New Music Releases from SIJYA, Reble x Dhanji, Many Roots Ensemble

We take a look at music from Bengaluru-based metal heads VAL, the multifaceted artist Sijya, Aindri Mukherjee’s indie scene debut, a Yari Road rap ensemble, and more!

VAL – ‘Rip Me Some Metal!’

Crisscrossing hard rock, heavy metal, and thrash metal from the ’80s and ’90s while embedding a modern feel in their music is Bengaluru-based four-piece rock/metal outfit VAL’s debut album, titled ‘Rip Me Some Metal!’ Uncoiling to an unnerving and ominous tone setting intro, the first three songs, ‘Steel & Thunder,’ ‘Tears of Blood,’ ‘Super Charged,’ offer up mint flavors of hard rock and metal from the get-go.

Next is ‘Darkness Falls,’ which takes the shape of a thumping medieval-style rock ballad, sealed with angelic siren laments, orchestral string arrangements, and rhythmic acoustic guitar playing. ‘Garden of Eden’ follows on and is described as “a soul-searching reflection on where we came from, why we’re here, and the mystery that binds us all.” It kicks into high gear with a symphonic metal theme and is assembled with racing string segments, crashing drums, clear vocal sections, and steamy guitar riffs.

Singles ‘Running Man’ returns the tempo to a high-energy and fast-paced soundscape, while ‘Fade to Tomorrow’ has frontman Victor McKertich’s guttural vocals set to a power metal soundtrack. In essence, the title track ‘Rip Me Some Metal’ serves as a blazing ode to the Gods of metal music, and the album closer ‘The Last Stop’ is meticulously primed to ignite a mosh pit, wall of death, or circle pit.

“This album is our love letter to metal and our fight to show that India has a powerful place in the genre’s future. Every song tells a story of passion, struggle, and victory,” expressed Victor via email.

Find VAL on Apple Music | YouTube | Instagram

Sijya – ‘I Only Want To Crash’

New Delhi-based composer-producer Sijya cuts out another single from her impending EP ‘Leather & Brass’ with ‘I Only Want To Crash.’ It finds a haven in the middle of art pop, downtempo and ambient music. Recognized by its ghostly and unsettling synth layers paired with dreamy raw rhythms, the single was initially written as an instrumental skit and slowly evolved into an evocative and wistful production.

Talking about ‘I Only Want To Crash,’ Sijya stated via press note, “I’ve been a bit unsure of my lyricism in the past, but this EP has some that I find simple, although not necessarily clear… That’s kind of my thing, I think. The lyric I know it’s safe / but let it be is about the fact that always trying to do something right is exhausting. Sometimes we need to take the easy way and hope no one’s judging.”

Find Sijya on Spotify | Instagram

Prissha, Bhaktaaa, Pancham, Suraj Iyer – ‘Yari Road’

The new EP ‘Yari Road’ hauls in stories, experiences and emotions from a mighty foursome – rapper Bhaktaaa, singer-songwriter Suraj Iyer, rapper-composer Pancham and genre-fluid artist Prissha. It flows through the genres of hip hop, R&B, dancehall, Afro-pop, and pop and collectively allows each artist to shine, resulting in a vibrant display of their talents and unique musical styles.

Glossing over a few of the tracks, you’ll find a melancholy acoustic meets hip-hop gem in ‘Jaane De,’ polished with a bluesy guitar solo. ‘Uno Reverse’ catches the artists dishing out mellow rap vocals over a dancehall-hip hop pulse. Prissha delivers a glowing vocal performance on ‘Phir Ek Baar,’ a Hindi worded tune billed as “a haunting confession of vulnerability and emotional relapse that strikes deep.”

The EP closing ‘Dum Dum Digga’ takes an uplifting turn, contrasting the brooding and introspective themes of the previous tracks and, according to the collective, “is built to get heads nodding and spirits lifted.” The EP’s title is also a nod to Yari Road, a prominent residential and commercial area located in Versova, Andheri West, Mumbai.

‘Yari Road’ by Prissha, Bhaktaaa, Pancham, Suraj Iyer is available on all major streaming platforms

Janisht Joshi, Anumita Nadesan, Shikhar – ‘Yeh Duniya Jala Do (Glittery Cut)’

‘Nahi’ fame Janisht Joshi tugs in singer Anumita Nadesan and songwriter-guitarist Shikhar for a ‘Glittery Cut,’ a stripped-back and slowed-down rendition of his 2024 single ‘Yeh Duniya Jala Do.’ Towed away are the hooting horns, pop-esque synths, and upbeat sonics, and in comes a more melancholy alt-pop production driven by Anumita’s emotive vocals and somber guitar details from Shikhar.

