If you are a musician submit your new music here.Here are the best songs released in India across languages and genres for the week ending 14th April 2024.1. Yimmy YimmySingers: Tayc & Shreya GhoshalLyricists: Tayc & Rana SotalMusic composers : Rajat Nagpal, Tayc & NyadjikoMusic Producer: NyadjikoLanguage: HindiGenre: Pop FusionMood: DanceIt is a rare feat for a Hindi indie song coming from big names, labels and popularity to be this good. I was stunned by the fusion, the underlying melody, the intertwining of styles and the overall appeal. Rajat Nagpal doesn't surprise me, because I have been always fond of his compositions, so take a sniff of this fusion song with some fragments of pop and Afrobeats. Shreya Ghoshal elevates the melody with her fabulous voice, delivery and enjoyable vibrato. Tayc sings the high-pitched Afrobeats, Pop and Hip-Hop segments when he sings "You gotta figure it out, make your way", the lyrics and singing hit you. The way these are fused with Shreya's lines is seamless and catchy. The song is produced with such finesses and style thanks to Nyadjiko who is also the co-composer along with Rajat and Tayc. The chorus line "Yimmy Yimmy" is a riot and it makes you want to groove. The verse is beautiful as Shreya kills it with her passionate and flawless singing. Tayc and Rana Sotal are the lyricists. As we get to the outro, the vocalists carry on with their free-style aalaps and immersive improvisations. Djnass212 is the mix engineer. @iamrajatnagpal @shreyaghoshal @tayc @rana_sotal @nyadjiko @anshul3000 @nikitajaisinghani @desimusicfactory @virginmusicin @chandiniw2. RehahVocals - Adarsh ChavatProduction - Rohit DhanorkarComposer - Rohit Dhanorkar, Adarsh Chavat and Swapnil SahuLanguage: HindiGenre: RockMood: EnergeticAdarsh Chavat reached out to me by submitting his music on my website, and I go through every submission, to then proceed to give my feedback personally to the artists. Adarsh's song was a cut above the rest and though it was released back in 2023, I felt I had to feature and mention it here in my weeklies. This is world-beating Hard metal music and every element stands out to titillate the music lover. Adarsh is scintillating on vocals, coming up with a pulsating delivery just like the genre demands. The melody is composed by Adarsh, Rohit Dhanorkar and Swapnil Sahu. The song is however produced by Rohit, so kudos to him for the perfect blend of instrumentals through arrangements. Nishit Hegde is electrifying on lead guitars and he varies the song on his shoulder in various instances with his solo. Swapnil Sahu plays the rhythm guitars and the drums are thumping. Listen to the smashing solo on the electric guitar around the 2-minute mark and it will be difficult to not band your head at that moment. The bridge comes about like a breath of fresh air, dropping the tempo and adrenaline. Behold the astonishing outro and the vocals and lead guitars are magnificent here. Adarsh writes the lyrics @adarsh.chavat @nishith.hegde @swapnil.sahu674 @rohitdhanorkarr @dotrfilms @epiphaniesmedia.studio @noelsalvi_films 3. Dhund Lo MujhePerformed by SheherazaadWritten, Composed, Arranged by SheherazaadProduced by Arooj AftabLanguage: HindiGenre: AlternativeMood: ContemplativeThe new EP by Sheherazaad is out and I just made a full EP review of 'Qasr' on IG, giving it a 3.5/5 rating. The artist combines with another phenomenal talent called Arooj Aftab from Pakistan. She is a brilliant Grammy-winning producer and this song is one of the favourites from the EP. The Middle Eastern/Meditteranean texture is brought about thanks to the frantic violin solo by Basma Edrees right in the intro. After that, it is an energetic combination of the strings section with Runar Blesvik. Sheherazaad is hauntingly good with her vocals, singing the lines written by her and she also has composed the underlying melody and arranged all the instrumentals. The way she sings "almaari mein chaand", I can feel my hair rising on my arms, as only an extremely capable singer can achieve this. The verse is like a battle of wits between the vocalist and the violinist and music alone is the victor. Basma's solo violin in the outro is nothing short of epic. Arooj Aftab makes this one memorable and engrossing track thanks to her production and sound design. We have Runar on the varied percussion and he also is the recording engineer along with J Vallaeu. The mixing is by J Vallaeu with Heba Kadry as the mastering engineer. @sheherazaadofficial @zay.ira @aroojaftab @runarblesvik 4. ObliviatePerformed by Turnback CaveWritten by Argha Sen, Arsh Das, Diptopaul Chatterjee, Pradyut NahaLanguage: EnglishGenre: RockMood: EnergeticA rock band from Kolkatta, well that sometimes says it all, doesn't it? Here comes Turnback Cave with their single called "Obliviate" and yes when you listen to this engaging rock number, you might just tend to put other things around you into oblivion. The electric guitar riff along with the Keys form the background, but the ears focus on the fantastic vocals of frontman Arsh Das. The lead guitarist is Diptopaul Chatterjee with bassist Pradyut Naha. I am all sold when I hear Arsh sing, and the song is written by the Diptopaul, Pradyut, Arsh and Argha. I further got a boost of energy when I heard him sing " And we'll be broken, to lie down together at last" with a shift in the Octaves for the second part of the line. The drums and electric guitars rage on and you are deep into the blended magnificence of this heavy metal-sounding segment. Many might not realise that such brilliant rock music can give peace, rather than just evoke adrenaline rushes. Just close your eyes and enjoy the electric guitar solo along with the bass and drums by Argha and there lies the secret to fly, if not your body, your soul will. The tracks are mixed and mastered by Akash Singha. @turnback_cave @_shodus 5. BhagavathiComposed by Project MalabaricusVocals: Sithara KrishnakumarAdditional vocals: Lyrics: Dr Sajish MLanguage: MalayalamGenre: Rock- MetalMood: Devotional/EnergeticI love the band Project Malabaricus for their folk-rock music and I have featured them on many occasions if not for their brand of music, purely for Sithara's mesmerising vocals alone. It seems to me that we have a Kazoo playing in the intro along with some tense sounds like the prayer for Goddess Bhagavathy. Libo Praisly Kripesh and Vijo Job turn on the heat with the guitars and we have Ajay Krishnan on bass. Everything comes to a standstill for me when Sithara starts singing, as she brings in her A game and gives a classical Carnatic touch in her delivery. It feels like there are Revathi Ragam influences in the melody

If you are a musician submit your new music here.Here are the best songs released in India across languages and genres for the week ending 31st March 2024.1. Chhodunga NaSinger & Composer: Arijit SinghLyrics : Kaushal KishoreMusic Production & Orchestrations: Jim SatyaLanguage: HindiGenre: WaltzMood: RomanticIt is not some random statement when I have said in the past that Arijit is an even better composer than he is a singer. The proof of the pudding is in the tasting, isn't it? So here you go, have a listen and make up your mind. This Waltz-styled song is the chart-topper this week. Arijit composed the melody and performed the lead vocals. To be honest, what shines through the song even more than the score is the flamboyant arrangements and the orchestrations thanks to Jim Satya. The Accordion invites me on a beautiful walk along the cobbled streets of Europe and the acoustic guitar feeds in the sense of Romance. The sensational strings section in the background along with the Piano are more than just delightful. Every cell in my body turns red with a vitalised flow of blood thanks to the arrangements and production of Jim. Ekannt Singh is the classical guitarist and the symphony orchestra is brought to life by Budapest Orchestra with Sunny MR being the live orchestra co-ordinator. I love the line " hanstaa rahe to yoon lage jaise , har subah meri khwaboon see hai ban gayi". Kaushal Kishore pens the lyrics, and the video shows the unbreakable bond between a boy and his dog. The interlude is more of these live instrumentals, along with the live orchestra, but Arijit doesn't settle for anything ordinary. The stanza begins with a beautifully written melody, "aaye ye barsaaye, tujh par baadal ye boondhen abhee". The line is meditative in melodic terms and Arijit's ghamakas are just perfectly loaded to accentuate the beauty of the melody. "Koi rahe ya na rahe, main hoon har dum hi tere saath" feels like Arijit promising us that good music will remain with us, no matter who comes and goes in our lives. Sunny MR is the mix/master engineer, Kirti and Sukanto are the project coordinators, with