For most of you reading this, the “New Year, New Me” frenzy must have worn off by now. All those resolutions and goals crumbled as soon as you entered your grey cubicle, picking up all those pending decks you’d promised to “look into” in January. The harrowing Microsoft Teams notification sound underscores your day like a horror movie soundtrack, and with every “circle back,” you’re probably going deeper into a downward spiral. As refreshing as January is, so are the pending deadlines, deliverables, and expectations for what lies ahead in the great year of 2026, or as the internet is calling it, 2016. Nevertheless, in the spirit of rejecting chrononormativity, let the New Year be your sign to claim it. Amid Sisyphean tasks and Q1 madness, get your spark back, revisit those glimmers of joy, and for the love of God, touch some grass with these Side Quests, Rolling Stone India’s series spotlighting the most uniquely curated events around the country.

Rockstar Fanmeet

This is your best chance to ask Imtiaz Ali for financial compensation for that ending. The Rockstar fan meet, a celebration of one of the finest Indian musical dramas, promises to be a treat for cinephiles. Soak in the nostalgia as DOPs, editors, and Ali himself dissect critical moments, recall unheard BTS moments, and break down shots via panel discussions. Part of an ongoing series spotlighting the inner workings of popular Indian cinema, including Delhi Belly, this event also lets attendees take part in interactive trivia quizzes, photo booths, and a musical storytelling performance by Laksh Maheshwari.

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When: Jan. 16, 2026

Where: Tata Theatre, NCPA

Get tickets here

Burnout City India: Car & Bike Festival, Delhi

Sitting at the crossroads of music and automobiles, Burnout City is a confluence for both gearheads and melomaniacs. Witness the best of luxury and vintage showcases, test out drift arenas, groove to live music, mingle with your tribe in hangout arenas, and experience the best of Indian car culture.

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When: Jan. 17, 2026

Where: NSCI Exhibition Ground Gate 6, New Delhi

Get tickets here

Blood Moon Over Bengaluru

Nestled in the bylanes of Shivajinagar, “Blood Moon Over Bengaluru” is a hauntingly immersive offering. As an audience member, your adrenaline-inducing task is to connect the dots behind the curious case of Sughanda, whose body lies withering away, stricken by a strange curse. Melding gothic horror, queer resistance, and folk narratives with interactive theatre, the showcase is bound to unlock your inner mage. 

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When: Jan.16-18, 2026

Where: Sabha Blr

Get tickets here

The Gathering: Edition 02

Ever thought you could learn about food and Indian fabric history on one dinner table? Or get mesmerized by an art installation made of bamboo poles and hand-made noodles? Prepare to embark on a multi-sensorial universe curated by the country’s finest chefs at The Gathering, a multi-disciplinary conclave that brings the best of culture, community, and art through food. Five-course menus, unique pop-ups and workshops, contemporary art showcases, and more; you know the drill. The event will feature one-of-a-kind collaborations between artists like Pablo Bartholomew, Abraham and Thakore, Udit Mittal, Two Odd, and Ankon Mitra, and culinary renegades like Chef Nitya Rao, Doma Wang, Sachiko Seth, Bawmra Jap, Ralph Prazeres, Priyam Chatterjee, and Rishabh Seal, each presenting exclusively-designed menus that will never be repeated.

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When: Jan. 16-18, 2026

Where: Mukesh Mills, Mumbai

Get tickets here

E’Beh, Delhi NCR

Slovenian Puppeteer extraordinaire Matija Solce is set to bring E’Beh, a theatrical concoction of oddities, to India. Built from the ground up using everyday objects, the show, which is centered around the protagonist Pulcinella, integrates unique plot points with complex themes like death. A one-man show created, produced, and performed by Solce, E’Beh is equal parts playful and introspective.

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When: Jan. 18, 2026

Where: Oddbird Theatre, New Delhi

Get tickets here 

G5A Cinema House Presents: South Asia Now

Repping the indie vanguard, South Asia Now by G5A house strives to bring the breadth of South Asian diversity to the big screen. Curated by filmmaker and producer Anu Rangachar, the event spotlights contemporary cinema, ranging from documentaries to fiction features, emerging from across Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal, and India.

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When: Jan.23-25, 2026

Where: G5A Cinema House, Mumbai

Get tickets here

Kerala Literature Festival

Boasting a lineup of speakers like Sunita Williams, Shashi Tharoor, Satoshi Yagisawa, PA Ranjith, and more, the ninth edition of Kerala Literature Festival brings the global literary conversation to Kozhikode. Set along the Arabian shores of India’s first designated literature city, the festival will spotlight literature, art, and contemporary culture through a series of thought-provoking conversations, deep dives, and cross-disciplinary sessions, such as “The Future of Knowledge And the Democratization of Information” with Jimmy Wales, “Future India: Vision, Voices, and Leadership” with Indra Nooyi, and “Do our Epics Feel Cringe?” by Gourav Mohanty and Anuja Chandramouli.

