World Music Day: How indie musicians are changing the soundscape
Vasundara Vee
Swipe, tap and repeat is the new addiction. The highs of having access to unlimited information/entertainment feeds, yet being ignorant of the lows of living in a digital haze and FOMOs, defines a life driven by technology. Jazz and soul singer Vasundhara Vee's new single, 'Junk the blame', addresses this. Earlier, this year, Vasundhara made headlines for singing at famed fashion designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee's 25th anniversary celebrations. The Mumbai-based singer is known as one of the powerhouse vocalists, who is credited with bringing time-tested genres such as RnB, Soul and Jazz to playlists of today's youth. 'A singer always has a message, which is channelled through his/her personality,' says Vasundhara. As a child, Vasundhara was quiet and soft-spoken. 'I found my calling in soul, jazz and blues. Music transformed me. It pushed me to communicate through words and sounds,' she adds.
Abhishek Hazarika
Noida-based singer, songwriter, rhythm guitarist, composer and independent musician, Abhishek Hazarika, is trained in Hindustani classical (vocal), acoustic and electric guitar. His debut album, Brightendash, comprising 10 tracks, consists of a grunge-rock sound, rooted in classic and alternative rock sensibilities. Abhishek is inspired by bands such as Soundgarden, Screaming Trees, Pearl Jam, The Smashing Pumpkins, Nirvana, The Melvins, Oasis, Green Day, The Beatles, The Who, Grand Funk Railroad, Jimi Hendrix, Cream and REM. Grunge rock, a subgenre of the 90's hard rock, originated in Seattle, the U.S. 'Grunge Rock gives me the freedom to explore multiple styles of rock music. And that's how I came up with the songs in my album.
Sarthak Sardana
Sarthak Sardana, popular as Sartek, is a DJ and electronic dance-music producer. He has had releases with major global labels and even found support in legends like David Guetta, Tiësto and Hardwell. Over time, he felt the urge to add something local to his repertoire of sound. 'I wanted to blend folk and Bollywood with house-techno and Afro. So he came up with productions that fused Indian folk tunes with electronic beats. Today, it resonates on dancefloors around the world. 'It is all about creating a sound rooted in culture, but built for the future,' says Sartek.
Neel Adhikari, Pushan Kripalani, Arijit Datta
Singer-songwriters Neel Adhikari, Pushan Kripalani and Arijit Datta recently collaborated with Tiger Baby Records (Zoya Akhtar, Reema Kagti and Ankur Tewari) for their latest album City Sessions.
Pushan is a filmmaker and theatre director-turned songwriter, synonymous with his collective Slight Diversion. The trio's debut EP, 'Borrowed Guitars', earned them critical acclaim with the track 'Man, boy and liar' topping the charts. When Pushan wrote his first song, he was inspired by a woman singing in Central Park, New York. 'She sang with just an acoustic guitar in front of a small crowd. The songs were her own, yet appealed to people because of the simplicity of its rendition,' he recalls.
Singer-songwriter Arijit Datta is the frontman of the Hindi-Indie band, Airport, which is known for its bluesy, evocative sound. 'The sound of Airport feels like home. It holds the weight of everything I have lived through — silence, chaos and search. This genre gives me the freedom to be myself, to communicate what I cannot articulate verbally. Making music is my way of staying connected to my original self,' he shares.
