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, the team sifted through a pool of over 40 tracks to vote for their picks.
This week’s No Skip features a lively romantic track from KhoslaRaghu, a peppy boy band-style release from Vishakhapatanam-based The 9TEEN and other promising new releases. Here’s the list.
1. “Naina Saavan” by KhoslaRaghu, Purusharth Jain
Purusharth Jain embraces a Hindustani classical style on “Naina Saavan,” that lets his voice soar. KhoslaRaghu’s arrangement is, as usual, excellent, bringing together drums and electric guitar with Indian strings in a way that feels remarkably natural. The contrast between the traditional vocal flourishes and contemporary instrumentation gives the song its distinct character.
2. “S.T.O.M.P” by JASKARAN, dox
“S.T.O.M.P” pairs JASKARAN’s melodic Punjabi vocals with an electronic, bass-heavy beat that gives the track its infectious energy. The production is punchy and rhythm-driven, complementing JASKARAN’s smooth vocal delivery without overpowering it. The song leans into the familiar conventions of Punjabi pop that audiences have come to know and love, while retaining Jaskaran’s unique flavour.
3. “Punchiri” by Eechuu, Suhas, Chris Wayne
“Punchiri” (translation: smile) is true to its name, delivering a light, peppy number with instrumentation that lends the song a sparkly quality, fitting its cheerful lyrics. A bridge section brings in a children’s chorus alongside the lead vocals, adding another layer of charm to the arrangement. This is a slice of feel-good Malayalam music that makes for a great start to a Monday morning playlist.
4. “Friendship Song” by Sinjith Yerramilli, Sreerama Chandra, Kittu Vissapragada, Purnachary
“Friendship Song” from Summer Holidays is another great feel-good track on this week’s list. The flute, violin and ascending vocals give the arrangement a sense of wonder and freedom, capturing the carefree spirit of childhood. Sreerama Chandra’s spirited vocal performance brings the melody to life, while Sinjith Yerramilli’s composition keeps the track light on its feet.
5. “ODI ODI” by Nazeeb Billu, Jkfactor
“ODI ODI” is built around playful electronic textures and a fast-paced beat that gives the track a video game-like quality. The production keeps things lively throughout, with its synthetic sounds and driving rhythm creating a sense of constant movement.
6. “Aakhiri Cigarette” by THE 9TEEN
“Aakhiri Cigarette” is a dreamy, easygoing track that leans into a classic boy-band arrangement. The vocals of Lav Jaiswal, Abhilash Murala and Arun O Conner work together beautifully, with their harmonies playing off one another over a simple combination of drums and guitar. The uncluttered instrumentation gives the song a light, airy quality, allowing the melodies to shine. It’s a lovely, understated addition to this week’s list.