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When: Jan. 22-26, 2026

Where: Kozhikode beach, Kerala

Get tickets here

Kochi Muziris Biennale

At the sixth edition of the coveted Kochi Biennale, one of the largest contemporary art festivals in Asia, expect to be enveloped by inspiration as you saunter across multiple venues and witness the works of 60+ artists from around the world. Titled “For the time being,” this year’s biennale, which is curated by multidisciplinary artist Nikhil Chopra, in partnership with the Goa-based HH art spaces, emphasizes friendship economies in artist-led ventures. 

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When: Up to March. 31, 2026

Where: Multiple venues across Kochi

Walk-in entry

Mumbai Pride March

Who says you have to wait till June to get the pride party started? Keeping up with the anti-chrononormative agenda, Mumbai Queer Pride’s annual Pride month celebrations begin in January itself. A jam-packed calendar of events, such as pop-ups, film festivals, and premier leagues, leads up to the highly anticipated annual city-wide Pride march. 

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When: Jan. 31, 2026

Where: August Kranti Maidan, Grant Road(W)

Find out more here

The post Side Quests: Most Offbeat Things to Do Across India This January appeared first on Rolling Stone India.

A global confluence that underscores the best of consumer electronics, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) held in January every year is known for launching inventions that feel like they belong in a Black Mirror episode. This year, nascent startups, tech heavyweights and legacy brands displayed a plethora of innovative gadgets, ranging from beauty, lifestyle, pet care, wellness, and more, many of which were attempting to bridge the gap between AI and humans.

From hyper-real humanoids to adorable cyberpets, Rolling Stone India spotlights some of the most interesting products from the lineup below.

You Can Now Suck on Your Favorite Song

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One of the most viral products to emerge from the showcase, Lollipop Stars, a product designed by multinational Indian brand Lava Tech, lets you listen to a song simply by biting, licking, or sucking on a lollipop. The secret is bone conduction technology, powered by a reusable electronic module that sends the vibrations straight to your inner ear. They’ve even rolled out artist-inspired flavors, including Ice Spice (peach), Akon (blueberry), and Armani White (lemon). As the industry leans deeper into multisensorial experiences, could this quite literally be the future of music consumption?

BRB, On A Pawference Call: Glocal PetPhone

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While PetPhone, an AI-powered, collar-mounted wearable often dubbed the “world’s first smartphone for pets,” was first introduced in 2025, it returned to the spotlight at CES 2026 with expanded capabilities as part of a broader ecosystem. Featuring high-precision motion sensors, the newer version builds on its early promise to give pet parents deeper insights into their pet’s activity and overall well-being. Most notably, PetPhone enables two-way communication, allowing owners to call their dogs and soothe them during moments of separation or stress. Paired with global connectivity and real-time location tracking, the device also logs movement patterns and social interactions, positioning itself as a holistic blend of communication, wellness, and community, all wrapped around your pet’s collar. Who knows, maybe one day your pet will be doomscrolling too.

The Rise of The Humanoid Robots

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While the convention was packed with cutting-edge tech, few things stole the spotlight quite like humanoid robots. From customizable physical companions to hyper-realistic, full-bodied AI-powered sex dolls, these robots showcased an uncanny ability to imitate the most complex human sentiments and movements. Aside from that, “Robosports,” which had already gained prominence through endeavors like World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, was also explored in great detail by the Chinese robotics firm Unitree. Rivalling the likes of Real Steel, in a human referee-officiated match, two humanoid robots threw jabs and uppercuts at each other with calculated agility, often stumbling and recovering just like real athletes. Beyond the ring, exhibits also displayed robots at their domestic best, be it LG’s laundry folding robot or Dreame’s Cyber10 Robovac vacuum cleaner that can climb up the stairs. Humanoid co-workers next? Not a distant thought anymore.

Nail-Tech, Literally: Color-Changing Press-On Nails

Florida-based startup’s “iPolish” smart color-changing nails might just save you from those long hours at the salon. Thanks to electrophoretic nanopolymer technology (or e-ink), these press-ons can shift between over 400 color variations within seconds. Controlled through the brand’s in-house app and activation device, you can now get a fresh set of nails every week, or possibly, every hour.

Lego Smart Play

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Old-school nostalgia meets futuristic tech with Lego’s Smart Play system, which might just make it to the top of your Christmas wishlist. At the centre are Smart Bricks that look exactly like classic Lego pieces, but are packed with sensors that respond to movement, touch, light, and sound. These are paired with Smarttags, scannable elements built into sets and Minifigures, which carry unique identifiers. Together, they unlock different lights, sound effects, mini-games, and missions.  

