No Skip is Billboard India’s weekly roundup of the best new Indian music. Every Monday, we sift through last week’s crop of releases to put out the ultimate playlist – handpicked by the Billboard India team. Tracks from Indian artists across any genre (including the diaspora), released on any major streaming platform until Friday night are considered for editorial curation.
This week’s No Skip selections feature new music from Indian rock legends Indian Ocean, a new Sufi track from Satinder Sartaj and Jasmine Sandlas’s new spin on a familiar song. Here’s the list.
- “Pyaar” by Jasmine Sandlas
Jasmine Sandlas steps into a vocal pocket she doesn’t often occupy on “Pyaar,” bringing a softer, moodier quality to the track. Her reverb-heavy vocals sit over a synth-led arrangement, while the piano line and swinging drums may remind listeners of Elliot James Reay’s “I Think They Call This Love.” Sandlas gives the familiar musical foundation a different spin, making for a sweet, atmospheric track that takes her outside her usual territory.
- “Bol Ari” by Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean’s “Bol Ari” is an adaptation of Asrar-ul-Haq Majaz’s celebrated Urdu poem “Bol Ari O Dharti Bol,” and it feels like a natural fit for the band. Majaz’s themes of rebellion and unrest sit beautifully alongside Indian Ocean’s alt-rock sensibilities, recalling the angst of “Bandeh” and the expansive musicality of “Des Mera Rangrez.”
- “Guzarish” by Satinder Sartaaj
Satinder Sartaaj’s “Guzarish” reinforces his place as one of the strongest contemporary voices carrying forward the poetic and Sufi traditions of Punjabi music. He sounds as refined as ever here, bringing a beautiful sense of yearning to the song. As the arrangement expands, “Guzarish” takes on a cinematic quality without losing the intimacy at its core.
- “Life Ey Oka Zindagi Ayipaye” by KASYAP
KASYAP’s “Life Ey Oka Zindagi Ayipaye” is a 2000s-style pop-rock track with a funky guitar line at its centre. There’s a nice bounce to the percussion, with bright electronic touches adding to the arrangement without taking away from the guitar. It’s a simple, feel-good track that gets the balance of melody, rhythm and instrumentation just right.
- “Jaan Lutaun” by Utsavi Jha
Utsavi Jha’s vocals give “Jaan Lutaun,” the yearning and restraint that a romantic track like this calls for. The arrangement stays simple and melodic, with the keyboard doing much of the work before the background score gradually expands around her voice.
- “Maahiya” by Jay Bhattacharya
Jay Bhattacharya settles into the familiar territory of contemporary I-pop on “Maahiya,” a peppy romantic track built around simple percussion, steady claps and an easy melodic hook. His vocals are relaxed, pleasant and suit the song’s uncomplicated mood.