Prithweeraj Sarkar doing the Vocal Edit. @arijitsingh @jimsat @oriyonmusicbyarijitsingh @sunnymr @mekaushalkishore 2. SaiyyanVocals: Asim AzharWritten & Composed by Hassan AliMusic Produced, Mixed, and Mastered by: Sulaman NaseerLanguage: HindiGenre: Folk PopMood: PathosHail the music that comes out of our neighbouring nation, and in just a few weeks, I am featuring the second song from Pakistan. I spoke to Sulamaan the last time featured 'Sadqay' which was a massive IG Reels hit in India, and I hope to meet this talented musician someday. The song's touching lyrics and stunning melody are both written by Hassan Ali. Asim Azhar is the lead vocalist and the mild but sensual vocals work brilliantly. The singing is loaded with elements of pathos and a bit of helplessness. The guitars are strong and drive the background sound design mostly. Then comes the serene flute solo by Dawood that keeps playing at multiple junctures. The Harmonium gives that folkish touch, and the interlude is a great segment with the interplay of guitars, flute and the Harmonium. The stanza begins and Hassan Ali's might comes to the fore, with a towering beauty heard in the notes here " jate jate koi aas ko thode, bole kuch na bas hum roye, kyun diya ye dard bata de"Rahill Mirza plays the guitars and all the monumental production by Sulamaan Naseer. He also mixed and mastered the tracks. Kumail Abbas Rufi is the recording engineer. The melody does have influences of Raag Pilu according to me. @asimazhar @hassan_alihashmi @sulamann @dawoodflutist @sajalaly 3. Yaqeen Na ThaSinger: PaponComposer: Mandeep PanghalLyrics: YoungveerMusic production - Anmol DanielLanguage:Genre: Thumri/GhazalMood: PathosWe have a hattrick of splendid music here, and this time it is a Ghazal/Thumri fused into some very engaging and relatable production. Papon is on fire as the lead vocalist, allowing us no reprieve but to fall in love with his sentimental delivery. Youngveer writes the lyrics and Mandeep Panghal is the composer, creating some semic-classical magic. Papon begins with his uber-cool aalap and we feel our hearts melting away in no time. Ishan Das plays the gentle acoustic guitars and Anmol Daniel is the brains behind the solid production. The melody immediately reminds me of Raag Yaman thanks to some obvious similarities in the notes. The bass guitars are so important in adding a bit of style, and I love the rhythms that just provide a modern touch to the semi-classical song. The interlude solo by Dilshad Khan on the Sarangi is pure ecstasy when we hear it. Anmol does a fabulous job in arranging the live guitars, Sarangi and the keys and rhythm programming. The stanza begins and the silence around lets Papon dominate, if only for a few seconds. The song could very well have tilted into sheer sadness because of the lyrics and tone of the composition, but the guitars draw back the song into a more romantic territory. Pankaj Borah has mixed and mastered the tracks. @paponmusic @mandeep_panghal_music @novicerecordsofficial @youngveer @phalgunikhannaa @haideralionline @dilshhadkhan @anmoldaniel_ @ishandas_666 @pankajborahb4. Nammalani UndiMusic composed by : Kalyan NayakLyrics: Bhargava KarthikSingers : Haricharan, Ramya BeharaLanguage: TeluguGenre: Light MusicMood: RomanticThe song thanks to Haricharan's impeccable vocals gets wrapped around my head and fails to leave. Kalyan Nayak composes a meaty song here with so much to cherish, love and hum. The melody according to me has traces of Raag Jog (Nattai in Carnatic) and it exudes playfulness and joy when we hear it. Bhargava Karthik pens the lyrics. Durwin D'souza plays the guitars with some blistering passion and they are as attractive to the ears just like Haricharans infallible ghamakas. Francis Xavier can be heard playing the brisk solo violin and he is accompanied by Nikhil Ram on the flute, in this ravishing interlude. The bass guitars and acoustic guitars are teasing in the background and the arrangements offer so much for the music lover to listen to and be captivated by. Ramya Behara joins as the female lead vocalist in the stanza, and Cocin Strings is responsible for the strings section in the background. The combined vocals of the leads are a very heartwarming segment of the song. Jonathan Joseph does the arrangements along with Lakshmikanth M and Kalyan. Vivek Thomas is the mix/master engineer at VTP Studios, Cochin, with Aditya Gajula as the mix assistant.  @kalyannayak_official @haricharanmusic @ramyabehara @durwin_dsouza @nikhilramtp @vivekthomasproductions5. KanularaMusic Composed, Programmed and arranged by: Shashank TirupatiSingers : Anjana BalakrishnanLyrics: ShreshtaProgrammed by: Harikrishnan ME, Finny KurianLanguage: TeluguGenre: Light MusicMood: Romantic

If you are a musician submit your new music here.Here are the best songs released in India across languages and genres for the week ending 24th March 2024.1. NirmohiVocals: Himani Kapoor, Durgesh R RajbhattComposition, Production by Durgesh R RajbhattLyrics by Manoj YadavLanguage: HindiGenre: Pop FusionMood: TrippyDurgesh Rajbhatt is not just a super-talented composer/producer, he is also incredibly confident in his abilities, and this combination makes him consistent and unstoppable. I heard this song one early morning, and the melody and production together are so rich like a field studded with diamonds that I kept digging for more and I kept finding more. He composes this stirring melody and when the song is performed on the lead by Himani Kapoor, it is best to put everything aside and simply indulge in the song's beauty. It begins with some tantalising sounds probably of the Sitar and maybe a few plucks, and then the rhythms get the heart racing. Unpredictably the melody begins with the title 'Nirmohi se kaye takhraye re'. Himani sizzles with this register that probably alternates somewhere between the Tenor and Bass. Durgesh plunders our hearts with such stylish and substantial keys and rhythms. If the opening lines are not enough, the line "ghaayal ho gayi, de de davai re' is oozing with such melodious notes, but the heart blooms not just in that joy but also in the enthralling keys and synths. Manoj Yadav drives home the message with his lyrics but Himani with her ghamakas leaves a mark that is forever etched in our souls. The keys, pun intended, continue to unlock even more potential in the song and there is a magnificent shift from semi-classical to Synth-pop. In that particular antara that begins " ghaayal ho gayo" I did sense the pathos in the notes maybe thanks to Raag Charukeshi's influences. Right from the interlude, laden with Keys we enter a super stylish phase that could turn any dance floor dynamic. At the end of the stanza, we get the most beautiful segment with both Himani and Durgesh singing antara with just amazing passion and emotion. Himanshu Shirlekar is the mix/master engineer who just gives us a finely crafted end product for consumption. @kapoorhimani @durgest_r_rajbhatt @manojyadavwrites @mixedbyhim2. VaanmugilComposed, Arranged, Orchestrated: Nishad G.Vocals: Shashaa Tirupati, Sreekanth Hariharan, Anjana JPLyrics: Rishi KLanguage: TamilGenre: Jazz/SymphonyMood: RomanticI have always followed the work of Nishad G closely because he has been a very dependable and talented music critic. I took inspiration from him and I used to be motivated when he would appreciate my reviews. Does that make me his equal after 4 years of my journey in music journalism? The short answer is 'No', because there is one crucial differentiator. He is a musician and I am not.Well done Nishad, and this song is a testament to your abilities and I hope I can make a few more people listen to your splendour. Shasha Tirupati delivers along with Nishad a style that has impressed me over the last few years when vocalist Pratibha Singh collaborates with producers like Deepak Yadav and Meghdeep Bose. How can the soul not attain its ultimate purpose when we listen to such breathtaking Jazz? Nishad does the arrangements and Orchestration and he is accompanied by an army of musicians who leave no stone unturned. The strings are by the Budapest Scoring Orchestra and all the amorous Brass section and Woodwinds are by the Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra. In my honest opinion, someone like AR Rahman would be proud of this work, if it came from his repertoire. In the interlude, Nishad gets a Carnatic melody played by Abhay Nyampally on the electric guitar with such style and precision and if I am not wrong I heard traces of Raag Bihag. The gentle drums by Hiroshi “Matsukichi” Matsubara are like the touch of a feather and the guitar melody continues with even more background gusto heard on the Horns section. All along the Jazz elements are upgraded