Secret Lives of Cyberpets

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Cyberpets were a standout category at this year’s CES. Amalgamating emotional intelligence with intelligent interaction design, these robotic creatures emulate warmth, anticipate needs and offer companionship to their owners in unique ways. For instance, Sweekar, a pocket-sized, tamagochi-esque creature, is the world’s first AI-powered, physically growing pet. Likewise, the cutesy Ollobot grows with its respective family, adapting to behavioral mechanisms and personalities through its memory system, which even stores milestones or special achievements. 

Customized Slumber Soundtracks

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Almost like having a DJ for your dreams, MyWaves is a wearable, non-invasive device that converts the delta waves in your brain into personalized sound pattern designs. Aimed at improving sleep patterns, it uses a patented process to help extend and deepen REM cycles, reduce fatigue, and promote more restorative rest.

The post CyberPets, Musical Lollipops and AI Sex Dolls: Our Standout Tech Picks From CES 2026 appeared first on Rolling Stone India.

There was something hauntingly tranquil about watching American DJ Thomas Wesley Pentz, known more popularly as Diplo, play a set to a seemingly inanimate audience. Washed away pebbles, roughly-cut boulders, and the perennial flow of the Ganges River stood in for cheering fans. Amidst the earthy-green and aqua landscape, the pink-haired Diplo stood out instantly. Set against the serene backdrop of the holy city of Rishikesh, the video, which is a part of the DJ’s “Diplo Live Sets” series, amassed over 1.6 million views and also featured DJ Naveen Kumar’s “Pal Pal” remix, which left the Indian audience in a chokehold. 

The livestream resists the obvious signifiers of spectacle. No hyper-curated sets, strobe lighting, overcrowded dance floors, or overplayed remixes. Nothing that could give you that instant rush of adrenaline. Instead, it’s an exercise in restraint. Playing with proximity and distance, the video intersperses music with the textural mysticism of Rishikesh. Grooving in solitude to his own transitions and musical cuts, Diplo becomes one with nature. It’s an audio-visual palate cleanser from the overbearing everyday overstimulation that invites you to both fixate and zone out.

For Diplo, this was beyond another “exotic” location. Years ago, a near-death encounter during a visit to the Ganges became a turning point in his life. When the enormity of the river swallowed him whole, it taught him the true meaning of complete and utter surrender. Paying homage to that very incident, the Rishikesh set embodies the true essence of what it means to have a “full circle moment.”

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Behind The Making Of A Mammoth Project

Capturing the visual spectacle behind the camera was Cambron Lyles, the lead director and camera operator who’s also Diplo’s long-time collaborator. He understands the DJ’s visual tonality more than anyone else, like a silent accord. Joining him were Delhi-based photographer Kartik Kher, who aided as a camera operator, and Adeeb Raza, a DGCA-certified Drone Pilot. 

The process was a meditative, larger-than-life experience for everyone involved. “The concept for the Rishikesh stream started to develop all the way back in 2023,” Lyles told Rolling Stone India. While the idea had been brewing for quite some time, narrowing down on the perfect location took some scouting and a whole lot of patience. Amidst the Cherry Blossom festival in Shillong and Motoverse in Goa, Lyles and Avery, Diplo’s tour manager, were on a quest to find the perfect backdrop. This is also where he was acquainted with Kher for the first time. “Our original idea was to do it in the Beatles Ashram, but there were a lot of permit issues; we couldn’t necessarily get things in order quickly enough to do it there,” Lyles admitted. Wading through logistical bottlenecks, however, they finally landed on the Ganges River in Rishikesh, a fateful encounter. 

The set is probably the antithesis of any big-budget music video production. A humble blanket, a bar table, some JBL speakers, and an Alpha Tetha Omnis Duo. Just 4 people on set: Diplo, Raza, Kher, and Lyles. Seasoned players of the game, Lyles and his team had already done their homework. Locations were scouted way in advance. Even the tiniest of details, such as the sunrise and sunset timings, were factored into the making of this mammoth project.

A Cross-Border Collaboration

Kartik Kher recalls the day vividly. A six-hour drive, a 15-minute down-slope hike with tonnes of equipment. A sublime sunset. A two-hour shoot wrapped inside a twelve-hour journey. The real challenge came after, which was getting everything back up. “Watching an artist of Diplo’s scale play in such a setting was surreal, a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” he added.  Locals barged into the set, creating moments of unplanned comedy, while rafters floated by in the background, unknowingly becoming part of the livestream.

