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Indian Weekly

weekly 25th feb 24

Top Indian Songs of the week 25th February 2024

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

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weekly 18th feb 24

Top Indian Songs of the week 18th February 2024

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

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weekly 11th feb 2024

Top Indian Songs of the week 11th February 2024

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. 

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weekly 4th feb 2024

Top Indian Songs of the week 4th February 2024

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

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weekly 28th Jan 24

Top Indian Songs of the week 28th January 2024

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 28th January 2024.1. Dava DavaSinger - Aishwarya RangarajanMusic Composer -K C BalasaranganLyrics- Mahendra GowdaLanguage: KannadaGenre: Pop FusionMood: EnergeticThis is sheer brilliance and just like last week, the composer here too excels at fusing musical styles and we end up getting the number 1 song of the week. K C Balasarangan has composed and produced this song from the upcoming Kannada movie album " Anshu" WIthout Aishwarya Rangarajan's electrifying vocals, the song would only have accomplished half of its final glory. The Keys alone come in with layers and allow Aishwarya to excel with every note uttered. From being a soft and tender performer in the song's Pallavi, she explodes with great energy and attitude in the song's anupallavi section. The chorus section with the line "Dava Dava" lets us experience a rush of blood to the head. The interlude is loaded with the sounds of some ethnic strings. The initial pre-chorus segments tend to have some Sri Ragam influences but when we get to the stanza, there is Raag Darbari at play. The stanza is short but Aishwarya leaves no stone unturned and she displays an amazingly wide range and some terrific vibrato towards the end as well. Balasarangan incorporates a wide variety of rhythms and the humming in the second interlude is a clear giveaway of the Darbari influence. Vairavasan is the brilliant sound engineer behind this output and the tracks are mixed and mastered by by him A at Soniq Grit Studios, Chennai. The recording engineer is Vaishnavi Mishra.@aish_rangarajan @aanandaaudio @kcbalasarangan @nisha_ravikrishnaoffl_ @mahendra.gowda.77 @aditi_narayan_official_2. Pahadon MeinWritten, Composed: Vishal MishraVocals: Vishal MishraLanguage: HindiGenre: PopMood: RomanticYou can never keep a mammoth restrained and under covers, can you? Here comes one of the most talented and accomplished musicians from India, and he delivers a spell-binding performance in this indie project. Vishal Mishra has written the lyrics, composed the tune and performed the led vocals with such finesse. Ishan Das draws you with the guitars, and the gentle voice of Vishal is like the hook or bait and the end of that string. If you are a music lover, this will be your handicap and you cannot escape the beauty of his singing. The melody is so charming and the introduction of the Tabla is magical when the song's Sthayi is repeated, thanks to the live rhythms by Prashant Sonagra and Ishteyak Khan. The strokes are played by Tapas Roy in the interlude and when it combines with the Flute solo by Parth Shankar we are transported to heaven. The melody oozes even more quality into the stanza segment and Vishal captivates with the strings section in the background and the combined beauty of all live string instruments and rhythms. The supreme output of the song is also thanks to Vishal Music assistants Kumar Gaurav Singh, Trihangku Lahkar and Bixal. The tracks are mixed and mastered by Eric Pillai at Future Sound of Bombay with Michael Edwin Pillai assisting on mixing. Trihangku Lahkar at VM Studio and Sanket Tole at SevenHeavenStudios are the recording engineers. @vishalmishraofficial @sonalc23 @kumargauravsing @rajchanana @trihangkulahkar @ericpillai @gauravvaswaniofficial @mahirasharma @bixal__purplehaze 3. Tu Meri HaiMusic - Sachin - JigarSinger - Jigar Saraiya & Shreya GhosalLyrics- Priya Saraiya

