In 1996, when Bollywood dominated India’s music charts, a quiet storm arrived with a guitar, curly hair, and a voice like no one else. That storm was Lucky Ali, and his debut album Suno became a landmark moment in Indian pop music. It wasn’t flashy. It didn’t try too hard. But it hit people right […]
Where Is Bombay Vikings Now? Revisiting India’s Hinglish Pop Icon
Bombay Vikings captured India’s imagination in the late 1990s and early 2000s with its unique Hinglish pop sound and Karachi-meets-Stockholm fusion. But where is Bombay Vikings today? Founded in 1994 in Stockholm, the band started as a collaborative effort between Indian-born frontman Neeraj Shridhar and Swedish musicians Oscar Söderberg and Mats N
Kailash Kher on the Rise of Independent and Folk Music in India
Kailash Kher is shining a bright spotlight on a wave transforming Indian music: independent and folk voices stepping into the mainstream. He views music not as Bollywood alone but as a vast ecosystem enriched by diverse regional sounds. Kher says non-film and independent music has seen dramatic growth in recent years. Thanks to platforms that [&hel
Kushagra’s Creative Freedom: The Rise of an Independent Voice
Few indie artists in India have a story as authentic and emotionally resonant as Kushagra Thakur, the soul-stirring singer-songwriter from Dehradun. From a viral cover upload on his mother’s phone to a chart-topping original, his journey is proof that sincerity, not strategy, can build a movement. Kushagra’s musical awakening began young. At six, h
Strings: The Band That Gave South Asia Its Timeless Soundtrack
Few bands in South Asia have created the kind of lasting impact that Strings has. What started as a college music project in Karachi in the late 1980s quietly turned into a cultural movement. With poetic lyrics, soulful melodies, and a clean, emotional sound, Strings connected deeply with audiences across India, and beyond. Their music […]