thanks to bassist Philip Kuehn, and Ashwin Raja on the Piano. This moment in the song when the Piano plays just after the thundering sounds gets all your attention. Sreekanth Hariharan joins the bandwagon and it is the emotionally apt delivery that sucks me in. The second verse where Shasha sings "together" is a heart-wrenching moment and an outro of this class is worthy of being incorporated into the climax of "You've Got Mail" when Tom Hanks wipes away Meg Ryan's tears and says " Dont cry SHOPGIRL". Rithu Vysakh plays the String Quartet and let us remember that along with Shasha there is another beautiful voice, that of Anjana JP. The poetic Tamil lines are written by Rishi K, the recording engineers are Taisei Adachi at Base6 Studio Shimokita, Tokyo, Sivanesh Natarajan at Shimmr Studios, Chennai, Dénes Rédly, Kouzou Miyamoto and Yoichi Hashiyada for recording track guitars. Sivanesh Natarajan needs appreciation of the highest order to bring all these varied and numerous tracks together on mixing. He is also the mastering engineer. @theindoencers @sashasublime @sreekanthhariharan @anjanajp @waltz_kanavugal @abhaynyayampallyguitar @filkeen @ashwin.raaja @rithuvysakh @shimmrstudios @sivaneshnatarajan @kausthub_ravi3. Chandasina ChandadalliMusic Composed, Produced and Arranged by: Charanraj M RSinger : Sidhartha Belmannu & Meghana BhatLyrics : Dhananjay RanjanProgrammed by: Charanraj M R & Sujith SreedharLanguage: KannadaGenre: Light MusicMood: RomanticNo this is not a masterpiece by Ilaiyaraja from the 1990s. In case you were wondering, this is light music with a semi-classical touch, composed, arranged and produced by 2023's best composer Charan Raj. Thanks to his undeniable potential, we are blessed and we continue to hear such earworms that act like flawless Time Machines. A song that I was reminded of was "Chinna Chinna Vanna Kuyil" sung by S Janaki from the movie 'Mouna Ragam' and I believe there are shades of Raag Kiravani in this benevolent melody.I always firmly believe that even a fabulous melody can be made into something glorious or marred out of shape by a playback singer/vocalist. That department causes no worry with the flamboyant classically-trained Siddhartha Belamannu showering love on every note and in turn we as music lovers get such a return on time invested. Meghana Bhat who sang one of 2022s best Kannada songs " Sakkare Putte", joins as the female lead. Sunil Sylvester's acoustic guitars make me fall in love again, and Napier Naveen's bass guitar stylises the whole song.The very catchy percussions are folkish and they remind me of the masters Ajay-Atul in their work on the album 'Sairat'. Karthik Vamsi plays the percussion. Music can heal and yes you will feel rid of all your worries in the flute solo by Josay Allapuzha and Charan writes a heartwarming melody here. Everything goes silent, other than the percussion, bass and flute allowing Siddhartha and Maghana to touch our hearts deeply with their vocals. The string arrangements by Narayan Sharma are mesmerising and they are played by Carol George, Herald, Josekutty, and Francis Xavier of Kochi Strings. Once you read this long review, just close your eyes and listen to the magic unfold. The unstoppable strings in the outro and the whole song would make The Gods shower Karnataka with the water it so desperately needs now. The programming is by Charan, Sujith and the additional programming is by Narayan. The recording engineers are Aniket Mohanty, Fenn, Jisto, Bejoy & Roger, music supervisor is Venkatesh G Bhat. The mixing and mastering are done by Sujith Sreedhar @ 2bq Studios Chennai. The lyrics are penned by Dhananjay Ranjan@charanraj27185 @siddhartha_belamannu @ayemeghana @narayan_sharma227 @venkateshmusic_ @sunil6string @napier_naveen @sujithsreedhar @josy_alappuzha @somusoundengineermovieofficial @4. Madhu PakarooComposed, Produced, and Arranged by Amrit RamnathLyrics by Vineeth SreenivasanVocals by Vineeth SreenivasanRajasthani Folk Vocals by Devu Khan ManganiyarLanguage: MalayalamGenre: Qawwali- fusionMood: HappyI have become so engrossed in the theatres in Mumbai these days, even before the opening credits of the movie. This is because theatres like PVR have started showing trailers for Regional films as well. One film that caught my eye is the multi-starrer " Varshangalukku Sesham", a Malayalam bonanza to be released in April. I also got excited because we have the musical score by Amrit Ramanth. I have featured this talented singer-songwriter many

If you are a musician submit your new music here.Here are the best songs released in India across languages and genres for the week ending 17th March 2024.1. Manam ManamMusic: VidyasagarLyrics: Vinayak SasikumarSinger: HariharanLanguage: MalayalamGenre: Light Music/PopMood: HappyHow do these two amazing musicians come together after so many years and still deliver such beauty? Vidyasagar has been very impressive whenever he has composed music out of the blue in the last few years and this is another prime example. The song is performed like a dream by Hariharan taking us back to the early 2000s. Vinaya, Abinaya, Srivardhani, and Hema are constantly accompanying in the backing vocals. The melody has maybe traces of Raag Hamsadhwani and it is the combination of keys and rhythms by Anthony Karuna, Harsha Vardhan and Ganesan Sekar that gives the song a modern touch. The interlude has this jugalbandhi between the female chorus, along with the guitars and drums and the Shehnai feels ecstatic and is well-composed. Balasayee is just magical on the flute and Aswani Shankar plays the Shehnai. The rhythm programming also ensures we get an equal taste of Western drums and Indian classical Thavil. Murugan S and M. Senthilkumar are the recording engineers and Anthony Karuna is the mixing engineer. The second interlude with the strings section followed by the Harmonium and guitars is a heartwarming section which someone like Vidyasagar alone can compose. Vinayak Sasikumar is the lyricist. @vidyasagarmusicofficial @vinayaksasikumar @anthonykaruna2. Na JaSinger, Songwriter, Producer: Jyoti KaviAdditional programming: RemyLanguage: HindiGenre: PopMood: HappyJyoti Kavi is responsible for creating magic here as this song woke me up from my slumber one fine morning at around 4 am. She has been featured before by me, but this time she soars into another orbit altogether. It is music like this that makes me believe in divinity, love and life itself. Jyoti has written the lyrics, composed the stunning melody and produced the song with such exuberance and sophistication. Akshat Mehrotra's flute solo starts playing and it does intervene beautifully in many instances. If you pay attention, there are a couple of layers of the flute playing and things get extremely stylish and energetic with the guitar introduction. The acoustic and electric guitar sounds combine with some stunning rhythms. I felt that there were some Raag Hindolam influences but Jyoti corrected me that it was Raag Natabhairavi being explored mainly. Jyoti sings this like a dream and when she does this ghamaka on " rehti hai hoton pe" I surrendered on my knees. Remy does all the additional programming, and so kudos to him for that mix of Tabla and rhythms in the verse. The strings section at the end of the verse is magnificent and I could go on listening to the song numerous times. The execution and arrangements of the flute deserve special mention. The mixing and mastering are done by Jyoti Kavi. @jyoti.kavi3. Innevanavva Poem Written by  Vachanakarti SatyakkaComposition, Vocals: BindhumaliniProduced by Prashanth TechnoLanguage: KannadaGenre: Semi-classicalMood: DevotionalBindhumalini sent me this song after I met her at a beautiful performance called "Singing Body". This is one of her purest and finest works, not because just the singing is shatteringly good, or the production is immaculate, but because the project has a purpose of profound importance. I was educated about the 12th-century Vanchana poet called Satyakka. She stood up boldly against gender biases, inequalities and casteist discrimination. How did anyone rise against such atrocities back in the 12th century when it was the most accepted norm? My salutations to this phenomenal being!Getting back to this song, the gobsmacking Nadaswaram invites us into the track. Adyar D Balasubramanian plays it like a champion and after that intro, it is Bindhumalini taking us away into a land of dreams thanks to her singing. The words, penned by Satyakka are a seeking the help of power from above to resolve all the problematic issues she has been witnessing on earth. I wonder which God can resist the power of these words and the purity of this voice.The melody is written by Prashanth Murali a.k.a. Prashanth Techno and Bindhumalini, with