Indie, or to be descriptive independent. When we talk about indie in music, it means music that is made by people independently from the major record and any conventional trends or norms (yes, I know it’s better than old songs remix factory).
Indie music is highly experimental, artists try out things like new or different sounds. The styles can range from rock music to house music to pop music.
Every now and then, there comes a revolution in the music scene of the decade. In India, however, things operate a little differently. Our country’s music scene has majorly been monopolized by Bollywood but at the same time, we can’t deny that it once housed a lot of pop and rock culture in the 60s to 90s, with their single album which we all have grown up dancing to.
A country like India has not only been open toward the drastically changing music scene globally but also has accepted it with an open heart. This has pushed its indie scene forward in turn.
Read More – 10 Artists who raised their voice through Protest Songs
“We also have Indian musicians living abroad that are influencing the genre very heavily like Norah Jones, Tjinder Singh, Sameer Battacharya of Flyleaf, Siddharta Khosla of Goldspot, Ramesh Srivastava of Voxtrot, Mallika Sundharamurty of Abnormality and Parasitic Extirpation are few others that you could look into if you’d like to get a better sense of the picture.
Artists like Nucleya, Emiway Bantai, Gajendra Verma, Darshan Raval, Divine, Shirley Setia, Arjun Kanungo, Nikhil D’Souza, Vivek Verma, Badshah, Amit Trivedi, Shravan J Nair, Shubham Sarita, Papon, Benny Dayal, Jonita Gandhi, and Sanam Puri have drastically revolutionized the music taste with their finest soundtracks.
Youtube has given them a platform to make them heard without the assistance of any high-profile record label. Producers like Aditya Dev, Aditya Pushkarna, and Aakash Ravikrishnan should also be given the credit to have changed the indie music industry.
Turns out, the independent music scene in India is rising like the mercury in Indian summers and it actually looks very promising. So if you thought the independent music scene of India was just limited to the Indian Ocean, wait till you go through this list.
So if you are one of those avid fans of music who love discovering new artists, here we bring to you the 20 best Indian Indie songs you should definitely listen to. Whether you are in the mood for some soothing, romantic numbers or heart-thumping sounds, these musical numbers will surely make their space in your Spotify playlist.
Read More – 10 Emerging Music Artists In India 2020 Ft. Ritviz, Lifafa And Many More
1. Tum Jab Paas – Prateek Kuhad
Prateek Kuhad doesn’t need an introduction and neither his songs. A track about unconditional love, defining a relationship between two love birds who are miles apart. They both are hesitant and passionate at the same time but they don’t leave the hope and that curiosity, but when they finally fall for each other but that too not for so long.
So many promises, so many conversations are yet to happen So many days, so many nights yet to spend, All those confused eyes are in unknown cities, all those promises flowing in waves of memories.
The sweet nectar of finding love at a young age, life feeling like sunshine and rainbows. Come to the storms of separation. The angst of not being together, of falling out of love, of never being able to see the other again pervades. Slowly what seemed like an everlasting bond becomes a fading memory.
“Kho jaane ki zidd na karo Khwaaish hai ye dil ki Raaho ko nazar mei rakho”clearly shows how much their inner child yearns for the other but their ‘wiser’ egos forbid the first move.
Read More – Watch How Prateek Kuhad Make His Latest Hit Song ‘Kasoor’
The cinematography proved clearly to never underestimate the power of a single frame. All those small details like red ribbons, kiss me toffee, letter p on the eraser, old rose in a notebook, scribbling on a desk, love me not with flower and so many things which helps to give you old school lovers kind of vibes, This song will surely remind everyone 90′ decade’s love stories.
Prateek is an absolute gem, delivering the most surreal minimalism. This is a must-listen for all lovers out there. One of the Best Indian Indie Songs ever.
2. Aaoge Tum Kabhi – The Local Train
Often called Coldplay of India or the first ‘Local Train’, this band from Delhi is ranked No. 1 Band of India.
