From pop-rock to razor-sharp rap bars and heavy metal claws, music to keep memories alive and recognize achievements along the way here is your November 2024 music release recap!
Gunda, Encore ABJ – ‘Ruswai’
Producer/rapper Tanmay Saxena, best known as Gunda, lays out an account of heartbreak and treachery in his collaborative outing ‘Ruswai,’ denoting something disgraceful. Leaping in on this bass-riddled track, twisted with elements of pop, bossa nova, and R&B, is Seedhe Maut’s Encore ABJ (Abhijay Negi) barrelling down snappy rap bars over a playful pop melody.
Razzled with this spy/espionage comedy-esque score, the single is worded in Hindi as well as Urdu. Released via Azadi Records, Encore ABJ’s steamy lyricism taps into deceit in love and the complexity of life, while Gunda explores the anguish of being left behind by a partner who exited without regret.
Find Gunda on: Instagram | Spotify
Ramil Ganjoo – ‘Sandook’
Mumbai-based singer-songwriter Ramil Ganjoo follows up his ode to those fleeting moments of serenity in Mumbai city with ‘Sandook,’ a nostalgic single composed as a tribute to his now dismantled childhood home.
Titled after the Hindi word for ‘chest’ or ‘trunk,’ Ramil recalls fond memories within those walls, folded with picky string work on the guitar and light percussion. ‘Sandook’ is enriched by Avanti Singh’s soothing vocal arrangements and is masterfully visualized by illustrator Gaurang Oza, who portrays the story of a home created from hand shadows, narrated to an audience of a single cat.
“I lived in that house for almost 18 years, and after it was demolished, I realized how much it meant to me,” Ramil shared via press release. “The name Sandook felt right because that place was a treasure trove of memories.”
Find Ramil Ganjoo on: Instagram | Spotify
Koktun – ‘Hamjakma Phu Omo’
Tripura’s vibrant fivesome Koktun, who serve up a palatable mix of country and jazz music, dropped their sophomore single ‘Hamjakma Phu Omo’ performed in Kokborok (Tripura’s native language). In English, the song’s title translates to ‘This Is Love’ – delving into themes of loyalty, emotional sacrifice, and unpredictable dynamics of romantic bonds. The music sprawls out a breezy folk melody, stitched together with Koktun’s staple string instruments (acoustic guitar, ukulele), airy drums, and glossy key folds.
Vocalist for the band Amir Jamatia tells us via an email exchange, “Kokborok song that explores the emotional complexities of relationships with a blend of sincerity. It portrays the struggles of loving someone whose charm lies in their contrasting nature—a sweet, endearing voice that can heal any anger, paired with a stubbornness that tests patience.”
More music is on the horizon, as Koktun will release their debut album, ‘Kerang Kothoma,’ in January 2025.
Find Koktun on: Instagram | Spotify
KIMKID – ‘Fuzzy World’
Songwriter/producer Arjun Mukherjee, under the alias KIMKID, unleashes his rocky-heavy side, tapping into feeling emotionally disconnected, frustrated, and crippled by acclimatizing to a norm on his new single ‘Fuzzy World.’ Together with regular fixture producer DeepC and guitarist Headu, ‘Fuzzy World’ straps on jerking basslines and striking cymbals to shape an energetic indie punk-rock offering.
As per the artist, “The song reflects a punk’s angst with the straitjacketed life that is bestowed upon our conditioning.”
Find KIMKID on: Instagram | Spotify
Five YearsFromNow – ‘Kya Hua’
Hyderabad-based trio Five YearsFromNow (Kai Gurung, Sumanth Krishna Battu, and Shan Paul) tail their outstanding future bass-stricken tune ‘Lost In You,’ with a contemplative probe of “realization and connection” on their new single ‘Kya Hua.’
The music soothes listeners toward a journey of self-awareness and discovery, strapped with melodic dance music outpours, bleak guitar chords, low-pitched vocal segments, and nifty EDM production.
The band stated, “For us, this track is a reminder of the beauty in pause and the journey from ignorance to awareness. It’s our way of sharing that realization with others.”
Find Five YearsFromNow on: Instagram | Spotify
papabear – ‘Love, me’
Singer-songwriter Samarth Bahl, who performs under the alias papabear, churned out his latest single ‘Love, me,’ touted as “a super personal, reflective song,” and serves as a love letter to his younger self. Sonically, papabear taps into a folkish wavy theme, assembled with sleek fret movement on the guitar, delicate percussive patterns, and periodic somber horn elements.