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weekly 21st jan 2024

Top Indian Songs of the week 21st January 2024

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 21st January 2024.1. Love Like That Vocals - Jonita, Ali SethiProducer - ArizaSongwriters - Jonita, Ali Sethi, Juan Ariza, Julia GarthaLanguage: English/PunjabiGenre: Electronic pop fusionMood: EuphoricFusion music of extraordinary skill and creativity needs due appreciation and recognition. This song is the epitome of such expertise and I knew from the time I heard it that 'Love Like That' would top the charts. Jonita Gandhi's saucy vocals introduce us to the song with electronic pop elements ruling the roost. The clap sounds kind of indicate the approval and ovation from the crowd listening to this. Ali Sethi starts off and the most unexpected shift in the song's style happens with his semi-classical notes intertwining with Jonita's western-styled vocals. Jonita, Ali Sethi, Juan Ariza and Julia Gartha have written the song with Ariza being the producer. As we get to the middle of the song, both Ali and Jonita exhibit tremendous skill as vocalists, singing in the Punjabi lines with incredible control and effective vibrato. When I hear the semi-classical portions I am reminded of Raag Desh. The tracks are mixed by Jesse Ray Ernster and mastered by Gerhard Westphalen@jonitamusic @alisethiofficial @juliagartha @musicariza @jesseraymix @gerhardwestphalen2. Sougandhika Music Composed and Arranged by: Mayur AmbekalluSingers: Siddhartha Belmannu, Aishwarya RangarajanLyricist: Sandeep SunkadProgrammed by: Mayur AmbekalluLanguage: KannadaGenre: Semi-classical popMood: RomanticThere is such an extensive live instrumental display in the intro section and that itself is a rare commodity these days. Mayur Ambekallu gets my approval for this composition and also his skilful arrangements in the song. Sandeep Vashishta kicks things off with the woodwinds, to be followed by Amritanshu Dutta playing the Indian Slide guitar. The guitars are played by Ritwik Bhattacharya and Vinay Sharma. Siddhartha Belamannu had sung one of the best songs of 2023 and I am glad he has begun 2023 on this note. The chorus section becomes quite upbeat like in the dance-pop mode. The interludes put the slide guitar on display once again with Amritanshu given a free hand. The stanza is beautiful with notes that kind of remind of me Raag Brindavani Sarang. Mayur keeps bettering himself as we progress because he not only gives an enjoyable tune but also gets the arrangements to magnify the beauty of the songManonmani and Sarfraz Khan are exponents of the Sarangi and they delight us in the stanza with their interventions. Napier Naveen is the bassist providing such a unique style in the background. Two is always better than 1, isn't it? That is what we get with Aishwarya Rangarajan singing the female lead vocals with her high-pitched perfection and emotionally invested delivery. She dominated in the second stanza and the landing just ahead of the pallavi is executed beautifully by the leads. The recording engineers are Amith Sachdeva at Musicloud Studios Bengaluru and Paul at 20db Studios, Chennai. Hriday Goswami is the mix/master engineer at X-Noise Studios, Guwahati@mayurambekallu @siddhartha_belamannu @aish_rangarajan @hridaygoswami @xnoisestudio @film_shakhahaari @sandeepsunkada @shruti_madawale @vinayuj_official @nidhi_hegde @chethusomashekhar @pauldanieldanny @sarfaraaz_khan29 @mrtmusicofficial @krg_connects @ritwikbhaatacharya @amritanshudutta @sreeharsha_gobhatta @sandeepvasishta @musicloudstudio @20dbsoundstudios@napier_naveen   3. Jiya Jaise Composer and Lyricist - Raghav KaushikSingers - Raghav Kaushik & Nikhita GandhiMusic Producer - Himonshu ParikhLanguage: HindiGenre: Electronic popMood: Romantic