the former giving us a powered-up production. The Keys by Prashanth and the Kanjira by Charu Hariharan, are just soothing along with that Dotara-sounding instrument. I kept hearing a lot of Raag Mohanam influences, and then when Bindhumalini spoke to me she said it was Mohanakalyani. It is an auditory treat to listen to Bindhu's enchanting voice and ghamakas. The outro with the Nadaswaram, Keys and Kanjira takes me to the edge of paradise! I have seen my Shambhukeshavana. The tracks are mixed by Daniel Alba, and recorded by Avinash Sathish at 20dB Studios and Deepak SR at Deepak SR Productions. The beautiful cover art is by Madhuri Aggarwal. @bindhumalini @nadasbala @charuhariharan @msaggarwal @prashanthtechno @msaggarwal @deepaksr.mix @avinashsathish @danielalbasound4. LafzWritten, Composed, Produced, and Performed by ShirishLanguage: HindiGenre: Disco-PopMood: TrippyShirish has been on my radar for more than 3 years now and he has been featured quite several times, so it was a matter of time before he got featured and reviewed again. This single, in my opinion, is his best work yet. Shirish has composed the melody written the lyrics, and performed the lead vocals. Right from the moment the song starts playing, one will get hypnotised by it, and it has this casual tempo and disco-themed soundscape. Shirish for most parts sings in the falsetto zone and the bass guitars and rhythms keep upping the ante. The most stunning part of the song comes in the verse/stanza. It is a beautiful composition here right at the end of the haunting interlude."Kehte kabhi na, jo bhi kehna na" is just pure magic, and the song has a tone and feel that resembles "Main Aisa Kyun Hoon" by Shankar-Ehsan-Loy. The keys and rhythm programming us outstanding and one enters a trippy mood as we keep listening to this. A big round of applause is all I can think of for this splendid track. @shirishmusic @mixedbyhanish5. Aata Gaani Aata Composed & Sung by Sravana BhargaviLyrics by Goreti VenkannaMusic Produced by Stanley SajeevLanguage: TeluguGenre: Latin PopMood: RomanticThis song came as a pleasant surprise, because the Telugu music space is dominated by Tollywood, and here comes an indie song and that too in Latin Jazz/Pop style. I ha

If you are a musician submit your new music here.Here are the best songs released in India across languages and genres for the week ending 10th March 2024.1. Le Le Pangey Singer: Sanjith Hegde, Anurag Kulkarni, Varsha S KrishnanComposed by - Sanjith HegdeLyricist - Kausar MunirMusic Producer - Gautham Hebbar, Sanjith HegdeLanguage: HindiGenre: Disco-popMood: EnergeticBejoy Nambiar must truly be appreciated for his commitment to the art of cinema, as keeps on experimenting. He deserves even more praise for getting indie musicians a chance to showcase their talent on the big screen. This song is the best in the album as Sanjith Hegde composes and performs this energetic disco-pop single. To me, Sanjith, Charan Raj and Gautham Hebbar show many Indian musicians how to create an original song in this genre without sounding similar to the work of Bee Gees. Rithu Vysakh sizzles on the violins as he not only performs but also arranges the section. Varsha Krishnan and Anurag Kulkarni accompany Sanjith on lead vocals, and the chorus is formed by Narayanan Ravishankar, Santosh Hariharan, Srisha Vijayasekar and Abinaya. The song feels uplifting as we hit the chorus segment. The outstanding, world-beating production is by Sanjith and Gautham Hebbar. The rhythm programming is of stunning quality and Fodfray Immanuel keeps up the charm on guitars. The singing by Sanjith elevates to a much higher orbital as expected in the stanza and it is one roller-coaster ride just listening to this splendid piece. The synth-heavy and keyboard-led part where Sanjith sings " aa aa aa" is brilliant. Nisthula Murphy is the project supervisor, Sanjay Romauld is the recording engineer and Sujith Sreedhar is the mix/master engineer at 2BarQ, Chennai. @sanjithhegde @varsha_skrishnan @anuragkulkarni7 @kausarmunir @nikifying @zoamorani @tjbhanu @sanchana.natarajan @imarjundas @kalidas_jayaram @tseries.official @gauthamhebbar @_srishaaaa__ @santoshhariharanlive @sujithsreedhar @rithuvysakh2. Jaage Re Jaage Naina Singers: Shashwat Singh & Prateeksha SrivastavaLyrics: Himanshu KohliMusic: Yug BhusalMusic Production, Mix & Master: Roop MahantaLanguage: HindiGenre: Light Music/PopMood: RomanticPrateeksha Srivastava has been doing quite well in many indie projects of late, where she composes and writes but here it feels like some nice recognition of her abilities when another composer/producer offers her a vocal role. Shashwat Singh is another talented singer who deserves many more things going in his favour and this song is a good exhibition of the vocal abilities of both Prateeksha and Shashwat. We get a beautiful melody that reminds us of the works of Pritam, Shankar-Ehsan-Loy and so on. Prateeksha enhances the beauty of the notes with her expression and tone. I love the line " aankhon she khwaab churaye, hoton pe baat chupaaye" for its melodic strength, and lyrical value. Himanshu Kohli writes the words, Yug Bhusal writes the melody, and kudos to both. Kiran Vinkar's woodwinds play midly in the background and Ishan Das doubles the pleasure with his guitars. The interlude is laden with such goodness as we get some melodious notes on the woodwinds, and it is Roop Mahanta who glorifies the song with the fantastic arrangements and rhythm programming as well. The stanza is where Shashwat opens his account and it feels like a gift from the heavens as he sings the stunning line "behti tu ek nadiya". I had such a great recall of AR Rahman's album "99 Songs" when I heard Shashwat's voice. The vocal harmony arrangements are outstanding as well. The song transports me to a better place and I am sure it will brighten your day as well. Rupjit Das is the recording engineer and Roop does the mixing and mastering. The outro with the combined vocals of Prateeksha and Shashwat with the woodwinds playing in a feeble tone is a fitting end to the song. @officialprateeksha @shashwatsinghofficial @yugbhusalofficial @theritikarai @dishant_gullaiya @roopmahantaofficial @rupjit_playheadstudio @ishandas_666 @himanshukohli @kiranvinkarflute 3. Kagaz Singers - Garvit - PriyanshComposers - Garvit - PriyanshProducer - Garvit SoniLyricist - Priyansh Srivastava Language: HindiGenre: Semi-classical fusionMood: RelaxedThe song is named "Kagaz" and I can give it in writing on a piece of paper that Garvit-Priyansh would be one of the most trusted and reliable duos/bands in Indian indie music. They keep coming up with such beautiful songs like bags on a conveyor belt. Garvit Soni and Priyansh Srivastava are the source of inspiration to most Indie musicians thanks to their consistency and quality. This song as always has been composed by the duo and also been performed by both. Garvit is the producer and Priyansh is the lyricist. The soothing vocals along with the acoustic guitar and strings section in the background are tranquil. The line "na kahoge tum, na kabhi kahenge hum, kagazi sa hamara ishq hai" is sentimental and touching both musically and lyrically. The verses are simple in their structure but it is the singing and gentle instrumental arrangements that deliver the goods. A music lover can spend an evening just listening to this and he/she will never know the way time passes by. @garvitsoni_ @maninychakrabarty @ruchelle_dadwani @suhanichandhok @startistmanagement @gaganverma26 @priyanshhhsrivastava @garvitxpriyansh 4. Love Nahin Toh Kya Hai Music Composed & Produced by: Salim SulaimanSingers: Pawandeep Rajan, Arunita KanjilalLyrics: Shraddha Pandit Music Co-Produced: Raj PanditLanguage: HindiGenre: PopMood: RomanticHere they come again, the Merchant brothers ain't gonna stop, and this is hopefully the start of something once more magical in 2024 from the brilliant composer/producer duo. They have composed and produced this beautifully written song and Salim-Sulaiman brings on Indian Idol supremos Pawandeep Rajan and Arunita Kanjilal as lead vocalists for this romantic single. Muheet Bharti is present and he paints a stunning picture using the acoustic guitars, and we then have Arunita and Pawandeep joining forces and adding vocal layers. To be honest the song's intro and pre-chorus segments were run-of-the-mill for me. It then starts sounding very catchy with the title "yeh love nahi toh kya hai", the bass guitars and innovative sounds probably from the talk-box amp up the style. The verse begins with a terrific line that goes "aankhon mein kaajal na tehre , ki tu basa inme", and is loaded with melodic and vocal goodness. If Arunita steals the heart with the voice and the mild ghamaka, Pawandeep stamps his authority and confidence when he sings the next lines. The arrangements, production and sound design are very typical of Salim-Sulaiman and that is why it remains the best segment of the song. Kudos to Shraddha Pandit for these relatable lines. Raj Pandit is the co-producer and we have the usual suspects Aditya Kalway, and Raj once again on recording at Blue Productions, Aftab Khan as the mix/master engineer and Vatsal Chevli assisting with mixing. @pawandeeprajan @arunitakanjilal @shraddhapandit @salimsulaimanmusic @rajpandit17 @aviral_kumar @mixedbyaftab @muheetbharti @merchant_records @warnermusicindia @adityakalway @vatsalchevli @choklate.pi @shivansh.j 