Recounting the sourcing hassles and makeshift measures, Lyles added how he and Avery had to solve the biggest crisis of all: sourcing speakers. “Since we came from America, we weren’t able to bring normal speakers. I don’t really know a lot of people in India, but I know I wanted to use people who were local. ” Luckily, here’s where Kher came in clutch. Not only did he source two JBL speakers, but he also managed to drive down the other necessary gear (drones, tripods, cameras) all the way from Delhi, along with his team. “Kartik played such a crucial role in helping me out,” Lyles added. Other miscellaneous equipment was also sourced locally via markets in Shillong, India. “Avery and I went into the local market in Shillong. We picked up an RCA to 3.5 millimeter jacks to be able to plug in so that we could hear the music playing and Wes could play the set,” Lyles said. 

Overcoming Nature’s Hurdles

Getting to the actual site was no joke either. A vertically steep hike down to the riverside meant dragging nearly 300 pounds of equipment by hand. “The hotel that we were staying at was probably a thousand steps up and down. Adib, Kartik,  I, as well as Avery, all had to lug down probably 300 pounds of gear all the way, set it up, and then shoot this live stream.”  

Nevertheless, the hotel staff graciously lent them a bar table for the shoot. Even the most humble items on set, such as the ornate Orange blanket thrown over the bar table, which stood in contrast to the azure and grey landscape, heightened the creative direction. “It kind of centers the frame on Diplo playing the set,” Lyles remarked. 

Another issue came up after the shoot. Lyles noticed how the video lacked the vibrance of Rishikesh, B-rolls, and all. Once again, Kher and his team went back to shoot some more drone footage. “I couldn’t have asked for a better partner to be able to shoot this with. He saved my life ten times over.” 

Going With The Flow 

As topsy-turvy as the pre-production hurdles were, the actual shoot was easy-going. As the cameras rolled, local fishermen and rafters showed up in the frame right behind Diplo, completely unbothered by the allure of disrupting an MV shot. Lyles and his team chose to embrace these oddities instead of achieving the “perfect” money shot. 

“We didn’t want to tell them to go away because it’s not our place or position to. We wanted it to be natural, that music and life can coincide together.” Not wanting to shake up the natural sanctity of the location, Lyles and his team truly went with the flow: “We wanted to keep the natural beauty and not disrupt anything. Only Wes (Diplo) could hear the music. If you listen to any of our camera microphones, all you can hear is the Ganges running.”

Lyles, who’s worked with Diplo for four years, describes their relationship as that of brothers. “Every single time he pushes me harder, just like a sibling would. He really put a lot of faith in me to be able to organize this team together,  get the video edited in time for New Year’s, to get the color grading right, and really show off the beauty of Rishikesh,” he said. 

In the end, the future of music lies beyond the stage, in stillness, outside muggy coop-like rooms and tiny boxed screens. Stepping away from hyper-accelerated visual stereotypes and tokenistic symbols of snake charmers, turban-clad men, and bearded saints, India is slowly becoming the most sought-after global backdrop for sonic world-building, not just for homegrown heavyweights like Hanumankind, but also for international renegades like Diplo.  Remote. Offline. Onsite. That’s where it’s at. 

The post Inside The Making of Diplo’s Live Set in Rishikesh appeared first on Rolling Stone India.

If you’ve secured your passes, blocked your calendars, and are about to dip your toes into the music festival season, then this list is especially for you. Yes, your life is surely going to change for the better, and yes, you’ll be re-watching that footage where you audibly sang louder than the artist onstage for the thousandth time. But, it’s equally crucial that you’ve got your basics in place. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or a starry-eyed first timer, it’s time to get those checklists sorted as you gear up to see your dream concerts in real life. Rolling Stone India spotlights the most elemental additions that one should have handy for music festivals and concerts. 

Portable Power Bank

All those concert memories aren’t going to be made by themselves. Keeping one handy at music festivals and concerts should almost be a rite of passage at this point. . Between the bad signal and overarching urge to Instagram every damn thing, you don’t need to be panicking over a low-battery warning. Consider this your festival survival tool.

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Digicams and Disposable Cameras

If you’re a physical media aficionado with a penchant for photography, these are going to be your best friends. For many, concerts are that once-in-a-lifetime experience, where time seems to stand still in the most visually striking ways, and point-and-shoot cameras capture those moments with an innate nostalgic charm. While disposable cameras, which are powered by film, have a set limit on the number of photos, digital cameras have a video mode, along with other adjustment options, to experiment with.

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Portable Fans and Air Conditioners

Honestly, these are the underrated heroes of any weekend rager. When the sweat, dust, heat, and swamp vibes hit, whipping out a portable fan might just make you the coolest person in the crowd. You might also accidentally end up at the front of the concert just by cooling everyone on your way there.

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Electrolyte Mixes & Liquid I.V

All those endless nights of dancing, partying, and crowd surfing require a dedicated drinks break, and preferably one that’s packed with electrolytes.  Instant energizers, they replenish and restore balance, keeping you ready to take on yet another fan pit. Pack smarter by taking a collapsible water bottle along.