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weekly 14th jan 2024

Top Indian Songs of the week 14th January 2024

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 January 2024. 1. Kaatuka Kallakettinaave Music Composer, Lyrics: P V N S Rohit Singers : P V N S Rohit & Sahithi Chaganti Song Programmed by Ebenezer Paul Song was Arranged by Anudeep DevLanguage: TeluguGenre: Musical Theatre/ PopMood: Happy'Dumbstruck', is the word that defines my feeling when I heard this indie single last week, walking back home after a dull and drab day. I realised the power of music in its entirety when this song played out, especially with the theatrics and vocal skill of PVNS Rohit beaming through my headphones. I am not sure how I missed this because it says that this is a 2022 release, but a few Spotify Playlists added this song in 2024. I wanted to feature this song nevertheless. The Accordion and Piano create a Musical Theatre kind of tone with Sahithi Chaganti's feeble humming in the background. After that, it is a show of mastery by Rohit with this incredible control, ghamaka-laden singing. I can hardly comprehend the things he is achieving vocally. The best part of the songs is that nothing is done as overkill, because many a time, vocalists can do so much that the beauty of a tune is damaged. Here PVNS Rohit maintains the sactity of his composition all along as he dazzles with his delivery. Ebenezer Paul does all the programming and the splendid arrangments are handled by Anudeep Dev. I urge singers to try this vocally at home! The recording engineers are Aditya, Bhanu & Anudeep Dev, with mixing and mastering by Abin Paul @flawed_brilliance @ebbypaul11 @anudeep.dev @sahithichaganti @2. Kutty Kudiye Music Composed, Arranged, and Produced: Vishnu Vijay Lyrics: Suhail Koya Singers: Sanjith Hegde, Vishnu VijayLanguage: MalayalamGenre: folk-popMood: EnergeticI am so happy that after long last Sanjith Hegde is being allowed to showcase his brilliant skills as a vocalist across languages. In Kannada, he is the reigning numero uno, but thankfully after AR Rahman made him sing in Tamil for 'Ayalaan', now the fantastic composer/flautist Vishnu Vijay makes him sing in Malayalam. This groovy pop single is from the movie 'Premalu' and I bet that this is going to be a super hit on all social media. Sanjith's singing is spotless and he induces this cool attitude when he delivers the lines so casually. The bamboo flute-based riffs that we hear are by Vishnu and this piece is proof of what Vishnu always offers in every song, 'freshness'. The way Sanjith ends the lines "pathi pathiye aaa, chiri virinje aa" with that mild falsetto reminds me Anirudh too. Nikhil plays the Ocarina which is a very unique wind instrument and the Key flute, with Vishnu on the Bau. The interlude has these elements on display and with the stanza Vishnu and Sanjith combine beautifully and make an indelible statement. The traces of the Accordion are interesting along with all the keys and rhythms. The lyrics are interesting and are written by Suhail Koya. The tracks are mixed and mastered by Sujith Sreedhar @ 2BQ Studios. The recording engineers are Vaishanvi Mishra, Kashyap Ram Mohan and Sanjay Romauld with Vignesh Raj as the sessions manager. @vishnuvijay01 @sanjithhegde @sujithsreedhar @nikhilramtp @suhailmkoya3. Nazar Teri Toofan Singer: PaponLyrics: Varun GroverMusic Director: Pritam