If you are a musician submit your new music here.Here are the best songs released in India across languages and genres for the week ending 3rd March 2024.1. ViduthalSingers: Dhee, ofRoComposed, Arranged, Produced: Santhosh NarayananAdditional Programming: Aditya RavindranLyrics: Mu.RiLanguage: MalayalamGenre: Heavy MetalMood: Energetic / EerieI was eagerly awaiting the release of the movie " Anweshippin Kandethum" to see Tovino Thomas in the lead, and more importantly, it would be Santhosh's full and proper debut in Malayalam as the composer. There was only one full-length song in this thriller and it was released a few days before the movie. This song had everything I needed to be blown away, from Dhee and ofRo's superlative lead vocals to some exhilarating live instrumentals. Mu.Ri is the lyricistSanthosh Narayanan lives up to his name as he creates this track that matches the tone of the movie. Slow and intriguing at times, and then brisk and energetic within seconds. Dhee uses her amazing tone to sing these lines with such intensity and passion and the heavy Piano adds to the intrigue. She ends her line with a high-pitched note and then the blazing electric guitars knock you down thanks to Aditya Ravindran and Simeon Telfer. OfRo joins the party singing the title lines and it feels like an anthem egging Tovino on his journey to solving the murder mysteries. This is supreme Heavy metal stuff, and where Santhosh keeps delivering is when during the next verse, the bass guitars and the lo-fi-styled vocal samples create an eerie tone. I love how Santhosh then creates a melody on the electric guitars and that forms the interlude. It is not over yet as we get Manoj Kumar playing a scintillating solo on the violin. He pierces the heart deep with that solo and he ends it with a nerve-wracking high-pitched finish. Notice the way the electric guitars and the phenomenal drums join during the end of the interlude. There are these vocal harmonies we keep hearing adding to the thrill and they are performed and arranged by Aditya. Finally, we get the title line being uttered by OfRo and David Thomas earns huge respect for his outstanding drums, especially the way he just beautifully increases the beats per minute just before the bridge section. OfRo exhibits incredible energy towards the end and Manoj delivers the icing on the cake with another magical solo intervention on the Violin. Dhee hits the winning runs by closing the song with that admirable line of rising notes. We have Vijaynarain and Santhosh on the chorus, and the song's recording is done by Santhosh, Karthik Manickavasakam, Pranav Muniraj and Rupendar Venkatesh. Rupendar is the mix/master engineer with Meenakshi Santhosh as the Musicians' Co-ordinator. @musicsanthosh @adityaravindran95 @ofrooooo @parari_muhsin @dhee__ @vijaynarain @rupendar_venkatesh @karthikmanickavasakam @pranavbalu @davidthejoseph @manojviolinist @simeontelfer 2. NandanandanaaMusic: Gopi SundarLyrics: Anantha SriramSinger: Sid SriramSong Arranged And Programmed By: Gopi SundarLanguage: TeluguGenre: Semi-classical PopMood: RomanticHe is back again, Gopi Sundar with a brilliant composition in Tollywood. He ropes in Sid Sriram and the combination works like wine and cheese. It is not easy to serenade a music lover with such beauty these days, because we are now in an age where a few gimmicks and production alone compensate for any writing deficits by a composer. I am hoping that the song has influences from Abhogi Ragam and the song that I am reminded of the most is Vidyadagar's " Konja Neram konja Neram". Sumesh Parameswar is a gentle giant on guitars and bass here making a delightful start and Sid just drizzles with his fantastic tone all over. The humming that comes like a guitar being strummed feels chirpy and stylish. Christakala and Athira Janakan join in chorus. Biju Annamanada plays the Veena solo in the interlude and here one more amazing semi-classical number I am reminded of is Maestro Ilaiyaraja's "Indraikku Yen Indha". This is accompanied by the Ghatam and the violin by Idappally Ajith Kumar playing mildly in the background. Gopi Sundar makes some magic by mixing semi-classical notes with a very funky Pop style of arrangements. OK Gopi is mesmerising on the Nadaswaram in the second interlude. The interventions on the Violin and Veena are outstanding during the stanzas. Babu Velayudhan, Priya Nair are the Music Production Managers. The recording engineers are Rajath Raveendran, Nevin C Delson, Gopi Sundar and Joe Antony. The mixing and mastering are done by Balu Thankachan @ 20db Black Studios. @gopisundar__official @anantha.sriram @parameswarsumesh @christakalaofficial @athirajanakan 3. WhateverWritten and Performed by: HasanProduced by Aman Arakh Drum Programming: Gaurav KhannaLanguage: EnglishGenre: Ballad/RockMood: RelaxingHasan reached out to me ahead of his new song, and I love when such interactions turn out to be treasure troves like this one. This ballad is gentle but it knocks on your door relentlessly and rises in intensity. The melody and lyrics are penned by Hasan and he evokes all the right emotions while performing the lead vocals. Aman Arakh masterfully produces the song and if Hasan plays the titillating acoustic guitar, Yohaan Pissurlenker is the cool bassist. I love the line in the verse " And I don't want to move ahead now, But I'm at a fork and I've got to choose myself", both for the notes and words. The backing vocalists add a beautiful layer and it it helps the song get a richer tone. Damini Gautam and the sensational Brecilla D'Souza are the vocalists here. The song rocks you away to a gentle sleep during many portions thanks to the beautiful melody and overall arrangments. Tanishk Diwaker plays the keys and Gaurav Khanna makes things upbeat by working on the drum programming. The writing and vocals are magnificent, to say the least, and another example here is " Endings can be beautiful, Sunsets don't torture your soul. They always lead to new dawns". A cameo awaits and Warren Mendonsa explodes onto the scene with his electric guitar solo towards the end. Shikhar Chaudhary and Aman play additional guitars. The vocal harmonies are arranged to perfection with not even a second being dulled down or being predictable. These are the kinds of songs that give music lovers hope, "Yes we'll find a way now. Kudos to the whole team. Aman is the recording, mixing and mastering engineer. @hasanbaldiwalax @acrimonius_aman @gauravvkhannaa @yohaanbass @blablaboi.10 @shikhar_c @daminivox @brecilladsouza @blackstratblues 4. Entha PremaSingers: Sunitha Upadrasta & Achu RajamaniMusic Director: Achu RajamaniLyrics: Krishna KanthLanguage: TeluguGenre: BalladMood: RelaxedIf I have to quickly mention the composer and singer here, I am enthralled and enamoured by both of these amazing musicians. Achu Rajamani, the composer has been around for a while now and making steady waves. His pedigree is rich and he has also assisted MM Keeravani. Recently I featured an amazing song "Oh na Madhu" from the album 'Month of Madhu' and when a Telugu-speaking friend of mine appreciated the BGM score of the movie so much.When it comes to Sunita Upadrasta, I keep wondering why I haven't featured her even once since 2019 when I started my journey of music journalism. Just last month I featured a beautiful melody performed by Sunita called "Sandela Kusuni" and now I keep raving to people about her voice and her immense abilities. This is a ARRahman-esque song with terrific sound design and arrangements and it feels like KS Chithra is in full flow. You are drawn into the song and when she sings "Entha Prema" you just have to fall in love with the music. Chennai Strings dominate in the interludes and background after she finishes singing " manasa". It feels like Raag Desh or maybe Raag Shankarabharanam (Bilawal in Hindustani) to me, either way the melody is pristine, and Sunitha makes it heavenly with her vocals. The strings section along with the rhythms is just like drops of honey falling on my lips. Bruce plays the guitars and Balaji Bhaskaran handles Sound Modification. 