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Earplugs

The ultimate festival cheat code, earplugs take the edge off the painfully loud speaker reverb while keeping all the magic intact, so you hear the music clearly and avoid waking up with a ringing soundtrack nobody asked for. Not only will you be able to hold conversations with other concert-goers, but they also double up as head-turning, metallic statement pieces that are bound to fetch you compliments.

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Totem Compass

Are concert stories even complete without the “I lost my friends” lore? While we’ve all done the aimless wandering routine when the cell network runs out , the Totem Compass is here to change that. An evolved, digitized version of doof sticks and totems found at raves and electronic music festivals, the tracker, fashioned as a compass, utilizes Global Navigation Satellite Systems to literally point you in the right direction, with the LED lights glowing brighter as you get closer those friends you lost.

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Headgear and Sunnies

Beating the heat is a microtrend of its own. Complete your fit checks with sleek visors or athleisure caps. If you want to take it up a notch, wrap a bandana or a pashmina shawl to nail the boho-chic aesthetic. Y2k enthusiasts, gain infinite aura points with your ski-hats, berets, and vintage baseball caps. For the ones who are still not over Beyoncé’s Renaissance era, rhinestoned or fringed cowboy hats are non-negotiable. Want to emulate Dune energy but also protect your face? Balcavas and ski masks are going to be your best friends. And what’s a festival look without your go-to pair of sunglasses? 

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Sole Finds

Shuttling between brand activations and the F&B counter, concerts and music festivals also function as an unofficial leg-day workout. As you almost hit the step count of your dreams, it’s also important to choose your footwear wisely. Activate your dad shoe mode on with a pair of trusty NewBalance 574 kicks, or opt for a more grungy, punk-rock look with the classic Dr. Martens boots. Want to channel your inner 2014 indie-sleaze era? You’ve got your Chuck Taylors and Vans for that. Aesthetics aside, you can always rely on gel insoles to reduce soreness, muscle strain, and foot fatigue.

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Portable Foldable chairs

All the fellow “uncs” are going to love this one. A lot of festival culture also involves the quality time spent with other attendees, usually at campsites or outside mainstages. Foldable chairs, with their ergonomic support, lightweight structure, and sleek design, come in handy here. Add this to your camping gear shopping list and you’ll be good to go.

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Hangover Pills

A certified non-negotiable, hangover pills are a game-changer for those nights where no one is counting their drinks at the bar counter anymore. Pack prudently, and don’t let your festival experience be overpowered by nasty aftermaths and memory blackouts.

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Festival hygiene 101

 Let’s be honest, nobody wants to be a stinker in the audience. Festival hygiene, although extremely pivotal, is casually overlooked. But quick fixes can go a long way in securing you remain fresh and ready to take on the next set. Build your kit with the basics, starting with deodorant wipes, a toilet seat spray, travel-sized microfiber towels, and hand sanitizers. A UV protectant sunscreen or spray, with SPF 50++, can also help you avoid those nasty sunburns.

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Bag-o-logy

While you may be emotionally attached to your beloved tote or clunky bags, nobody wants to be shoved aside by them as you drag them around during concert moments. It’s time to imbibe “the smaller, the better” mantra and put those crossbody bags and fanny packs to use. To further amp up the functionality factor, add carabiners to your belt hooks and bags to hang reusable cups and concert paraphernalia with ease.

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The post The Ultimate Concert Essentials To Carry This Festival Season appeared first on Rolling Stone India.

Let’s face it, 2025 was the year of  India’s great concert boom. At this point, if you’ve lost a friend while navigating your way to the main stage, fuelled purely by vibes and no internet connection, then congratulations: you’ve passively contributed to the country’s GDP. Apart from bolstering the economy and bringing a stellar lineup of global headliners, music festivals have also paved the way for some slang words and phrases that have now been absorbed into the pop culture and entertainment landscape. 

Powered by circumstantial occurrences, subculture references, and euphoric instances, these terms are like secret codes to describe that indescribable feeling concerts and festivals tend to leave you with. Be it the wicked “bassface” you and your friend bust out as your favorite track drops, or getting a “pit rash” from moshing too hard, there’s an entire live music vocabulary that continues to evolve across eras, cultures, and fandoms. From mainstages and fan pits to dance floors and bad porta-potties, Rolling Stone India spotlights the ultimate live music and concert vocabulary guide. 

Trustafarians

The final boss of cultural appropriation, trustafarians are obnoxiously rich trust fund kids who whittle down cultural movements like punk rock or neo-hippie, into a flattened Instagram “aesthetic.” A combination of “trust fund” and “rastafarian,” this term, that can be traced back to the Seventies,  applies to the kind of concert-goer who treats counterculture like a costume, and will probably tell you where the nearest bathroom is with an unsolicited namaste.
Usage: “The trustafarian I met at the gig last week told me he ‘found himself’ during soundcheck.” 

