While the country is gearing up for the upcoming Coldplay concert, netizens raised a good question on social media. “If only India gave so much love and support to an Indian artist?” From waiting in long queues for the ticket to people reselling it for as much as 1 lakh rupees. And if you aren’t lucky enough to pull a few strings to bag the golden tickets, here are a few concerts of Indian indie artists to attend.
Indie music, short for independent music, is finally receiving the love it deserves in India, with stars like Prateek Kuhad making it to former President Barack Obama’s annual playlist of favourite songs in 2019.
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Stuck in the Coldplay Line? Here are 5 Amazing Indie artists to celebrate if
you don’t get the Coldplay tickets
Prateek Kuhad
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Best known for his song, Cold/Mess, which ended up on Barack Obama’s 2019 playlist, Prateek Kuhad is an indie artist who has generated universal praise for his pop and folk-driven songs. His music is simple, comforting yet personal. His songs feature acoustic guitar-driven melodies, gentle vocals, and the lyrics of a love ballad. Often compared to artists like Ben Howard and Damien Rice, Prateek Kuhad was awarded the Indian Indie Album of the Year 2019 by iTunes, and Top Indian Indie Hits by Spotify. He was commemorated by The Best India Act at the 2016 MTV Europe Music Awards and Best Pop Artist Award at the Radio City Freedom Awards 2018.
Kuhad’s ongoing Silhouettes Tour features 30+ shows across the US, Canada, UK, Europe, and India. Catch him live in Mumbai’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Stadium on November 15 or in other key Indian cities, including Hyderabad, Bangalore, Pune, Gurugram, Jaipur, Kolkata, Guwahati, Indore, and Ahmedabad.
The Yellow Diary
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Formed in 2015, The Yellow Diary is a musical collective from Mumbai featuring five artists: Lead vocalist and lyricist Rajan Batra, Keyboards and Backing vocals Himonshu Parikh, Vaibhav Pani on the Guitar, Stuart DaCosta on the bass, and Sahil Shah on Drums. The band is known for its unique blend of indie rock, electronic elements, and poetic lyrics. The music often merges rock, electronic music, and soft pop elements and has a reflective, emotional, and cinematic style. Their well-known tracks include Roz Roz, Marz, Tera Jeya Hor DIsda, Rab Raakha, and Dhoondti Firaan.
The band’s ongoing tour started on July 20, 2024, and will end on October 5 while promoting their new song, Kahe Kahe. Catch them live at the Vibezalive Festival in Pune on September 28 and at the One World Many Musics featuring The Yellow Diary in Mumbai on October 5.
Peter Cat Recording Co.
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Based out of New Delhi, Peter Cat Recording Co. was founded in 2009 by five members; Suryakant Sawhney, Karan Singh, Dhruv Bhola, Rohit Gupta and Kartik Sundareshan Pillai. Their music blurs the lines of genres by blending elements of jazz, gypsy, swing, psychedelic rock, and indie. The sounds are complemented by lush instrumentation influenced by 1960s and 1970s Bollywood, and cabaret music. With their music, Peter Cat Recording Co. create a dreamy, nostalgic vibe while maintaining modernity. Memory Box, Foolmuse, Suddenly, Floated By, and People Never Change are some of their well-known tracks.
Their ongoing Good Luck BETA’24 tour features 77 shows across North America, India, and Europe. Catch them live in JVPD Ground, Mumbai on December 20, Jayamahal Palace, Bengaluru on December 28, or in Goa, Pune, Gurugram, and Kolkata.
Also, read:
Indian Music Bands And Artists Shaking Up The Music Scene
The F16s
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Chennai-based, four-member band, the F16s, first released their debut album Kaleidoscope in 2013. The band takes inspiration from artists like Arctic Monkeys, The Strokes, and Daft Punk, characterising smooth vocals, atmospheric synths, and groovy baselines while being lyrically driven. The band describes themselves as “a pop band disguised in a rock and roll outfit.” Their music takes inspiration from the monotonous everyday life.
Although the F16s don’t have any upcoming concerts scheduled in India in 2024, you can pre-book tickets for their live concert on January 17, 2025, at the G5A Warehouse, Mumbai. The band will also be touring in Singapore in November 2024.
Maalavika Manoj aka Mali
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Hailing from Mumbai, Maalavika Manoj pr Mali is a singer-songwriter who’s known for her versatile music style. Although her music initially leaned heavily on acoustic guitar for her new debut LP; Caution to the Wind, Mali is experimenting with her music by embracing a more electronic, synth-pop direction. Her music in Caution in the Wind features dreamy electro-pop ballads and introspective pop tunes amidst themes of longing, struggle, and nostalgia.
In February 2024, her song, Semi Automatic Butane, was shortlisted for Fortnite, and in 2023, she won a nomination for Best India Act at the MTV Europe Music Awards. Catch her live in Mumbai at the Lollapalooza on December 21, or in Delhi on January 19. Mali also has shows planned for Siliguri, Pondicherry, Gangtok, Shillong, Darjeeling, Pune, Bengaluru and more.
Other new Indie artists to keep an eye out for
Looking for more new music? Here’s a list of growing Indie artists who are now gaining recognition;
- Humankind: Hip-Hop
- When Chai Met Toast: indie folk alternative
- Parvaaz – Rock
- Kabir Cafe – Indie folk and Indie fusion
- The Local Train – Rock
- Zaeden – Indie pop
- Lost Stories – Dance/Electronic
- Vilen – Indian film pop, Hip Hop/Rap
If you don’t find your favourite Indie artists on our list, then they probably don’t have a concert or tour scheduled yet. But hold on! We will update you with a fresh list of Indie artists to help you keep an eye out for new independent music. Stay tuned!