If you are a musician submit your new music here.Here are the best songs released in India across languages and genres for the week ending 25th February 2024.1. KuthanthramMusic Composer - Sushin ShyamRap - VedanAdditional Music Production - Nivin RaphaelLanguage: MalayalamGenre: Alt Hip HipMood: EnergeticIf you ask me to name some composers/producers in India whose music can make global popular music turn around and take heed, I would come up with names like AR Rahman, Santhosh Narayanan, Charan Raj to name a few. I would put the young Sushin Shyam in this category. He has made huge strides primarily in the Malayalam movie space.This movie 'Manjummel Boys' is getting amazing reviews and I would be not in a position to comment on the BGM score, but the 1 song here is just stunning. It carries a tone similar to some of the Alt-pop music that he created for "Romancham" last year. This single is composed and produced by Sushin, with the additional production by Nivin Raphael. The female humming gives a beautiful Southern music flavour of the 1980s. The guitars are nothing short of stunning with bass by Aswin Lal giving it tremendous style. The keys and rhythms pile up on the song's immaculate grace and where Suchin sets himself apart is using a few more live instrumentals. Many producers would stick with the Hip Hop and keys and rhythm programming, but not this guy. He brings in the bazookas from the Brass section like the Trumpet and Flugel Horn by Rakesh MS and then the Saxophone and Trombone by Rahul Joshua ThomasIt is Allan Varghese who is playing the Piano and he is the man behind the Brass section arrangements. The song despite all these amazing elements, stands clearly on the shoulders of Vedan's phenomenal rapping. He will undoubtedly be one of the top 3 rappers in the nation and his energy, writing and delivery are unmatched. The mixing of the female humming with the EDM vibes is fantastic. Kudos to the chorus performed by Libin Scariya, Milan Joya and Sangeeth Suresh. The outro becomes majestic with the brass section, keys and rhythms. Varun Raj plays the electric guitar. The tracks are mixed by Abin Paul, and mastered by Dave Kutch and the recording engineers are Amrith Raghunathan, Amal S.E and Sibin Wilson at VTP Studios, Music.     @sushintdt @vedanwithword @_chidambaram_ @soubinshahir @thinkmusicmalayalam @manjummelboysthemovie @thinkmusicofficial @sonic_island_studio @mixwithabin @libin_zakharia @nivin_raphael @wheresrjt @book__of_lenz2. Janaabe JaaniyaSinger: Javed AliMusic Composer And Producer: Gulraj SinghLyrics: Manoj YadavLanguage: HindiGenre: Light Music/PopMood: RomanticHere comes an indie single that turned around my morning to glorious from just normal. I loved every note I heard and I only knew that it was Javed Ali on a high with his vocal prowess. Something about the melody and the production told me that this musician has to be special. When I look into the Spotify Credits, there it is, the brilliant Gulraj Singh. Two young musicians who I'll nominate as the greatest finds of 2023 are Jay Unnithan in Malayalam for his outstanding music for "Thrishanku" and Gulraj Singh for the Marathi movie "Unaad". The song here has some excellent writing, especially the melody, and Gulraj surprises us with his skill and commitment to creating something fresh. I did feel influences of Raag Bhimpalasi and Gulraj tells me it is fluid hence probably Mishra. The notes on the lines " tu jaane jaan meri, tu meri dhuniya" are just out of this world. The interlude has all these ethnic plucked instruments giving it a very folkish flavor. Tapas Roy is the exponent behind these instruments. Once the stanza begins we have to just forget the world around us and listen to the ghamakas that Javed Ali displays with such precision and he doesn't miss out on expressing the message of love. Shon Pinto can be heard playing the guitar in the background. It all ends with a magical line " saas saas mein, tu shumar hai, jeene ka tu dariya"I also love the rhythm programming with some very Middle Eastern sounds emerging. Gulraj also brings in the Harmonium and the mild saxophone in the outro. Amey Londhe And Akshay Purandare are the recording engineers at Audio Garage Studios. The mix/master engineer is Ashish Saksena and the fantastic and heartfelt lyrics are penned by Manoj Yadav. The message of love is only partial if it is only Javed's voice and Gulraj's notes, Manoj completes it. @gulraj_singh @manojyadavwrites @javedali4u @rivarora_ @vyrloriginals @ayaanzubair_12 @axe_mix @shonpinto1 @mandolintapas @audiomechanic @shirinsukeshwala @saugatoroychoudhury 3. Rootho Na AiseSinger/Composer/Lyricist - Deepanshi NagarMusic Producer - Aviral KumarLanguage: HindiGenre: Semi-classicalMood: RelaxedWhy and how did I miss this? I can keep beating myself over this. This amazing semi-classical fusion number set in Raag Yaman was sent to me by the artist Deepanshi Nagar, and I repent that I didn't discover it on my own back in December. This is my humble request to all you musicians, please submit your music on my website, the link is right at the top of the article. Deepanshi composes, writes lyrics and performs this beauty and the accompanying acoustic guitars are by Bhushan Chitnis. The heart beats incredibly faster when she says "Thodi der theher jao jao na" in Yaman scale. Bhushan also plays the Strokes and bass guitars for this one. The vocal harmonies in the background in the sthayi section itself are excellently done. Aviral Kumar has done the backing vocals and he is also the man behind this elegant production.Momin Khan stings hard with the solo on the Sarangi and there is such deep emotion flowing when I hear this interlude. Deepanshi's voice is loaded with finesse and her delivery is masterful, keeping things like the classical ghamakas also in her mind and delivering them with subtle ingenuity. Momin once again makes a stunning solo in the outro. Arjit Shrivastava plays the Keys and handles the chord arrangments. Rupjit Das is the recording engineer at Playhead Studio and Rahul Agrawat is the mix/master engineer. The music is distributed by Global Music Junction, Warner Music India with the famous Merchant Records Label. @deepanshinagar @aviral_kumar @salimsulaimanmusic @mominkhanofficial @bhushan_bhu_chitnis @mixedbyrahul @rupjit_playheadstudio @shivansh.j @arjitshrivastava @warnermusicindia @merchant_records4. Tu JaaneVocals - JonitaProducer - ArizaSongwriters - Jonita, Juan Ariza, Julia GarthaLanguage: Hindi/EnglishGenre: Pop FusionMood: RomanticI have already featured this excellent EP by Jonita Gandhi. She rises above the crowd to show that she can not only sing but can write excellent music too. The EP "Love Like That" was given a 3.75/5 by me for some excellent collaboration, fusion and overall production. Vocally Jonta kills it like she always does and no points for guessing that. I had already featured the title song too in one of the weekly articles and it was the best of the lot for me with some sizzling vocals by Ali Sethi and groundbreaking pop-classical fusio. This song too takes a similar trajectory with the heavy pop influences and fusion bits. The lyrics too are a combination of English and Hindi lyrics and they work well for me. "Tere Saath, I'm at a loss, I talk to the wall, par koi sunta nahi ha" is stuff I can relate to with the colloquial nature of the lyrics. The tune and the lyrics are collaboratively written by Jonita, Juan Ariza and Julia Gartha. The singing is of the superlative degree as she sings " sab saamne hai, but you don't see a thing", her delivery breaks my heart, that is how effective she is with her delivery. The string instruments bring in some Middle Eastern flavour as well. The outro has this aalap by Jonita and then the humming pacifies things down. Jesse Ray Ernster is the mixing engineer and mastering is done by Gerhard Westphalen

If you are a musician submit your new music here.Here are the best songs released in India across languages and genres for the week ending 18th February 2024.1. RomanchanaSingers: Keerthan Holla and Ramya Bhat AbhyankarMusic Director: Nakul AbhyankarLyrics: Pramod MarvanteMusic Supervisor: Ramya Bhat AbhyankarLanguage: KannadaGenre: Pop/OrchestralMood: RomanticNakul Abhyankar blazes away with this astonishing song that rose to the top of the weekly charts, the moment I heard it. Very few songs, probably a score (20) every year stand out like this. Keerthan Holla of "Horatta" fame is the lead singer with Ramya Bhat Abhyankar on the female lead vocals. Keerthan starts with his impromptu-styled intro and then the song takes a wilder turn for the better. For me what worked brilliantly in this song are the arrangements, production and the elaborate presence of Budapest Scoring Orchestra. John Paul is stunning on acoustic and bass guitars all the way, with Nakul's world-beating standards on arrangements and production coming on display. Balasubramanian G is the Orchestra Co-ordinator and Abel, Peter Illényi is the conductor. The song is beaming with positivity and creativity thanks to some superlative vocal harmonies, Pianos and Accordion interventions. We get to hear a flamboyant and playful Ramya in the interludes and also some woodwinds. The song is just not about this grand symphony orchestra, it has this beautiful stanza with some ravishing notes and that is the core of the song. The lines that follow "Mathadithe Thangali na kanda" is pure magic, adding even more beauty with the background humming by Ramya. AR Rahman would be proud of this, as his protege Nakul takes a brilliant flight. Kudos to Pramod Marvanthe for the