As the indie music scene bursts with potential, we tune into the artists that are pushing boundaries and carving out a niche for themselves. Here’s Platform’s Indie Spotlight:
D₹V
Dhruv Rajpal, better known by his stage name, which is stylised as D₹V, entered the underground hip-hop scene in 2020. His self-titled album housed trap sounds unheard of in the Indian rap scene, and carved out a subgenre which was characterised by his mumble delivery. Dhruv cemented his status further with his sophomore album, Nakshatra.
pho
Artist pho has powerful vocals and infectious energy. Her versatility projects onto her genre-bending debut EP Bheetar Bahar, which oscillates from melancholic to uptempo to soulful ballads. pho has raised the bar for indie artists to show up with vulnerability and strength, with an indispensable charm.
Dappest
Shillong singer and rapper Dappest experiments with multiple styles and sounds, but sets himself apart through his smooth vocals and range. His debut album, At Your Service, which is executively produced by adL, is charismatic and groovy. It infuses elements from r&b, funk, afrobeats and UK garage, seamlessly.
Anumita Nadesan
Classically trained artist Anumita Nadesan went viral with her honeyed song cover of Jashn-e-Bahara in 2020, which garnered over six million views. As she continued making covers, she gained a loyal listenership, along with attention from the entertainment industry. Using the momentum granted to her by social media, she pivoted into original compositions and released her debut single Khwaab in 2022. Since then, Anumita has been featured on multiple tracks and toured the country, which included performing at Bacardi’s NH7 Weekender in Pune.
Dhanji
Rapper Dhanji hails from Ahmedabad and pioneers a distinctive flow. Building a stable foundation through his large volume of work, including EP Lost in AMD and album DZs Control, Dhanji champions a characteristic sound and beat selection. His latest EP Bagman, executively produced by unfuckman, features heavy percussion with a minimal bassline, producing a gritty sound that Dhanji powers through with his style of delivery and flow.
ARSLAN
Producing grimy beats that often utilise the most innovative samples comes easy to ARSLAN. With albums such as Astitva, The Sobhraj Tape and MADHEERA under his belt, he’s making quite the dent in the underground hip-hop world. His unorthodox mixing delivers a sound reminiscent of the American coke rap subgenre in hip-hop.
Text: Nandini Chand
Date: 07-12-2022