Initially developed five years ago in 2019, the artwork also has a node to the number five, taken from a photograph of a young Samarth cutting up his Batman-themed cake during his fifth birthday celebration. ‘Love, me’ also points to a line of impending music projects from papabear, working his way toward his EP release next year. Samarth first alluded to this EP with us back in 2022, when we conversed about Azadi Records and Nrtya’s ‘City Takeover’ in Mumbai.
Find papabear on: Instagram | Spotify
Bodhi and the Omega Force – ‘Destroyer’
Kolkata-based guitarist-producer Bodhisattwa Ghosh’s new rock outfit Bodhi and the Omega Force, consisting of musicians Subhagata ‘Rivu’ Singha, Mainak ‘Bumpy’ Nag Chowdhury and Gaurab ‘Gaboo’ Chatterjee, pluck inspiration from philosophy and mythology for their debut single ‘Destroyer.’ Encased in progressive rock, hard-rock, and metal motifs and also swirled in Indian classical music, this instrumental composition pays homage to the deity Shiva, the God of Destruction.
Channeling the mastery of Steve Vai, Eddie Van Halen, and Jimi Hendrix, the foursome holds nothing back, delivering lethal electric guitar riffs, crashing drums, sturdy bass yanks, and vicious guitar solos. Its music video, shot at 5 Strings Studio, was directed by Shan Bhattacharya and also patches in AI visuals courtesy of Runaway AI showing scenes of war, devastation, the homeless, and the elite.
Bodhisattwa shared in a press statement, “This composition is a prayer to the concept of a divine entity who comes down to Earth and destroys the decadent civilization and all the evil that we have become and restarts the cycle of life, ushering in a new age of creation and prosperity.”
“We can experience from the current events across the world that society and civilization as a whole has become totally corrupt, evil and decadent, and it is time for our civilization to be destroyed, the evil wiped out entirely, paving the way for the dawn of a new golden age.”
Find Bodhi and the Omega Force on: Instagram | Spotify
Vatsal – ‘Sukoon’
Spooned with upbeat guitars and percussions, comes a feel-good ballad courtesy of New Delhi/Dehradun-based singer-songwriter and music producer Vatsal. A jovial shift from his previous exploits ‘In Your Love,’ Vatsal carves out Sukoon as “an introspective reflection of self-discovery.”
A one-man show that sees Vatsal Verma fill mixing, mastering, and production roles, the track also sees peaceful hooting or whistling stitched in purposefully, which brings a rejuvenating sensation to the fold.
Performed in Hindi, Vatsal notes that ‘Sukoon’ is “crafted for those battling life’s daily challenges.”
Find Vatsal on: Instagram | Spotify
rinaldo – ‘won’t forget you’
Goa-based musician rinaldo keeps cherished moments with a departed loved one alive on his new melancholy acoustic composition titled ‘won’t forget you.’ Pulsing with poignant lyrics, the singer-songwriter penned a heartfelt song that preserves the happy memories of his close friend, who tragically passed away earlier this year.
Anchored by flowing vocals and picked acoustic guitar, the music tidily winches in gloomy string speckles, bleak key stabs, and soothing horn patches. Via email, rinaldo suggests this single “offers a glimpse into my journey of coming to terms with the loss while celebrating the unforgettable bond we shared.”
Find rinaldo on: Instagram | Spotify
Tejas – ‘Small Victories’
Singer-songwriter Tejas marked ten years since the release of his debut EP ‘Small Victories,’ re-releasing his career’s pivotal project as an album equipped with three new singles. Unlike its 2014 counterpart, this record harbors the title track and also features the first song he ever wrote, ‘See You Tonight,’ and new addition ‘Stationary.’
‘Small Victories’ sits comfortably in Tejas’ pop-rock repertoire fastened with a snazzy electric guitar solo courtesy of Warren Mendonsa aka Blackstratblues (who also contributed to the EP in 2014), while on ‘Stationary,’ the artist drives home a snappy acoustic presentation. ‘See You Tonight’ rounds out the album, piping a dreamy indie tune, gradually rising in tempo with beating drums and picky guitar chords held together by Tejas’ crisp vocals.
“A decade is a long time in today’s world as an independent artist which is why I decided to honor my first release by remastering it and re-issuing it for fans and friends alike,” expressed Tejas about his reason to re-release his debut EP. “You have a love for your first release because it started it all, you’ve wrestled with it because of the cringe element of looking back on your younger self and all the mistakes and bold statements you made at the time, not really knowing what’s going to happen next.”
You can catch a deep dive of all that went into the EP ‘The Making of Small Victories,’ a nearly hour-and-half-long podcast featuring Tejas, drummer Jehangir Jehangir, bassist Adil Kurwa, along with then manager Krish Makhija, and keyboardist/music composer Aalok Padhye.
Find Tejas on: Instagram | Spotify
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