Marinate

The highest form of sonic surrender at a gig, to marinate is to sync with the music, soak in the vibes, and be fully present as the beats drive you to parallel dimensions, all without moving an inch from your hard-earned spot in the crowd. You’re neither tempted to record a video nor bothered by the constant shuffling of people around you.
Usage: “I marinated at Kaytranada’s set till the very last track.”

Wooks

Riddled with their own set of side quests and lore, wooks are a subset of the rave and EDM community who embody a nomadic lifestyle by traveling and camping onsite at music festivals. Presently, they’ve gained quite a reputation, mainly due to negative stereotypes surrounding their poor hygiene. Nevertheless, they’re the designated wanderlings at a concert who are easily identifiable by their eccentric yet warm nature.
Usage: “Echoes Of Earth had such an elf-like Wook this year.”

Turbo Mode

The personification of “God is the DJ and life is the dance floor.” Cranking the barometer of fun, you’re basically a human confetti canon. More than the idea of letting loose, it’s about maximizing your individual lore, leaving you with a night to remember (even if it’s not for the best reasons).
Usage: “This weekend I’m activating Turbo mode for the Indian Sneaker Festival.”

Bang-over

Probably a by-product of hitting “turbo” extremes, a bang-over is nothing but the soreness you feel post a night of headbanging too hard at metal and rock concerts.
Usage: “I am still recovering from the bang-over from the Guns N’ Roses concert.”

Post Concert Depression (PCD)

That feeling of melancholic dread you get the day after a concert? Yes, it has a name. Before you roll your eyes, yes, this is an actual condition. Although it is not officially recorded as a formal medical diagnosis, Post Concert Depression is characterized by an emotional lull caused by endorphin crashouts, leading to prolonged periods of emptiness and disconnectedness. 
Usage: “Bro, my PCD flared up so badly after the Coldplay concert weekend.”

Ground-score

Music festivals also function as unofficial scavenger hunts, thanks to the boatload of paraphernalia that you’d find onsite. From drug stashes to funky accessories, the range is as wide as a concert lineup.
Usage: “Yo I ground-scored a digi cam at Lollapalooza!”

Front of House (FOH)

Undoubtedly the best “seats” one could have, FOH is where the true magicians of the festival, i.e, lighting and sound engineers, operate from, usually 100 ft away from the main stage. All those gram-worthy concert moments, where the lighting hits just right, and the venue acoustics that make you transcend time? Yeah, it’s all thanks to the crew working tirelessly in real time to give you the experience of a lifetime. 
Usage: “My friend is working FOH at Post Malone’s concert!” 

Throwdown

Originally borrowed from the idiom “throw down the gauntlet,” the term is synonymous with all the shenanigans that go down in a mosh pit. Think epic full-body collisions and endless windmilling, all while your favorite artist scores the core memory in making.
Usage: “I can already tell that the throwdown at Bandland 2026 is going to be epic.”

Idiot Zone

A synonym for mosh pit, wherein “pit rashes,” or injuries sustained in the idiot zone, occur.
Usage: “The idiot zone at Carti’s set was wild. My pit rash is the size of a golfball.”

Excitement pie

Essentially embodying the same rush that you felt before school picnics, the term accounts for the anticipatory euphoria before attending a music festival/concert. Outfits decided, storage cleared, travel routes finalized, all while exhilaration courses through your veins as the thought of seeing your favorite artists live plays like a mental loop.
Usage: “I’m already prepping to chomp my slice of excitement pie for Linkin Park.”

Driftwood

The most hated people at a concert are always the patrons who walk at a snail’s pace, creating human traffic as everyone tries to leave. There’s nothing more annoying than that post-concert walkout when the crowd is buzzing, the energy is high, and yet the people in front of you take their own sweet time, already possessed by the ghost of PCD’s future, while the rest of us just want to get to the exit.
Usage: “The crowd moved like driftwood post the concert.”

Vamp

 Before the musician even steps on stage, concertgoers often drift into the kind of pre-concert banter that can feel more interesting than the show itself. You mentally note the couple arguing nearby, casually befriend strangers, and join in on collective complaints about the evening heat. In those moments, the crowd transforms into a real-life mingling pit, and the shared chatter leaves you with an unexpected sense of solidarity.
Usage: “I added that guy I vamped with before Don Toliver’s set on Snapchat.” 