lyrics. The mixing and mastering is done by MT Aditya Srinivasan. @nakulabhyankar @humanvaibhav @rishikanaik11 @keerthan.holla @pramod_maravanthe_lyricist @ramyabhatabhyankar @mountaditya2. Yeh Desh ThoProduced by Beena Samuel & Sam DevassyComposed by Venkat IyerLyrics by Dr Priyadarshi VaibhavSingers: Steven Samuel Devassy & Saptaparna ChakrabortyLanguage: HindiGenre: Light MusicMood: PatrioticSteven Samuel Devassy has been on my radar ever since he was this cute young kid playing multiple instruments and I have been waiting for the day when he releases some original music. So when I was approached with his submission, it brought about some great excitement. Steven and Saptaparna Chakraborty are the lead vocalists and the composition of this patriotic number is by Venkat Iyer.The song does inspire the very last sinew in you thanks to the composition and lyrics by Dr Priyadarshi Vaibhav. When I heard it I was reminded of another melody " Kallellam Manikka" sung by TM Soundarajan, and from the rhythm and tone and overall tune also reminded of Ilaiyaraja's "Allah un aanai padi" and that is the reason I was tempted to believe that this is set in Raag Mayamalava Gowla. Steven however corrected me that this is rather Vakulabharanam Ragam. Full marks to Saptaparna for singing with such grace and efficacy. The song is uplifted at every turn thanks to Steven Samuel Devassy's fantastic singing as he touches the higher vocal registers with incredible ease and poise. The two lead vocalists combine beautifully in the Pallavi and anupallavi sections. Kudos to Sam Devassy and Beena Samuel for the sound design and production. The Keyboard interlude along with some savvy bass guitars keeps us hooked, ready to take in what comes next in the stanza. But the composition is par excellence thanks to Venkat Iyer who weaves such beautiful melodic notes in the stanza. I love the line " Janmabhoomi yeh hai meri, iski khudrat, iski mitti", both musically and lyrically, especially with trumpets playing in the background. Maneesh Shaji is the programmer and he is also the mix engineer. The recording engineer is Manu Prasad at Muzik Lounge School of Audio Technology and Neehar Amal at Sound Town Studio Chennai@stevensamuelofficial @devassysam @iyervenkat2023 @singersapta @beena_sam_ @muzik_lounge 3. BugsVocals: Tshering BhutiaComposition: S.I. Inc.Produced: Daidipya ShethLanguage: EnglishGenre: Blues-PopMood: HappyHow can one ever ignore stuff that comes out of Compass Box Studios? Here you go, as this is one of those BUGS that you will fall in love with. S.I. Inc. a.k.a. Shankar Iyer composes this stunning blues pop single and we have a superlative performance on lead vocals by Tshering Bhutia. She is in belligerent form, delivering tough notes with consummate ease and there is also a delicate and stylish tinge of colour to her performance. The humming bits right at the start set the tone, with some excellent vocal harmony arrangements induced. We have Pranav Menon on backing vocals. Raag Sethi is the bassist and the energetic drums are played by Pritul Chauhan, with lead guitars by S.I.Inc. There is this solo performance in the interlude and I felt like I was listening to some 1980s Ilaiyarajas song for just a bit. Let us just stand up in ovation for the excellent arrangements and production by Daidipya, who has shown incredible vision and skill to get this song produced with so many layers of vocals and instrumentals. Towards the end, Tshering produces a moment of magic when she sings "Bugs in the Tulip meadow, perusing leaves of yellow" with a wild twist on the word yellow. Who would have thought we would get some interesting lines on bugs? So I guess this is some very fine songwriting by S.I. Inc. and Tshering. The tracks are mixed by Protyay Chakraborty and mastered by Raag Sethi at Compass Box Studios. The recording is at CrissCross Music Studio, Ahmedabad. Chaitri is responsible for the captivating visual art. @daidipyasheth @tsheruu @cort.zenox.user @shanky.inc @nayankapdiya @protyaych @raagsethi @legitcrisscross @compassboxstudio @couscous.art @pritul_chauhan4. Grown upComposer: Joe Kearns, Nikita Mehta, RIKA, Riz ShainVocals: RIKAProducer: Joe Kearns, Riz ShainAuthor: Nikita Mehta, RIKA, Riz ShainLanguage: EnglishGenre: PopMood: PathosI have spoken and written endlessly this year about the rise of RIKA, and her subliminal EP. This is the 3rd song that I am featuring among India's best songs, and this is right up there among the best of the year so far. A song needs a melody that can gently sway you away to melt your heart and lyrics that can wake you up from any slumber. When these two forces work together, you end up getting a song like this.The melody is touching with the potential to make us slaves that can keep humming, and then the lyrics are powerful too. She sings " Climb in the bed, I hold the hands of pretty strangers, Just so I can keep pretending, Its the feeling of my mother's lovin' arms". RIKA, Riz Shain and Nikita Mehta are the authors and the tune is composed by Joe Kearns, Nikita Mehta, RIKA and Riz Shain. The piano keeps hitting the notes hard, and RIKA rises with her powerful expression and delicious mix of falsettos and vibratos. As she sings " Home, Why can I go back home, My keys won't fit the door", the listener feels her pain. The production elements gain traction with rhythms and guitars feeling more intense. Joe Kearns and Riz are the producers who have nailed the vocal and instrumental arrangements. Pixl is the mixing engineer. @rika @warnermusicindia @glvssounds @billmaybs @the_kearnal_86 @nikitaathewild @rizshain @pixlpxl @shekkkkp @gbakermusic @thrdlife @jesskentmusic

If you are a musician submit your new music here.Here are the best songs released in India across languages and genres for the week ending 11th February 2024.1. All I Need - RIKA Vocals, composition: RIKAMUSIC PRODUCER: RIKA, JOE KEARNSLYRICS BY: JOE KEARNS, RIKA, BILL MAYBURY Language: EnglishGenre: Ballad - PopMood: PathosCheck out Rika's sensational new EP called " Conversations I've Never Had". I just did a review of the EP and gave it a 4.25/5 rating. The EP boasts 4 fantastic songs and I urge you to stream it right away. The guitars are striking in the intro and nothing comes close to grabbing our attention like Rika's spectacular vocals. This British-Serbian singer-songwriter of Indian descent mesmerises us with every note uttered. The pre-chorus segment slowly adds to the tension, as Rika shows her vulnerability in her voice and then when we hit the chorus segment, she rises like a phoenix with her loud and majestic vocals and the strings section in the background levitates our spirits further. Tobie Tripp handles the glorious string arrangements. You will be swayed into paradise when the strings conclude and Rika ends the chorus with a super falsetto at the end of " Yeah you're all I need". The intense lyrics are penned by Rika, Bill Maybury and Joe Kearns, and Rika writes the hummable melody. A lot of credit must go to Rika and Joe for the solid production, as all the programming and arrangements boost the song's output and likability. We have some musicians like Zahra Dry, Huw Robert Edwards, Cellist Alex Marshall, Violonist and Pianist Athena Octavia, and Violonist Nat Willow, involved in this song.The layers of Violins and the Cellos along with the guitars and Pianos make the heart swell in joy and sadness at the same time. The outro is sheer magic with the strings and Rika's humming and ending with the words " Yeah You're All I Need".@rika @rizshain @shekkkkp @billmaybs @gbakermusic @the_kearnal_86 @thrdlife @nikitaathewhild @rizshain @glvssounds @_alexmarshall @natwillowmusic @athenaoctaviolin @zahradry 2. Dil Banaane Waaleya Singers: Arijit Singh, Jonita Gandhi, Vishal Dadlani & Sheykhar RavjianiComposers: Vishal & SheykharLyrics: KumaarMusic Producer: Abhijit NalaniLanguage: HindiGenre: ALt-RockMood: PatrioticThe EP was reviewed by me a couple of weeks ago, and it was not good enough to tease or tantalise the average music lover. Check out the video review of the EP on my IG page. I picked "DIl Banaane Waaleya" as the best song of the album and here is my review of the same. The patriotic mood is usually a very redundant style adopted by many musicians and many lack the melodic freshness that this song provides.It might tick the usual boxes needed for a spirited anthem like this, but Vishal and Sheykhar surprise me in some important instances in the song and make it worth the time and effort to listen to this one. The Piano sets the tone and here things might seem run-of-the-mill, even after Arijit Singh, but it just keeps getting better. Rhythm Shaw hits you hard on the electric guitar at the start and right through, he also plays the acoustic and bass guitars which provide all the support. Arijit, once he hit the higher vocal registers, we get that rush of blood to the head.The interlude has amazing juice with the electric guitar solo, the stylish bass notes and Aatur Soni's drums. Jonita sizzles with her baritone-ish delivery and the short but interesting stanza works well in furthering the beauty of the song. Abhijit Nalani is the producer, and so he deserves a lion's share of the credit for the arrangements and programming. I love it when Jonita and Arijit sing in two different registers and here she showcases such a vast vocal range in the song, just around the 3rd minute. The Choir is one of the highlights and helps in selling a patriotic song like this. Prince Mulla is the arranged for the Choir and the singers are Leena Rajan, Deepanshi Nagar, Shivika Rajesh, Nikitha Venkatesh, Dhanshree Rajvarsh, Ann Fernandes, Shreya Jain, Chaitanya Shinde, Vaibhav Rawal, Garvit Soni, Priyansh Shrivastava, Sakar Apte, Vaibhav Rajvarsh, Ajay Tiwari, Jobin David, Pankaj Dixit, Manish Sharmaa, Siddharth Dixit, Nishant Adhikari and Nimish Shah. Kumaar writes these passionate and inspiring lyrics and the tracks are mixed by Eric Pillai. @vishaldalani @shekharravijani @abhijitnalani @arijitsingh @jonitamusic @aatursoni @rhythm_shaw @princemulla @deepanshinagar @shivikarajesh @nikitha_venkatesh @dr.dhanshreerajvarsh @shreyajainmusic @annette_xo__ @sakarapte @garvitsoni_ @priyanshhhsrivastava @vaibhav_rajvarsh @kumaarofficial @ 3. Tham Zaraa Vocals, Composition, Vocal arrangement - Anurag MishraLyrics - Ronkini GuptaMusic Production - Siddharth PanditLanguage: HindiGenre: PopMood: RelaxedI released an EP review of Anurag Mishra's 'Rang' just a few days ago and you should stream this multi-genre EP right away. It has 3 excellent songs according to me and here is one of my favourites. The song like the rest in the EP is composed and performed by Anurag with this one penned like a beauty by Ronkini Gupta. Ronkini and Anurag combine to deliver this message of love, and Anurag matches the tenderness of the lyrics with his delicate delivery.  