Music

 Tech Panda and Kenzani | Photo Credit: Special arrangement Nothing compares to the pitter-patter of rain, accompanied by the repetitious croaking of frogs and Nature’s own symphony of monsoon. But if you are a music aficionado looking for an excuse to drown your senses in raaga Malhar, then the rain could possibly be your trusty sidekick. What? You don’t like Indian classical music? Jazz, then? Perhaps, something mainstream — a Bollywood banger from the ‘90s with pelvic thrusts by women draped in drenched chiffon saris? In a country where advice and judgement comes cheap, song recommendations can only be perceived…

For singer-songwriter and rapper King, his latest EP Shayad Koi Na Sune is all about the thoughts that one quietly sits with. “There are things that you talk to yourself about, and sometimes you don’t express them this way, but they are on your mind,” he says, of the three songs, ‘Yeh Zindagi Hai’, ‘Sab Be Asar’ and ‘Speaking Softly’, that were released through the last week of July . Born Arpan Kumar Chandel, King rose to prominence with the 2020 hindi song ‘Tu Aake Dekhle’, and the smash-hit ‘Maan Meri Jaan’ which was among the most streamed songs across platforms…

When Stalvart John founded Dynamite Disco Club (DDC) in Bengaluru, it was not just about throwing parties: it was to build a home for house, disco, and all the grooves in between. Now, with the release of Dynamite Cuts Vol. 1, the label celebrates its 50th release, not just as a milestone, but as a statement of intent, one that reflects its evolving sound, commitment to the dance floor, and belief in nurturing talent from the ground up.“We started with edits and Nu Disco,” says Stalvart at Ajji House By Subko in Shanti Nagar, Bengaluru, where we decide to meet.…

Musician Alex Immatty from the music video of ‘Karuppaanu njangal’. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT Rock musician Alex J Immatty takes his music very seriously. It is more than entertainment or a hobby; he uses it as a tool for a change or at least to create awareness about the need for change. The Thrissur-based musician’s latest song, ‘Karuppaanu njangal’ (meaning we are black), recently released on YouTube, questions colourism, the bias against dark skin, and metaphorically asks why black is problematic.“That is the beauty of democracy — you can protest. And I am exercising that right through my songs,”…

Kenzani (left) and Tech Panda | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Somewhere between the chaos of tempo rubato in electronic music and the symmetry of classical compositions, there is an undefined sonic space where infinite creative possibilities are waiting to be explored. In an attempt to engage with that space, electronic duo Tech Panda x Kenzani will, for the first time, perform with Hindustani classical musicians and kathak dancers at Royal Opera House in Mumbai, on July 19. The force behind this dialogue between the distinct spectrum of arts is Ibtida, a platform started in 2019 to revive the old-world nostalgia…

Multidisciplinary artist and filmmaker Vimal Chandran’s perpetual muse is the picturesque Pattambi town in Palakkad. He describes poorams (temple festivals) as cultural comic cons filled with colourful elements that stoke his curiosity to this day. His mildly cold, sepia-tinted frames set in the rural setting feature what he calls a retro-futuristic spaceship, unblemished by any Hollywood influence. His sightings of poothams (a ritualistic dance) and other ritualistic figures bleed onto his interpretations of the extra-terrestrials, as recently witnessed in the music video Vimal directed of Sushin Shyam’s ‘Ray’. It is Sushin’s first independent solo and has garnered over one million…

What does it take to put together a boy band in India? Following a nation-wide talent hunt that stretched across months, thousands of auditions and an extensive bootcamp, international record producer and songwriter Savan Kotecha, who has worked with a range of artistes, including Ariana Grande, The Weeknd, One Direction and more recently, on Ed Sheeran’s smash hit ‘Sapphire’, might have just cracked the code. Savan’s imprint label Visva Records India, in partnership with Republic Records and Universal Music India, is launching India’s newest boy band, OutStation, comprising Bhuvan Shetty, 22, from Udupi; Hemang Singh, 20, from Prayagraj; Mashaal Shaikh, 21,…