Muggy

Sigh. We’ve all been there, sandwiched between bodies in a near-stampede situation while the notorious odor of sweat engulfs the air. A bonus, of course, is the near-death humidity, all while somebody’s elbow continues to egg on your face. “Muggy” captures the overall suffocation, tiredness, and dampness of the atmosphere at jam-packed shows.
Usage: “Even the VIP section was muggy, can you imagine?”

Edgewatcher

The silent protectors of the fallen, these are the people who circle the outer circle or wall of a mosh pit, helping out those who’ve been brutally tackled or pushed away.
Usage: “The edgewatcher at the Guns N’ Roses concert was incredibly sweet.”

Bouncer Bait

That one defunct person who eats social anxiety for breakfast and pulls off a little bit of everything that would alert the security at a concert, almost asking to be escorted away. A walking safety hazard to everyone, they are a combination of all the annoying festival attendee tropes, from lacking spatial awareness to violating concert rules.
Usage: “That guy was straight-up bouncer-baiting the crowd to be honest.”

The post The Ultimate Concert Slang Playbook appeared first on Rolling Stone India.

At its eighth edition, Echoes of Earth once again proved why it stands apart from the typical music festival circuit. Set across two days in Bangalore, the eco-conscious festival unfolded under this year’s theme, Nature’s Hidden Intelligence, a lens through which music, art, sustainability, and inclusivity seamlessly came together. From a thoughtfully curated lineup to striking upcycled decor, every element reflected a shared belief in coexistence and collective harmony.

That philosophy found a natural partner in Absolut Mixers, a brand that has long stood for a world where differences aren’t just accepted, but celebrated. Their collaboration at the festival, The Absolut Blue Trail, felt rooted in a journey that explored how creativity truly thrives when ideas, identities, and cultures mix freely.

At the heart of the Blue Trail were three large-scale installations by boundary-pushing Indian artists Trishala Srinivas, Alt-Native, and Mechanimal, each reimagining the color blue. In nature, blue doesn’t technically exist as a pigment, but emerges through structure, light, and interaction. That idea became a fitting metaphor for Absolut Mixers’ philosophy: that true vibrancy is born from unexpected connections.

Trishala Srinivas’ towering 22-foot Indian Roller installation was one of the most visually arresting sights on the festival grounds. Inspired by the bird’s electric blue plumage and acrobatic flight, the sculpture was built using metal, repurposed plastic, fabric, muslin, mesh, and LED lights. It stood tall against Bangalore’s serene open skies, shifting subtly with light and movement as it came alive in both form and spirit.

Nearby, Alt-Native’s installation drew from the underwater world, bringing the blue peacock mantis shrimp to life. Constructed using bamboo and metal armature, the piece shimmered with panels made from e-waste and fabric, capturing the creature’s iridescent hues. With moving parts powered by audio-visual and mechanical elements, the installation felt fluid and immersive, echoing the intelligence and adaptability of ocean life.

In a darker, more mechanical corner of the trail, Mechanimal’s animatronic-inspired sculpture paid homage to the Gooty tarantula, a rare spider native to India and known for its striking sapphire colour. Crafted entirely from nearly 100 kilograms of scrap, including metal parts, cogs, chicken mesh, and even discarded lorry seats, the piece stunned audiences with its hyper-realistic movements, blurring the line between machine and organism.

Carrying this creative thread forward was the Absolut Mixers Octo Jones Stage, inspired by the shape-shifting mimic octopus. Symbolic of constant evolution and adaptability, the stage reflected Absolut’s belief in dynamism driven by change. Over the weekend, it hosted an eclectic mix of artists, from indie and alt-rock acts like Rudy Mukta and The F16s, to classical and jazz performers such as Varijashree Venugopal, Grayssoker, and the Vilnius Jazz Ensemble, alongside electronic and tribal techno acts like TribalNeed, EarthJam, and Stavroz.

Together, the Absolut Blue Trail and Echoes of Earth spoke the same language. Just as nature thrives through balance and coexistence, the festival brought together diverse voices, forms, and perspectives across gender, genre, and geography. In that shared space, blue became a reminder that when differences mix openly, the result is something far more powerful than anything that exists in isolation. 

This story is a paid partnership with Absolut Mixers 

The post How Absolut Mixers’ Blue Trail Sparked New Connections at Echoes of Earth appeared first on Rolling Stone India.

Live music is the closest one can get to experiencing magic. Time warps gently as light beams bounce off playfully, while the artist controls the crowd with sonic sleight of hand.  

But beyond the glow of dream headliners and specially curated showcases, the real machinery of it all is being powered by an army of on-ground creatives and operators working tirelessly behind the scenes.  

Responsible for the magic we witness on stage, they silently absorb the shocks, fix the gaps, and hold down the fort. Here, chaos is close to second nature: Stylists would be dressing artists minutes before showtime, while production teams are solving last-minute logistical hiccups. Photographers, running on caffeine and adrenaline, are capturing fleeting moments amid the madness, while stage designers respond to client demands.  