I feel he is one of the best out there when it comes to composing and performing with a purpose. The keys and rhythms straightaway draw you like bait. Kudos to Siddharth Pandit for producing this with such amazing style and elegance. "Bezubaan ye dil, sambhal na paaye ye" is touching musically and lyrically. I get that texture of Udit Narayan when he sings the line "bezubaan ye dil" and that is a super compliment according to me. The song feels complete because Anurag goes ahead and makes this short but melodious stanza as well. Siddharth Pandit piles on the beauty with the strings section in the background. The mild but meaningful ghamakas by Anurag impact the listener so much and feel so real. Siddharth also does the mixing and mastering. Ayra Upadhyay and Joey are part of the visuals team for the music video. @anuragmishramusic @panditjeeee @chakoridwivedi @joesymovie @guptaronkini  4. Bediyan Performed by Rashmeet Kaur, Reble, Tracy De SáLyrics by Daiaphi Lamare, Rashmeet Kaur, Tracy De SáProduced by Saurabh LokhandeComposer - Rashmeet KaurLanguage: Punjabi/EnglishGenre: Alt Hip-HopMood: EnergeticJust about a week ago I made a full video review of the album by Rashmeet Kaur called 'Kaura'. This was a worthwhile album with some very good songs, and the album's forte was the strength of collaborations and the diverse styles of songs. This one was one of the best in teh album and it has the melody written by Rashmeet, with lyrics by Daiaphi Lamare, Tracy De Sá and Rashmeet. This is Alt Hip-Hop of some terrific quality. We get some folk Punjabi music getting intertwined with Hip-Hop music. Rashmeet thumps with the Punjabi lines and her delivery is so stylish, showcasing great control and skill. Reble and Tracy De Sá are enthralling in their hip-hop leaving no space for slackness. Saurabh Lokhande amps up the sound with his terrific keys rhythm programming and overall production. This could easily be one of the best Hip-Hop songs of 2024 when it ends. The heavy horns-like sounds are a product of some skilful keyboard programming. 

If you are a musician submit your new music here.Here are the best songs released in India across languages and genres for the week ending 4th February 2024.1. Jaadu ToneComposed by - Shreya JainLyrics by - Shayra Apoorva, Shreya JainProduced by - Nakul ChughLanguage: PunjabiGenre: RockMood: EnergeticI have to just compliment Shreya Jain on this one, having tracked her work for the last couple of years. She has been quite good as a vocalist, but when she can compose a song like this, she is making all the right moves. Her collaboration with Nakul Chugh seems to be working like magic and kudos to Nakul for this exhilarating production. The Punjabi lyrics were written by Shayra Apoorva and Shreya hits us as hard as the solid electric guitars and drums in this rock set-up. Sachin Shahi is the drummer and Ishan Das is charging up the sound with his electric guitars. The energy is pumping with the instrumental arrangements and the chorus segment is sensational, aggravated by Shreya's phenomenal singing. Himanshu Rawat is the bassist. When we get to the stanza, Shreya switches gears with amazing ease and the ferocity in the previous lines perishes. The sweet and gentle vocals with mild ghamakas make the melody sound semi-classical. The lines also are now in Hindi and probably this is why the song has the two lyricists. The outro segment gets pulsating with all the electric guitar and drum support and Shreya's vocal outburst. The tracks are mixed and mastered by Abhishek Ghatak. @shreyajainmusic @nakulchughh @bassman_himanshu @theghatak @shahisachin @rahulrajan369 @shayraa22 @ashwinwashere2. Katchi SeraComposed & Performed by Sai AbhyankkarMusic Produced by Sai AbhyankkarLyrics by Adesh KrishnaAdditional Vocals by Sai Smriti Music Programmed & Arranged by Sai Abhyankkar Language: TamilGenre: PopMood: Happy Sai Abhyankkar a.k.a. Abhay releases this brilliant pop number would deserves to be at the top of the charts undoubtedly. I am thrilled to see such amazing talent exhibited by Abhay, who has single-handedly created this banger. He has written the melody, sung the lines and along with that arranged and produced the song to perfection.It all begins in such a mellow fashion, but the moment Abhay starts singing our hearts just grow fonder. The cool and casual style of delivery is executed brilliantly and let us not forget Adesh Krishna's apt lyrics. Sai Smriti sings in the background and delivers those stylish and teasing Konnakol lines. The impactful bass is accompanied by engaging keys, synths and the Vocoder, all played by Abhay. Do remember to check in the song's official video on YouTube as it has some stunning choreography by Anusha Viswanathan and all the dancers from The Dancers Club. The interlude is filled with the Nadaswaram by Parthiban, the DIY Duduk and Bawu played by Ashish and all the wonderful rhythms programmed by Abhay. Many musicians assume that a song with a couple of catchy lines is good enough for the listeners to enjoy, but Abhay deserves huge appreciation for going further and giving us a cherished experience and you can feel the hair rising with the melodious notes of the stanza as he sings " yaarum parthu ninnu pesavilla". He sings the lines with such finesse and it is like he knows the magic formula to make a song sound hypnotic and addictive. Whether you understand the lyrics or not, I urge the readers to listen, see and dance their way to bliss with this one. The electric guitar is played by Rohan Sebastian, while Abhay is on the acoustic guitar. Yanka Rhythm Group is in charge of the reverberating live rhythms, and the tracks are mixed by Sai at YOLO Records and mastered by Rupendar Venkatesh. @abhyankkar @thinkindiecollective @tatva_man @directedbykenroyson @anu_viswa @thedancersclub @rupendar_venkatesh @my_deceptive_cadence 3. Dil Ki MezSinger - Shalmali KholgadeLyrics - Varun GroverMusic - PritamLanguage: HindiGenre: Jazz Mood: RomanticHere comes the 3rd song from 'Merry Christmas' that I am featuring in 2024 and surely this puts Pritam in his 'A' game. This one has one of my favourites Shalmali Kholgade on lead vocals and she is blazing away with her delivery. Jazz music is back baby in Bollywood, and we get some wonderful arrangements, with the Piano, the horns section, backing vocals and the Harmonica too. The chorus segment is beautiful and if Shalmali's steamy vocals aren't enough for you, we get the sensational interludes, led by the Harmonica and the backing vocal humming piles up on the beauty. Many a time, songs that are picturised as performances on screen, end up disappointing but this one is mesmerising. I can feel my cells falling in love with the music I hear and when Shalmali sings "Karenge hum yeh galti khamakha". Kudos to Varun Grover for the lyrics. The mild drums never let us lose a moment's focus and the upright bass and Piano combine with great effect in the outro. @shamliaow @vidushak @ipritamofficial4. Cross The LineMusic composed by Chirag Todi and ChezinMusic produced by Divyang AroraVocals, Lyrics: ChezinLanguage: EnglishGenre: PopMood: EnergeticChirag Todi is sensational in playing the guitars in the intro. The song's melody is written by Chirag and Chezin with the latter working on the lyrics and he is also the lead vocalist. The vocals are ballistic and it is impossible to remain calm or static when the song oozes in style and seduction. The humming that precedes and follows "You're taking full control of me" is one of the most delicious parts of the song. Chetan Dominic Awasthi a.k.a. Chezin has some envious vocal qualities and he leverages this with some glorious delivery. Divyang Aora deserves all the credit for producing this song with such style and substance, that it elevates the song to a level crossing all global benchmarks. The arrangements of all instrumentals and vocal harmonies also are done by Divyang. The solo on the guitar towards the end is funky to the core. We also get adequate thump from the rhythms and key departments. Nirmit Shah is the mix/master engineer and the attractive artwork is by Rachel Naomi. @chiragtodi @divyang_arora @chezinofficial @nirmit.music @rachelnaomidias @srilakshmii_5. DhunSinger, Composer - Sarthak SaksenaLyrics - Shayra ApoorvaMusic Production, Outro Composition - Shahzan MujeebLanguage: HindiGenre: Semi-classical/ EDM