In this list, we dive into Gunda’s highs of romance, a velvety indie-pop score from Niki Choudhury, Saroj Kashyap’s jazzy diss, and more!
Gunda – ‘Thoda Sa’
Multifaceted artist Gunda, who boasts an impressive 60K monthly listeners on Spotify, released his second outing of the year with ‘Thoda Sa.’ As per his social media post, the lyrics for this number had been sitting with the ‘Kismat Ke Maare‘ fame for a while, waiting for the right musical backdrop. That came after a writing camp with the Azadi contingent, which saw Gunda scoop in inputs from sitar player Varun Nimbolkar and indie/alternative artist Unkill Ji.
‘Thoda Sa’ offers up danceable textures laid over bleeping rhythms and seamlessly tucks in sitar sequences that elevate the overall sound. According to the press release, “‘Thoda Sa’ captures the dizzy high of romance in its purest form,” and additionally “yearns to find the lovesick soul on the dance floor.”
Find Gunda on Spotify | Instagram
Saroj Kashyap – ‘F*ck It’
From earnestly crooning, “For all that you have done to me, nobody’s ever going to treat you better” on ‘Space,’ to firing off an out-and-out diss on her latest single ‘Fuck It,’ Bengaluru-based singer-songwriter Saroj Kashyap continues to find ways to keep her music catalog fresh, straightforward, and emotionally in tune. Lyrically, the song pulls no punches, addressing the need to break free from toxicity.
Sonically, however, there’s a certain glitzy flair to the melody, laced with shiny key patterns and bouncy guitars that shape an upbeat jazz-tinged soundscape. As Saroj put it, “It is, well… a diss song, born out of being gaslit and branded ‘toxic’ whenever I stood up for myself. So, I did what I do best… made a song out of it.”
Find Saroj Kashyap on Spotify | Instagram
Pancham, Prissha, Suraj Iyer – ‘DAIRY DON’
Paying homage to a beloved dessert institution that’s been serving Mumbai since 1981 and likening the brand to a “quiet metaphor for love that feels simple, comforting, and sweet,” is the latest single, ‘DAIRY DON,’ from the hip-hop, R&B, and indie-pop trifecta Pancham, Prissha, and Suraj Iyer.
Soothing piano notes and Prissha’s tender voice set the tone for this indie presentation, fastened with an easygoing vibe before the tune slips into a desi hip-hop groove with breezy rap verses from Pancham and mellow crooning from Suraj Iyer. According to the press release, its lyrics capture “everyday moments of connection, the kind that often slip by unnoticed but stay with you long after.”
Nitansha – ’20 Something’
In “trying so hard to get everything right,” New Delhi-based indie-pop artist Nitansha has, hands down, delivered the perfect curtain closer to your chaotic, emotionally heavy days with her new single, ‘20 Something.’ A witty, subtly defiant indie composition, the song taps into the commotion, pressure, and unsolicited advice that torment one’s early twenties and shape them into frank storytelling.
’20 Something’ is yet another home studio production from Nitansha, created alongside the artist’s brother, indie/experimental producer Dhruvansh Tanwar (aka BaddMint), and follows up their heartwarming acoustic guitar-driven release ‘Hospital Bed’ from 2024. This offering combines sturdy drums, weighty bass marks, and gentle key flourishes with Nitansha’s velvety vocals, which cling to each lyric with purpose.
Find Nitansha on Spotify | Instagram
Lotus – ‘Aspire’
With their latest single, ‘Aspire,’ prog rock/metal outfit Lotus look to unshackle a mindset chained by norms of conventional success defined by wealth, careers, and material gain. Its progressive metal-infused melody weaves together brooding sonics, intricate guitar scales, and thundering drums, and is steered by raging riffs and guttural vocal bursts.
Speaking about the release, guitarist Siddharth Amarnath voiced, “‘Aspire’ is an ode to going back and doing things over because we all have been so misled in life. Growing up as kids, we have been instructed to aspire for greatness. To do better in studies, to be the best in sports, to have a career, to buy a home, to make a lot of wealth.”
He added, “Our childhood had been a transition phase to meet or achieve something, rather than us enjoying the time for what it was, only for us to come all this way to realize it’s all pointless and nothing really gives us the same level of happiness as the simple times did.”
The music video for ‘Aspire’ once again arrives via musician Chinmay Patkar and picks up from where Lotus left off in the visualizer from their earlier release, ‘Share A Piece.’ The suited male figure once again returns, taking center stage.
Find Lotus on Spotify | Instagram
Niki Choudhury – ‘With You’
Assam-born, New Delhi-based singer-songwriter Niki Choudhury unveiled a stunning indie-pop ballad, ‘With You.’ Like a soft blanket shielding you from a cold draft, the track provides a warm escape into a serene, reflective headspace.
‘With You’ is framed with delicate guitar lines, subtle percussive elements, and uplifting tones, with Niki’s emotive and honeyed vocals drifting atop the melody. Five YearsFromNow drummer Shan Paul wheels into the fold his expertise in production, mixing, and mastering. According to Niki, this release serves as “a celebration of connection, holding onto warmth even when someone is not physically near.”
Find Niki Choudhury on Spotify | Instagram
Runt – ‘Smashing Souls’
Periodically unleashing hard-hitting rock sounds, Runt returns with their latest single, ‘Smashing Souls.’ Written during the pandemic, the track’s title references a dispute between Smashing Pumpkins guitarist/songwriter Billy Corgan and singer-songwriter for Collective Soul Ed Roland from the 1990s.
Lyrically, however, the gritty ‘90s alt-rock-style single delves into themes of self-doubt, burnout, and artistic reinvention. With new member Deep RK on bass, Jeremy D’Souza on drums, and vocalist Siddharth Basrur producing intense vocal performances layered over steamy guitar riffs, courtesy of Chandan Raina.
Via press release, Siddharth Basrur explained, “The lyrics are about being the architect of my own creative demise.” Runt performed ‘Smashing Souls’ to a live audience for the first time at Big City Spiral Vol 3 at G5A, an event ticketed by Ticket Fairy.
Find Runt on Spotify | Instagram
Featured Images courtesy of the artists, Runt via Mr. Abhishek Gupta
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Listen to all of these songs and more on TFword’s official playlist –
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