“It felt like I was hiding behind the production the first time around,” expressed Janisht. “Glittery Cut brings out what I really meant – it’s exasperation, it’s isolation, it’s the kind of selfish cry you make when nothing makes sense anymore.”

Find Janisht Joshi on Spotify | Instagram

Reble x Dhanji – ‘Only Uparwala Can Judge Me’

Two of the fiercest voices in the Indian hip-hop scene today, Ahmedabad-based rapper Dhanji and Meghalaya-based wordsmith Reble, blend their razor-sharp lyricism with the production prowess of CLIFR on their collaborative effort ‘Only Uparwala Can Judge Me.’

The fiery rap single features a raging percussion canvas over which Dhanji spits bars in Hindi, as the beat alternates from a slowed-down, gritty tone to a fast-paced Amen Break-esque sequence. Reble chimes in and mercilessly throws down fiery rap punches with explosive velocity.

Find Rebel on Spotify | Instagram / Find Dhanji on Spotify | Instagram

Aindri Mukherjee – ‘Better Place’

Kolkata-based indie musician Aindri Mukherjee’s indie pop career takes off with her debut single titled ‘Better Place,’ which is inspired by the alternative-pop and new-age sounds of Billie Eilish, Lana Del Ray, and Aurora. According to Aindri, this single talks about “a judgment-free world, full of peace and positivity.”

Its composition is simple yet effective, featuring delicate strings, soothing keys, and Andri’s euphonious vocals. The artist fronted this project as a bedroom project in regard to its production, composition, and lyrics, with a little helping hand from influential musician Shubham Kundu.

The singer-songwriter has been writing music for the last five years, and you can view snippets of her unreleased music via her YouTube channel. About her first music release, Aindri shared, “I wrote my
song ‘Better Place’, while pursuing Masters’ in Botany, perhaps looking for a bigger fulfillment.”

Find Aindri Mukherjee on Spotify | Instagram | YouTube

Many Roots Ensemble ft. Saxontoast – ‘We Belong’

Just over a year from the release of their well-crafted and dynamic album, ‘Echoes of Origin,’ Many Roots Ensemble is back with a groovy Afrobeat composition, ‘We Belong.’ The multi-genre outfit adds that extra flair and pizzazz to their performance by roping in sax virtuoso Rhys Sebastian, aka Saxontoast, on this outing.

The zesty instrumental is crammed with tapping percussion, roaring horns, slick bass plucks, and bouncy key arrangements, and carries a message of “celebrating our shared humanity, embracing differences, and coming together in rhythm and harmony.”

Via the press release, Many Roots Ensemble stated, “This bright and festive tune welcomes all to celebrate. The title speaks to the need for inclusivity for all people, irrespective of color, class, religion, or borders. We wrote this tune believing music can be a bridge, especially in these times of global unrest and unprecedented suffering.”

Saxontoast remarked on this team-up, saying, “Collaborating with Many Roots Ensemble was seamless. They have a clear vision while still holding space to be creative in the moment. They’re one of the few bands that manage to bring a stage-like energy to their recordings.”

Find Many Roots Ensemble on Spotify | Instagram / Find Saxontoast on Spotify | Instagram

Heeya Tikku – ‘Kinara’

Fresh off her first 2025 release, ‘Mere Ho,’ singer-songwriter Heeya Tikku submits her second single of the year, ‘Kinara’ – a poignant Hindi-language track steeped in themes of loss, heartbreak, melancholia, and death. In this song, Heeya extends her signature style of pairing heartfelt lyricism with soft, lilting melodies to craft a soothing, emotionally rich indie soundscape.

Heeya invites listeners to reflect on how quickly life passes by through gentle piano chords, uplifting guitar lines, lush string sequences, delicate drum beats, and her dulcet voice. According to the artist, “The song stems from the realization that the only way to truly let go is to set the soul free, and to hope they find their ‘kinara’—their shore wherever they are.”

Find Heeya Tikku on Instagram | Spotify

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Listen to all of these songs and more on TFword’s official playlist –

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