Neel Adhikari is the artiste behind the opening track of Netflix's Little Things and Modern Love: Mumbai. Neel sees his music spread over two areas — background score and song. He dislikes categorisation of music and finds it hard to imagine himself stuck to one genre. He adds that he is drawn to certain textures and sounds. 'If it comes from an instrument that has wood and strings, it usually sounds good to me. My songs have a lot of acoustic guitars, ukuleles, banjos and now mandolins too,' he shares. Neel also loves analogue synths and percussions from interesting sounding non-instruments. His lyrics are essentially a play at depth using simple language. Quite often, one finds deep or dark words over a chirpy tune in his songs. 'I love the existence of contrasting elements in a composition and the sound of melancholy. Being a journeyman, I enjoy the process but am also goal-oriented and I break my back trying to achieve a sound I have imagined,' he states.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
22 minutes ago
- NDTV
Why This Kolhapuri Di? The Story Of Prada's Chappal Chori
Amidst the ongoing Prada Kolhapuri row, the Italian luxury brand recently faced legal action for selling its Indian-inspired flat leather sandals for Rs 1.2 lakh a pair. They now face demands to "pay back Indians". NDTV speaks to industry expert and Kolhapuri footwear brand owner, Aparajita Toor, to trace the journey of Kolhapuris through the years. This summer's hottest sandals, after all, are the Kolhapuris. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Prada (@prada) The History Of Kolhapuri Chappals Kolhapuri chappals go back to the 12th century Kolhapur in Maharashtra, where artisans painstakingly craft these open sandals out of leather. Both King Bijjala and his prime minister, Basavanna, have been credited with encouraging the production of these footwear pieces to support local artisans. In their nascent years, Kolhapuri chappals were known by a couple of different names, generally based on their village of origin, such as Kapashi, Paytaan, Kachkadi, Bakkalnali and Pukri. By the 18th century, Kolhapuri chappals had become popular, and became known by their present name. Today, Kolhapuris are world-famous for their unique design and intricate handwork, which involves vegetable-tanned leather, braiding techniques, unique designs, and exceptional craftsmanship. It's precisely these qualities that have led to Kolhapuris being included in the footwear lineup of global luxury brands such as Prada, YSL, and more. What's more, in 2019, the Kolhapuri chappal was granted a Geographical Indication (GI) tag, officially recognising its origin and unique characteristics. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Prada (@prada) Is The Kolhapuri A 'Trend'? NDTV spoke to Aparajita Toor, who runs a Kolhapuri footwear label favoured by Bollywood celebrities, named after herself. It was Aparajita Toor's undying love for Kolhapuris that made her realise the inherent need for comfortable, expressive, and wearable footwear for women, leading to the inception of the Aprajita Toor brand, a label symbolic of India's rich cultural heritage. Aparajita tells NDTV about where, when and how the Kolhapuri 'trend' began, according to her. "To call it a 'trend' almost feels limiting. The Kolhapuri isn't a passing style; it's a 12th-century heirloom craft, rooted in tradition, history, and generational skill. If anything, it was never out of fashion; it was simply waiting to be re-seen, re-styled, and re-celebrated," Toor tells NDTV. Aparajita says that the Kolhapuri silhouette is timeless, and that she knew it could walk further. "The craft has always been here, quietly holding its ground through generations. What's changed is the lens. The recent spotlight isn't because the silhouette is new; it's because the narrative around it is finally shifting. People are beginning to ask the right questions: Why hasn't this heritage craft been given the credit it so deeply deserves? It's not a trend revival. It's a long-overdue recognition of legacy," says Toor. Pride, Patience, And Wisdom View this post on Instagram A post shared by APRAJITA TOOR OFFICIAL (@aprajitatoorofficial) For every artisan who crafts a Kolhapuri chappal, it comes with patience, pride, and wisdom. "For the artisans, every Kolhapuri is the fruit of labor, not just of hands, but of heart. It's crafted with deep patience, quiet pride, and generational wisdom. While the design may appear simple, it demands an extraordinary eye for detail and a steady hand trained in caution. Every stitch, every cut, every curve is intentional," says Aparajita Toor. She adds, "It's not just footwear. It's legacy, shaped by those who've spent a lifetime perfecting what others may overlook. The Kolhapuri isn't just a sandal; it's a living legacy. A symbol of heritage, skill, and storytelling, passed down through generations of master artisans." The Kolhapuri's moment on the global stage is a reflection of rich artistic lineage, says Toor. "Its silhouette speaks of timeless design, while its making reflects the kind of craftsmanship that the world is only now beginning to truly value." But the lack of credit is hurtful, of course. "It's always exciting to see Indian crafts make it to international mood boards, but what's disheartening is when they're showcased without context. Borrowing art forms is part of global fashion's evolution, but not acknowledging their roots is where it becomes problematic. We've seen this pattern before, where rich, centuries-old crafts are reimagined by luxury houses without so much as a mention of their origin, legacy, or the hands that shaped them," says Aparajita. "Kolhapuris carry the weight of heritage, of artisan communities, of regional identity. Showcasing them without the right narrative does a disservice to the very essence of what makes them iconic," adds the designer. "We've seen this before, moments where Indian art and craft are borrowed, styled into seasonal collections, and then left behind until the next revival. But what's hopeful now is a growing consciousness, a shift from consumption to conversation, from appropriation to appreciation. Where is it headed? Hopefully, towards deeper storytelling, sustained recognition, and a place in fashion that isn't just seasonal, but sacred," Toor signs off. View this post on Instagram A post shared by APRAJITA TOOR OFFICIAL (@aprajitatoorofficial) Prada Dragged To Court Over Kolhapuri Row The Kolhapuri chappal row has now escalated to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in the Bombay High Court, demanding that Prada pay monetary compensation to the footwear's artisans for allegedly copying their design. The petitioner, Ganesh Hingmire, an intellectual property advocate, notes that while Prada has accepted that its collection is inspired by Indians, this acknowledgment surfaced only after widespread backlash. The petition reads, "The Kolhapuri chappal is the cultural symbol of Maharashtra and has special public sentiments attached to it. The brand has privately accepted that its collection is 'inspired by Indian artisans'; however, this acknowledgment surfaced only after facing widespread backlash on various social media platforms. This acknowledgment was given to a private entity and not to the applicant, makers of Kolhapuri chappal, Geographical Indication (GI) Registry, government, or the public at large." Ganesh Hingmire adds, "The brand has not yet issued any formal apology along with damages, compensation, and an entitled remedy, and the statement appears to be merely a superficial attempt to deflect criticism." While high-fashion brands appropriating Indian crafts and designs is nothing new, the hope is that Prada pays back. For the pride and patience that Kolhapuris are created with.