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weekly 7th january 2024

Top Indian Songs of the week 7th January 2024

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 7th January 2024. 1. Jaadu Performed by Saptak ChatterjeeWritten by Saptak ChatterjeeProduced by Saptak ChatterjeeLanguage: HindiGenre: Semi-classicalMood: RelaxedIt is amazing to welcome Saptak Chatterjee back to the weeklies on my website after a minor hiatus. It seems he wanted to use the gap to rekindle some ideas and come back with the good stuff. It has worked like wonders is what I believe. This song touched me, the moment I heard it and it just keeps getting better as we progress into the song. The technical prowess of all the Hindustani vocal training is evident in every note he utters and Saptak combines a beautiful voice with that to give us a fulfilling experience. Shrikant Biswakarma plays the guitars and along with the rhythms, we get the necessary layers to elevate the song's output. The vocal harmony layers that flow in with the swaras being sung are an attractive portion that comes as an interlude. I love the segment Shrikant gets more lively with the electric guitars in the background and the solo deserves a special mention. The segment where he sings "jaadu tera , tera nasha" repetitively towards the outro is a fitting end. Saptak has written, composed and produced the song with Keshav Dhar on mixing and mastering. @saptakchatterjeeofficial @keshavdhar @strings_of_karma 2. Ahilya Composition, Sitar: Malvica ChopraArrangement, Production, Mix: Pranav NigamLanguage: InstrumentalGenre: Classical FusionMood: RelaxedMalvica is a trained Sitar player who has been sharpening her skills for 16 years and it shows in this composition and performance. When she reached out to me with this track, I had my heart filled with joy listening to the calmness and serenity the composition fetched me. The song was conceptualised and written a couple of years ago when Malvica Chopra was a student of music in California and she gets Pranav Nigram on board for this instrumental piece with the latter producing it and giving us a delectable output.The sound design is perfect and it intends to relax the mind with the sound of water and the impending artistry in the Sitar. Something I have released is that not only songs but all kinds of tracks like these amazing instrumental pieces should be featured alongside in my weeklies. Why should music lovers be kept away from just gorgeous displays? The Piano that accompanies right through is played by Pranav and he also does the arrangements.I do sense traces of Raag Bilawal and there are movements when the Piano fades away leaving us just Malvica weaving magic on the Sitar and the chirping birds in the background. It soon is followed by a resounding Piano entry and mild layers of vocal harmony. Kudos to Malvica for instilling such vigour in our hearts and exhibiting the power of instrumental music. Pranav other than all the endearing work on production also does the mixing and the mastering is done by Aniruddha Purushe. Check out the amazing music video as well on YouTube created by Dipankar Jain and Fiza of Nazariya Stories. Diskha Sharma Raina is the dancer in the video with the elegant moves. @malvicachopra @pranavnigam06 @dipankar.jain @pencil_bicycler @ani.purushe 3. Megham Pol Aagi Song Composed Arranged by JAKES BEJOY Lyrics: THAMARAISinger : KAPIL KAPILANMusic Producers : JAKES BEJOY, HARISANKAR V

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weekly 31st dec 23

Top Indian Songs of the week 31st December 2023

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 December 2023. 1. Sun Khwaab Re Performed by Jaasmaan, Jince Mathew, MagishaWritten by Jaasmaan RProduced by Jince MathewLanguage: HindiGenre: Light MusicJaasmaan Rathore's music acts like a time capsule, whereby it transports us to an earlier decade when Bollywood music was good. This is the second song from his new album " Scratch Singer" that I am featuring and the common factor between both the songs is that the underlying melody is rich, hummable and heartwarming. Jaasmaan has written and sung it and the resemblance to Sonu Nigam's texture and tone is uncanny and unmistakable. Jince Mathew handles most of the song's outstanding arrangements and production and that is what elevates a good composition into a higher orbital. The song hardly gets past the sthayi and antara segments and we already get a load of strings, the flute, Piano, guitars and much more. The melody reminds me "Meri Mehbooba" from the album 'Pardes'. After a delightful guitar-flute Jugalbandhi in the interlude, we are bombarded with creative and splendid instrumental interventions in the stanza. The flute and the Piano continue to titillate us in the stanza but the Violin solo interventions stand out like during the line " ajnabee raah par, ik thikaana mil gaya". Sruthi Balamurali plays both the Violin and Flute, while it is Sumesh Parameswar on guitars. Jince Mathew, take a bow for these mindblowing arrangements. The second interlude has a touching electric guitar interlude almost sounding like a Mohan Veena, and then the flute, violin and strings section follow. Magisha joins the party late but she does make an impact nevertheless on vocals. The bassist is Andre' Vasconcellos, and Jaasmaan handles the bass and vocal arrangements. Keshav Dhar is the mix and master engineer. @jaasmaanrathore @mathewjince @magishamusic @parameswarsumesh @tnbsruthi @andrevasconcellosbx @keshavdhar @megharainaa 2. Jaabili Jaana Music director : Kalyan NayakSingers: Vijay Yesudas, Sitara Krishnakumar  Lyrics: M.V.S Bharadwaj Arrangements: Jonathan Joseph Language: TeluguGenre: Light MusicEven before we get to Vihay Yesudas' vocals, the flute and the bass guitars lay the foundation for what's about to come and cradle us away into oblivion and tranquillity. Nikhil Ram plays the flute, and we have Sumesh Parameswar on all the guitars. Vijay has been featured after a noticeable hiatus on this website and I am happy that we have his voice back to serenading us. Kalyan Nayak is the composer of the tune and he is the music director, but a big shoutout to the arrangements by Jonathan Joseph. We hear multiple layers of live instruments like the flutes, guitars and strings section coming and getting juxtaposed in the interlude. Cochin Strings is responsible for this and we have Laksmikanth and Kalyan Nayak on all the additional arrangements. The stanza continues and it gets richer in the melody quotient. if Vijay's voice wasn't enough to hallucinate us, we got another Diva in Sithara Krishnakumar to hit the final nail in the coffin and leave us for dead. Vijay creates a wave of serenity but Sithara induces a sense of longing and pathos through her vocals. The tracks are mixed by Vivek Thomas, with Aditya G assisting, and Dnal Whelan is the mastering engineer. @kalyannayak_official @nilave_cheli @shreyasi.sen @thevijayyesudas @sitharakrishnakumar @vivekthomasproductions @nikhilramtp @parameswarsumesh@musicproducer.jo @cochinstrings  3. Disinformation Performed by NOK NOKWritten by Amar Pandey, Nikhil Vasudevan, Sumant Balakrishnan

