In this music round-up, we look back at some incredible music releases of April 2024, which include a song whipped together after a high school examination, music producer Karan Kanchan’s return to production with RANJ x CLIFR, a rehashed version of an age-old Punjabi folk tune and more!
gini – ‘Ansuna’
Eighteen-year-old singer/songwriter gini marks her maiden release with Molfa Music with the poignant new dreamy indie pop tune ‘Ansuna.’ gini etched her new single after the conclusion of her high school exams, a crossroads moment in her life. The music is seamed together with light string arrangements, faint key elements, and gini’s delicate vocals.
“‘Ansuna’ means unheard. To me, it means that my voice and what I sing is yet to be heard. I have many stories to tell and lyrics to share, and the world has yet to hear them,” gini said in a statement. The music video for ‘Ansuna’ was directed by Supreet Kaur and has amassed nearly 180,000 views as of the time of writing.
Shreya Sharma – ‘Teri Meri Raatein’
Indie singer-songwriter Shreya Sharma offers up ‘Teri Meri Raatein,’ a Hindi-worded song about longing after both sides concerned have exchanged remarks they are not proud of. Described as “a heartfelt journey of reconciliation after rough times,” the music is packed with passionate lyrics, velvety vocals, and a somber melody.
Written and composed entirely by Shreya Sharma, it is also her collaborative effort with music producer Dronark and also boasts backing vocals from vocalist Shannon Donald.
Vatsal Ft. Harshh – ‘In Your Love’
New Delhi/Dehradun-based singer-songwriter and music producer Vatsal follows up his previous rock ballad, ‘You Don’t Belong To Me,’ with ‘In Your Love,’ reeling in music producer Harsh Agarwal (who goes by Harshh) on mixing and mastering duties. Vatsal uses love as the backdrop of his new music, divulging how this emotion can be used as a tool to exploit, create deceit, and also manipulate people.
‘In Your Love’ is a sleek indie/pop-rock melody enveloped with passionate lyrics, dancy percussive patterns, and hooky electric guitar notes. Vatsal spoke with us about the release, noting, “I realized that the song was missing something, that’s when I called Harshh and asked if he would like to join me on this one; thankfully, he said yes, and then he removed some of the elements from the song and added some from his end.”
“When it comes to working with Harshh, he is really easy to work with and you get an amazing resume!” says Vatsal, who also broke down the music for us. “The initial beat came from AI. It was just a four bar loop, then I wrote the chorus on it and after that, I decided I wanted to finish this song, then I produced it from my end and finished it.”
MEHR – ‘i wished i was lizzy’
New Delhi-based singer/songwriter MEHR continues to regularly revamp her catalog of music releases, this time composing ‘i wished i was lizzy,’ a song dedicated to all artists. The melody is molded with dark echoing and rhythmic ticking audio, delivering a poignant yet spirited indie pop single.
“It is an introspective track that delves into the complexities of past relationships and the struggle of comparison. It explores the vulnerability of yearning for acceptance and validation while navigating the reality of unrequited love,” said MEHR about the song.
RANJ X CLIFR and Karan Kanchan – ‘S.O.T.I.’
After releasing their ferocious EP ‘Antihero’ last year, Bengaluru-based musicians Ranjani Ramadoss aka RANJ, and Chlipher Christopher under CLIFR are tearing up the music space once again, this time with Mumbai’s hotshot record producer Karan Kanchan.
The singer-producer multi-genre pair unravel ‘Strangers On The Internet’ via Azadi Records, a funky dance/pop track that sees RANJ spew out assertive vocals as well as hip-hop bars. Uncluttered key segments, assertive bass tugs, and groovy dance beats shroud the nearly three-minute single.
Banat – ‘Daachi Waaleya’
Singer-songwriter Banat presents her rendition of the age-old Punjabi folk song ‘Daachi Waaleya,’ a melodious piece about longing and yearning. ‘Daachi’ is an old Punjabi term for a female camel, and the folk song is told from the lens of the wife, who waits on her camel-riding traveler husband. Via this ballad, she calls out to her husband to take her along on his travels or to return home.
Produced by KJ Singh, Banat’s ‘Daachi Waaleya’ features lush vocals and elegant string segments from violinist Tamara Kazziha and rabab player Liam Oliver (The Norwesters).
Gaurav Jagwani – ‘I Just Want You To Love Me’
Indie scene stalwart Gaurav Jagwani continues to build momentum toward his upcoming album release by dropping ‘I Just Want You To Love Me,’ the second single from the record. This time the singer-songwriter has wheeled in Amritsar-based musician Avreen on vocal duties, with Lima Yanger co-chairing production duties.
Penned in 2021 and inspired by country music, Gaurav stamps ‘I Just Want You To Love Me’ with pensive sonics and wistful acoustic guitar. Avreen’s emotive vocals shroud the music and spiritedly capture each lyric.
“I initially envisioned it to be a simple acoustic guitar track but brilliant things happen in the studio when working with multiple minds,” shares Jagwani. “I changed it up, made it a little darker for dynamics, and used the common vein from the first single, ‘Away’, as the base for making this song. It’s a straight-up ballad and one of the simplest lyric writing on the album.”
Shaad – ‘Malal’
After a streak of single releases, Dublin-based Indian musician Ahmad Shaad Safwi, best known as Shaad, provides a preview of his forthcoming album with ‘Malal.’ The track is wrapped in themes of love, treachery, and the fallout of a broken relationship.
Lyrically, ‘Malal‘ alludes to the time spent together before a heartbreak, highlighting promises made and memories shared. The music is weaved with a benign melody, soothing vocals, and subtle yet exquisite key and acoustic guitar segments.
Dev Mehta – ‘Am I Wrong To Be Human?’
Post his sophomore outing ‘In My Mind’ (released in November 2023), Dev Mehta delves into the complexities of how human beings are the most evolved species yet struggle from wars, conflicts, and other man-made disputes on his new rock single ‘Am I Wrong To Be Human?’
Guided by musician Keshav Dhar on production, the music zips through with earnest lyrics, strummy guitar notes, and a somber guitar riff at its end. Mehta submits, “It is an inquiry into human nature and a commentary on the sad predicament of war and greed that humans find themselves in today.”
You May Also Like:
New Music Releases by Indian Artists in March 2024
pruthvi’s Apprehensions of the Twenties Sparks New Single
Trance Effect Address the Intricacies of Love and Loss on ‘Overrated’