Hans India
22 minutes ago
- Hans India
Hyderabad: PVR INOX Opens New 4-Screen Cinema at SMR Vinay Mall
PVR INOX, India's biggest movie theatre company, has opened a new cinema in SMR Vinay Mall, located in Ambedkar Nagar, Hafeezpet, Hyderabad. This new cinema has 4 screens and a total of 849 seats, which includes 49 soft, comfortable recliner seats. It is built by PVR itself and shows the company's plan to bring good-quality theatres to fast-growing places in India. The mall is about 40 km from Hyderabad Airport. It is a popular area where more people are coming to live and shop, so this cinema will be a good place for entertainment. Each screen in the cinema has its own colour theme and design. The lobby area (foyer) is also beautifully made, with blue-green (teal) colours, bronze decorations, and pictures of famous Indian movie stars. It looks stylish and is a great spot for photos too. The cinema gives a high-quality movie experience with: 4K video for sharp and clear picture Dolby ATMOS sound for rich, surround sound 3D technology for lifelike images Big, bright screens for better viewing There are also many food stalls and snack counters where you can buy popcorn, drinks, and other tasty food. This new cinema is a great place for people in Hyderabad to enjoy movies in comfort and style.
Mint
31 minutes ago
- Mint
India's most expensive film made at ₹835 cr, VFX & music by Oscar winners; not Kalki 2898 AD, Brahmastra, Adipurush
The budgets of Indian films are steadily rising, now rivalling those of major Hollywood productions. In fact, it's become quite common for Indian movies to cross the ₹ 100 crore mark. Taking this trend to new heights, one film has emerged as the most expensive ever made in Indian cinema, with a whopping budget of ₹ 835 crore, surpassing even big-ticket films like Kalki 2898 AD, Brahmastra, and Adipurush. The most expensive film in India is Nitesh Tiwari's magnum opus Ramayana Part 1. Ramayana is a two-part epic mythological film. It stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana and Ravi Dubey as Lakshman. Sunny Deol will be seen as Hanuman. Lara Dutta, Kajal Aggarwal, Rakul Preet Singh, Vivek Oberoi, Arun Govil are also a part of the film's ensemble cast. Kunal Kapoor, Arun Govil, Sheeba Chadha, and Indira Krishnan are also a part of the film. According to a report by Bollywood Hungama last year, Ramayana is being built on a budget of $100 million (around ₹ 835 crore). The film is still under production. With its over ₹ 800 crore budget, it has outpaced the production costs of big-budget films, including Kalki 2898 AD ( ₹ 600 crore), RRR and Adipurush ( ₹ 550 crore each). Brahmastra Part One which previously held the record as Bollywood's most expensive film at ₹ 375 crore, stands nowhere close to Ramayana's budget. Ramayana Part 1 is backed by Namit Malhotra, owner of the global media giant Prime Focus. He is also the CEO of DNEG, the acclaimed British-Indian VFX powerhouse known for its cutting-edge visual effects, which has of eight Academy Awards for Best Visual Effects. Ramayana's VFX work is helmed by DNEG. Besides this, Ramayana also marks the first collaboration between AR Rahman and Hans Zimmer. Hans, the two-time Oscar award winner for Best Original Score, is best known for films like The Lion King (1994), Dune (2021) and Christopher Nolan's Interstellar (2014). On Thursday, the first look of Ramayana was unveiled by the makers.
