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 50 tracks to vote for their picks.
This week’s No Skip features Parimal Shais reworking a Bollywood classic through a hip-hop lens, a Seedhe Maut and KR$NA link-up, a punk-rock highlight from The F16s, and a selection of atmospheric indie releases and playful Punjabi rap. Here’s the list.
1. “PARDAH” by Parimal Shais, SNAPPY KAAL, Siyaahi
Parimal Shais continues to flip Bollywood classics through a contemporary hip-hop lens, following up “DOLA RE” with “PARDAH.” Opening with Mohammed Rafi’s vocals from 1977’s “Parda Hai Parda,” the track brings in Shais’s funky, 808-heavy production, giving the Laxmikant–Pyarelal composition a booming quality. Shais, SNAPPY KAAL and Siyaahi each find their pocket on the beat.
2. “BUZZ” by Seedhe Maut, KR$NA
“BUZZ” pairs Seedhe Maut and KR$NA over playful instrumentation, with light strings building into bold, brassy flourishes as the verses get sharper. All three rappers switch between melodic flows and cutting lyrical passages, riding the buoyant groove while bringing plenty of bite to their bars.
3. “So Unique, Utterly Special” by The F16s
One of the highlights from All Dogs Go To Heaven, a strong new album from The F16s, “So Unique, Utterly Special” leans into a fun, punk-rock sound. The guitars, bass and drums are layered with a real sense of purpose, building towards a composition that feels mature in its construction but still youthful, irreverent and punk at heart.
4. “Gaanv” by Shreya Jain, Shloke Lal
“Gaanv” pairs delicate Indian strings with a gentle, atmospheric piano that gives the song plenty of room to breathe. Shreya Jain’s Hindustani classical training comes through in the shape and control of her vocals, lending the melody a fluidity that fits the arrangement. It’s a quietly immersive listen, with each element adding to the song’s warmth without crowding it.
5. “Nuvvekkado” by Manisha Eerabathini
Manisha Eerabathini captures the melancholy and longing at the heart of “Nuvvekkado” with a measured vocal performance. Gentle acoustic guitar anchors the arrangement, while electric-guitar flourishes and a twinkling detail near the end add texture to the song’s wistful atmosphere.
6. “Rattiyan” by KhullarG, Naam Sujal, ISHH
“Rattiyan” is unapologetically tongue-in-cheek, with all three rappers modulating their voices and switching up their flows to keep the song firmly unserious. The production is built around bounce and bop, with a chant-like hook that holds it all together. Its playful, deliberately over-the-top rap adds to the storytelling at hand.
