Indie music and musicians in India is any new music or artist that cannot be classified as “Bollywood” or “classical”. This genre encompasses everything else. The Indian music scene offers a variety of new and exciting artists. So, whether you’re an avid indie music listener or new to the genre, The Ladies Compartment thinks these five women are a must-listen.
Sanchi Mannotra
Sanchi’s self-proclaimed “raw and heartfelt” style of music resonates on stage, and the “intuitive” nature of her music translates just as well in a playlist. In addition, her deep voice adds a soft texture to the duets she performs and is a calming presence in her work.
She’s an all-around artist; Sanchi sings, plays the ukulele, has a tattoo business and is a visual artist. Sanchi even painted the sets on her latest music video. She loves “giving [her] best” across “any kind of art.”
Over the past years, Sanchi has grown as a performance artist by collaborating with bands and performing live. She said she “loves creating music even more now” because her experiences with bandmates helped her “fight off her anxieties.”
She composes in English and Hindi, so if you need musical caresses across two languages, Sanchi is your gal.
Favourite Song: Chale Bhi Jao
Favourite Lyric: “Taare gin ya tumko suno” (Chale Bhi Jao)
Anumita Nadesan
Anumita, a phenom out of Trivandrum, first gained popularity singing covers online. After dropping out of a Music BA and pursuing education, she realised how much she loved the arts and picked up her guitar. Her original music, which she began releasing songs in 2021, has been heard over four million times.
A student of Carnatic music since she was six, Anumita marries old-school percussion and Carnatic beats with a modern sound. Her classical training and youthful energy give her music an achingly sincere, un-ironic nostalgia. Her music embodies the best elements of the Indian indie scene — outstanding lyrics, soothing melodies, passionate communication and a stunning voice. TLC predicts Anumita is only just starting her meteoric rise.
Favourite Song: Khwaab
Favourite Lyric: “Mein toh khaamosh lehro pe behti” (Khwaab)
Sanjeeta Bhattacharya
Sanjeeta is an all-around artist who creates novel and meaningful sounds. She studied music at the Berklee College of Music and “found a whole new world” artistically. Her performance in the Berklee Indian Ensemble’s tribute to A.R. Rahman has over 33 million views on YouTube.
Taking elements from various styles, ranging from contemporary Indie pop to Latin Jazz, Sanjeeta’s music encapsulates many global art forms. She is both an actor and a trained dancer, influencing empathy in her lyricism. She also loves to experiment with foreign languages and medleys, audible in Pensarte, a TLC favourite.
Favourite Song: Pensarte
Favourite Lyric: “I’ll learn to draw them in watercolour, so they wash away easy” (Watercolour)
Kamakshi Khanna
Kamakshi Khanna is best described as rhythmic, passionate and dynamic. Her music is both angst-ridden and joyful, and she wants to “create ear-worms for solitude and self-reflection” through her music.
Kamakshi frequently collaborated with other artists to explore different sub-genres. Although she keeps to her style in each piece, she also stretches herself to “new dimension[s].” One of the ways she does this is by testing “the way the audience responds to [her] music” in live performances before scheduling her releases.
She discussed her growing love for collaborations with TLC, saying it alleviates the occasional loneliness of being an independent artist. She noted that collaborating is “like finding a space in [another] sonic home.”
Sanjeeta Bhattacharya and Kamakshi’s latest collaboration, ‘Swimming’ earlier this year, is a TLC favourite.
Favourite Song: Qareeb
Favourite Lyric: “Mere dil ki baatein keise mein ginoon” (Taare)
Anoushka Maskey
Anoushka Maskey is a Sikkimese “lockdown artist” who released her first EP CEASE in 2020. So what is a “lockdown artist?” you asked. For Anoushka, it means creating music that “traverses her experience of being locked down alone” during the Covid19 pandemic.
The process of “writing something, composing it [and] building it into a full song” is “endlessly gratifying” for her, Anoushka told TLC. After releasing her first album in mandated solitary, she “can’t wait to experience more” live performances… which are incredibly empowering,” she added.
Anoushka’s music is inspired by American mid-century jazz and folk genres, evident through her use of acoustic guitar, rhythmic syncopation and multiple vocal registers. Her ethereal voice is a perfect addition to your jazz, indie or alternative playlists!
Favourite Song: Trampoline
Favourite Lyric: “I made a friend of these hallucinations” (Things I saw in a Dream)
Bonus: TLC put together a playlist of our best-loved songs by these five musicians, especially for our ladies! Have a listen and tell us which are your favourites in the comments.
You may also like: #LadiesRadio
Can you think of other Indian indie artists who deserve a shout-out? Let us know by dropping their names, Spotify or Instagram handles in the comments.
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