In this song This “Tum” is a lot of different things for different people Fits in so many places, They are the Coldplay of INDIA! Or Should I say the first LOCAL TRAIN!
This song talks of the inner poor child who has suffered a lot and now waiting for “Tum” to come and explore the exuberance in the air and make everything so surreal with change and most importantly a new beginning. Guitarist Ramit and paras is always a pleasure to hear, with Sahil juggling his drum sticks, and Raman is always there to amaze all with his acoustic voice that takes us to the pinnacle of vibrations of the soul.
Read More – The 50 Best Indian Love Songs Ever
The band Local Train has performed in ace music festivals like NH7 Weekenders and VH1 Supersonic and OnePlus Music Festival featuring Dua Lipa and Katy Perry, they also perform in a lot of college fests, so all college mates out there cross your fingers to witness them at least once.
Other tracks like Aftaab, Dil Mere, Choo lo are also worth swooning over. One of the Best Indian Indie Songs ever.
3. Bandeh – Indian Ocean
The haunting yet soulful music featured at the end of the movie ”Black Friday” by the Indian Ocean is a chilling reminder of the hollowness of sectarian and communal dissonance.
The lyrics : “Arre ruk ja re bande, arre tham ja re bande . . . arre mandir ye chup hai, arre masjid ye gumsum. . . kise kaafir kahega, kise kaayar kahega, teri kab tak chalegi ho”,tells us to stop the havoc he has created over centuries making religion and caste their shield and slaughtering humanity.
The meaning of the song is quite open and speaks about the attacks on humanity, mainly terrorist attacks… Since 1993, India has seen a lot of such Bomb Blasts, The song is not just for the attacks on India, but for all the attacks that happen worldwide, on Pakistan, on Afghanistan, on Iraq, Srilanka, Beirut, or anywhere…
Read More – 20 Indian Best Songs About Friendship
I bet you probably have not listened to more powerful lyrics on the topic of communal violence than this. It is moving, it is powerful, with the surreal feeling of being in the midst of the horrible slaughter and chaos of riots. Yet it pleads, with all its heart to the perpetrator to stop the deadly ways to attain godliness. Voiced by Rahul Ram, who has easily given his best with all those nerve-chilling beats and chords.
4. Mhaari Re Mangetar – Maati Baani Ft. Alaa Wardi
Maati Baani is best known for giving a funky twist to this traditional folk song from India,! We all have at least once heard this folk song in childhood or at a wedding and went gala all over its beats and lyrics. This is like any other groovy dance number which is a helplessly addictive song and to add on that video from Maati Baani is so creative radiating the funky vibes.
Maati Baani has already created a space for itself in the music genre with its spectacular pieces and with their songs they come planned to reign our hearts through a folk song with international fusion.
Read More – 16 Cardi B Without Makeup Pics Will Shocked You
This catchy tune is surely going to be a part of any Wedding playlist. ‘Mhaari Re Magnetar’ is a Rajasthani folk song with a funky twist brought together with musical influences from different countries. The foot-tapping number features vocals from popular a capella artiste, singer and producer Alaa Wardi from the Middle East alongside percussionist Zaia and music maverick Linsey. One of the Best Indian Indie Songs ever.
5. You Could Use Me As A Weapon- The F16s
‘You Could Use Me As A Weapon’ from the album Triggerpunkte (2015) is surely a treat for everyone’s auditory cortex, Many people tend to call them Arctic Monkey-esqe but it would not be wrong to call them a mish-Smashbox of The Strokes, The Gorillaz and Modest Mouse. Drum interludes when you least expect it, amped-up bass and beautiful production.
Read More – 10 Best Tattoo Artists in India
Both lyrically and musically, the album meanders between reverb-heavy sentimentality and fast-paced assault. This song encapsulates within itself something which is populist, experimental, healing, agitating, straightforward, highly polished, multi-layered ranging from the spectrum of emotions one to another.