The Perfect Blend: When Chai Met Toast and the Art of Happy, Infectious Music
Kochi-based multilingual pop-folk band When Chai Met Toast discusses their first Hindi track, upcoming album and connecting with fans amid the pandemic - by Barkha Kumari
A Voice that Crossed Over; A Voice of a Generation
S.P. Balasubrahmanyam’s iconic voice and plethora of soundtracks marked the multilingual singer as one of the most essential artists of his time. Jamie Alter recalls the impact of the crossover artist in the Hindi film industry.
When The Music Stops
While India’s musicians take the show online, the unsung heroes of live shows—technicians, backstage coordinators, tentwallahs and more struggle to make their ends meet since the lockdown. Some in the events industry have united to give back. - by Barkha Kumari
Music from the Hills: Abdon Mech dreams of better days in “Again”
Nagaland-based singer-songwriter Abdon Mech discusses his lockdown-inspired single “Again”, his song writing process, future plans, and more.- by Ady Manral
Music as Still Life: Sameer Rahat’s poetic solo debut Aamad
Urdu singer-songwriter Sameer Rahat’s debut solo album AAMAD is quiet as the eye of a hurricane, rich in poetic depth and deeply-personal energy. A track-by-track review by The Blue Magpie
The World is Ours—Divine leads the rise of Desi Rap, with an assist from Nas
The unlikely fandom of American rap legend Nas in India; and the surprising connection between Nas, Divine, and the rise of India’s real hip hop culture. - an essay by Karan Madhok.
Lyrical Cacophony: Sexuality and Objectification in Bollywood’s ‘Item Numbers’
While the discourse around the ‘item songs’ in Bollywood films usually revolves around the sexually explicit videos, Ankur Choudhary argues that the bigger issue to be tackled is the lyrical content that leans towards the objectification of women.
Livin’ With Metal: A peep into the Indian metal scene
To provide a glimpse of India’s metal scene, Nidhi Lodaya interviewed some of the country’s top bands, shared personal experiences, and expressed hope for a genre beyond its traditional stereotypes and misconceptions.
Nowhere But Here
Personal essay: Anant Mital, drummer of new Delhi-based Nowhere Station, shares the story of the band’s origins and ambitions on the eve of their debut release.
The homegrown blues of Lal And the People—An interview with frontman Rohit Lalwani
From Bhopal to international acclaim, here is the story of how Lal and the People became one of the exciting new voices in Indian jazz and blues - by Nidhi Lodaya.
Music from the Hills: Bipul Chettri’s latest release, ‘Neela Akash’
The theme of loneliness and isolation—which so many of us could be feeling in this time—is particularly pertinent in this lush new Himalayan folk track - writes Ady Manral
Music and the Virus: How the COVID-19 outbreak has disrupted the Indian Indie Scene.
No gigs, no jobs, and no income. Music photographer Nidhi Lodaya checks in with several of India’s indie artists and supporting professionals about the industry fighting for survival in the time of corona.