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 features a new trance dance number from veteran Ilaiyaraaja, Punjabi phenomenon Diljit Dosanjh returning to a familiar lovesick groove, and a peppy feel-good track from Madhubanti Bagchi. Here’s the list.
- “Love Like This” by Diljit Dosanjh, Simar
Diljit Dosanjh returns to the kind of romantic track he has made his own, riding the beat with his trademark ease. A heavy bassline and bright synths give the song a sleek, buoyant quality, while Simar’s smooth vocals complement his throughout. It’s a polished, groove-led love song that plays to both singers’ strengths.
- “Muthumani” by Ilaiyaraaja, Shweta Mohan
Who knew what we needed was an Ilaiyaraaja dance number? “Muthumani” pairs the veteran composer’s signature melodic sensibility with a modern, trance-inspired groove. Flute and traditional horn textures bring a distinctly Tamil character to the arrangement, while Shweta Mohan carries the song from chorus to chorus with a strong vocal performance. It’s a compelling meeting of Ilaiyaraaja’s classic sound and a contemporary dance production.
- “Tere Alava” by Amit Trivedi, Amitabh Bhattacharya, Hansika Pareek, Shahid Mallya
Amit Trivedi keeps his composition pure on this understated love song, built around little more than gentle guitar, restrained drums and an expressive flute. Amitabh Bhattacharya’s lyrics bring out the devotional quality often found in Trivedi’s romantic compositions, while Shahid Mallya and Hansika Pareek lend their soft, assured vocals to the song’s tender mood.
- “Banjaare (Following the Sun)” by SUPER-Hi, Madhubanti Bagchi, NEEKA
“Banjaare” showcases another side of Madhubanti Bagchi, who fits beautifully into this soft yet upbeat track. Producers SUPER-Hi and NEEKA build the song around a mellow electric guitar line and simple beat, giving the arrangement a distinctly 2010s dance-pop feel. Bagchi’s vocals bring a bright, breezy quality to the track, making it an easygoing feel-good listen to start the week.
- “Malayadee” by Dee MC, Louden
Mumbai-based Malayali MC Dee MC leans into a late-’90s hip-hop sound on “Malayadee,” with Louden building a boom-bap-inspired beat that recalls the genre’s golden era. Dee MC’s powerful delivery sits comfortably over the stripped-back production as she raps about her Malayali identity, her journey back to her roots and the family stories that shaped her.
