis,” voiced AYSH via press release.
Find AYSH on: Instagram | Spotify
Punya – ‘Am I’
January seems to be a favorable month for Mumbai-based singer-songwriter Punya. Her debut single ‘Too Late?’ (released Jan 2024) clocked in over 5K streams on Spotify and nearly a thousand views on YouTube. The artist now pushes forward with an alt-pop/dark-pop motif in ‘Am I.’
Lyrically, the music touches upon themes of being good enough and seeking validation before strongly clapping back at these assertions with a devil-may-care attitude. Punya delivers a raw, gritty, and bold vocal presentation, a stark and welcome contrast from her dulcet voice on her previous music releases. “It’s a bold exploration of unapologetic self-expression and anthem for young generation to own their truth and defy norms,” shared Punya via press statement.
Punya also lent her vocals to singer-composer Salem Sandhu on his new single ‘Kyun Na,’ which was released in the same month.
Find Punya on: Instagram | Spotify
Priyanshi Srivastava – ‘Yaad Aayegi’
Lucknow-born and Mumbai-bred playback singer, songwriter, and live performer Priyanshi Srivastava’s newest music outing comes in the form of a melodious acoustic presentation titled ‘Yaad Aayegi.’ Tapping in the prowess of music producer Salil Charaya and sound engineer Sachin Nair, the breezy tune straps on honey vocals from Priyanshi matched with flowing acoustic guitar and airy production.
Composed, written, and performed by Priyanshi, the Hindi-worded song talks about a girl glancing back and cherishing joyful moments of a relationship while also being eager to have them back.
Find Priyanshi Srivastava on: Instagram | Spotify
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