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weekly revised 24th dec 23

Top Indian Songs of the week 24th December 2023

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 December 2023. 1. Mehsoos Lyrics: Yogendra SaniyawalaComposition: Yogendra Saniywala, Swati Minaxi, Biju Nambiar, Gaurav Kapadia, Manuel Lagullón OlivaresVocals: Swati MinaxiLanguage: HindiGenre: Folk/Experimental FusionA folk band also making contemporary and some kind of experimental fusion emerges from Surat and I like many ardent fans of music have started taking them seriously. I had featured them a year or so ago for a song called "Haiya Ho" and another one by the name "Khuda Na Mere". This one however tops them all. Swati Minaxi, the lead vocalist sizzles right from the get-go with that steamy voice. The acoustic guitars keep strumming all along creating the effect of a natural stream of water especially with the keyboards as well. Biju Nambiar is paying the Keys and Yogendra Saniyawala is on the guitars. The song's title talks about 'Mehsoos' and that is what you get when you listen to the song, a wholesome experience that uplifts the spirit. The production is out of this world with the Keys, drums by Gaurav Kapadia and the fantastic accompanying vocals. The varying percussions give the folk flavor and none of this would be so emphatic and moving without Swati's mind-bending delivery. Manuel Lagullón Olivares plays the simmering Double Bass. This single is written by Yogendra and composed by Swati, Manuel, Biju, Yogendra and Gaurav. Vijay Benegal is the mixing engineer at The Audio Guys Institute, Mumbai and the mastering is by Jeremy Hagry at Dune Audio Productions LTD, UK@thetapiproject @gauravpf @bijunambiar97 @indianuance @yogendrasaniyawala @swati_minaxi @payo_maracas @jimbhaai2. Bhoolo BhatkoSinger/Performed By/Cast: BassickLyricist: BassickMusic Producer/Composer/Produced By: Anurag SaikiaCo-Composer: Keshav Tyohar, Oblong SioniLanguage: HindiGenre: Alt-Hip HopI was blown away by a few tracks in the latest season of MTV Hustle. There will be two tracks featured this week and they had some scintillating Alt-Hip Hop, fusing rap and Indian folk elements. This one is performed and written by Shlok Varma a.k.a. Bassick and the composition, and production is by one of India's finest, Anurag Saikia. We are taken to rural Bundelkhand thanks to the arrangements and overall programming. Keshav Tyohar also has worked on this project's production.The keys and rhythms are extremely engaging and never sound mundane for even a second. Anurag ups the ante on synths and with Bassick's intelligent writing, and thunderous rapping. Hanish Taneja has mixed and mastered the tracks at Studio Alika. @bassick._ @mtvhustle @kaanphodmusic @keshavtyohar @anuraag_psychaea @mixedbyhanish3. Jazbaat Song Composed, Produced, Arranged by: A. R. RahmanSingers: Jubin Nautiyal & Shilpa RaoLyrics by: Shellee Language: HindiGenre: Filmi PopAR Rahman is a giant and sometimes even a legend like him can see some decline especially when he has been around for 4 decades. In 2023 ARR has come up with some good songs here and there rather than wholesome albums. 'Pippa' on Amazon Prime has some good

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