Behind every sold-out show and viral festival reel, these are the people driving forward the architecture of live music.  

Aaquib Wani, the Artistic Innovator

While other kids his age were playing with toys, Aaquib Wani was trying to create his own using thermocol and DIY crafts. Being exposed to artisanal intricacies, whether it was his father’s Kashmiri art business or drawing lessons at school, Wani became increasingly fluent in the language of craft. Away from lectures and exams, he was charting his own course, using self-taught techniques to learn the fundamentals of design, craft, and even music for that matter. “I knew early on that I loved creating and completely hated studying. I failed 11th standard twice, and art was always the one place I kept returning to, even though I had no idea it could become a profession. 12th standard was pretty much the last time I properly held a book,” he cheekily added.  
Cut to the present: Wani is one of the country’s most versatile Indian Creative Directors and designers, who has not just set the visual foundation for festivals like Lollapalooza India, but also designed jerseys for the Indian Cricket team.   

Wani’s artistic journey, too, rests on sonic foundations. Surprisingly, he landed his first gig through his own metal band, Phobia. In typical indie artist fashion, he started designing his own gig posters. After that, there was no going back. Graphic design snowballed into spearheading editorial and design projects for large-scale festivals and publications, such as Rock Street Journal. “The energy of that world shaped how I see things; my taste, and my instinct for storytelling, and that influence is still at the core of my work today,” he added.  

Instinct, along with the mystic combination of “right place, right time,” became a driving force in fortifying Wani’s artistic trajectory. More than anything, he was looking to not just helm projects but build worlds along the way. A leap of faith landed him in the larger-than-life field of spatial design. “The scale was overwhelming in the best way. It felt like a playground where ideas could take physical form, where your work could surround people instead of just sitting in front of them. I loved the scale, the chaos, the adrenaline.”  

Building Worlds, Not Festivals

Wani’s style boils down to uncovering the overarching narrative. “Every festival has a world hidden inside it; the trick is uncovering it. I’m obsessed with finding the emotional spine of a space before touching aesthetics,” he reflected. The initial process is almost meditative, where he and his team enter the client’s psyche. “Whys” and “hows” are stripped to their core essence. Visual cues, ranging from typography, motifs, and graphic vernacular, begin to take shape.  

While global music festivals shuttle between clichéd futuristic, chromatic, and glitchy iconographies, Wani and his team look inward into India’s rich cultural tapestry. Built with maximalist hues, craft-laden textures, complex compositions, and geometric motifs, the work makes you pause with intent. Even with its innate grandness, it doesn’t overwhelm but rather invites you to take a closer look. “Design should build a world, not borrow one that already exists,” Wani firmly stated. Bound by the invisible thread of coherence, all the assets are fashioned as jigsaw pieces that complete the main puzzle —the music festival. “The poster, the online ticketing banner, the walkway tunnel, the map, even the reusable cup should feel like pieces of the same universe.” 

Experiential Ecosystems

An avid observer of contemporary festival standards, Wani also noted the evolution of concert production. What used to be just a mainstage with flashing lights has now transformed into an expansive playground of experimentation, integration, and innovation. Think modular designs, tech-infused gear, and sustainable equipment, while theatrics like lighting, visuals, and performances further elevate the mood. Behind the tectonic shift lie brands and sponsors, who, along with designers and artists, are curating culture-first, experiential activations.“India is catching up fast. Audiences here are far more aware and demanding now. The old formula of lights and a big stage is no longer enough. Everyone is participating to give audiences an experience of a lifetime, and that’s what makes this moment genuinely exciting.”  Wani added.  

Backstage Madness 

or the audience, concerts are a momentary spectacle, but what they don’t see is the months of permissions, vendor negotiations, design iterations, last-minute delays, and prolonged onsite work hours that go into it. “People think this field is glamorous because they only see the final output. Spatial design isn’t just about having ideas. It’s about understanding structure, fabrication, safety, sound, lighting, crowd movement, and still making it feel intuitive.” From dealing with last-minute cancellations to learning things beyond your skillset, production is not for the faint-hearted. “When things fall apart, you don’t wait for solutions; you become the solution. You get your hands dirty, take responsibility for things that aren’t technically yours, and make sure the experience still happens,” Wani stated.  

While he has been at the forefront of the Indian music festival surge, Wani urges the system to revisit the basics. Apart from treating staff and crew members well, he also wishes to see infrastructural changes implemented, along with healthier timelines and budgets to be set in place. “The industry is growing at a rapid pace, but the systems around it haven’t caught up. I’d love to see the ecosystem become smoother, more collaborative, and more future-focused. India’s live entertainment scene is bursting with potential; it just needs the right support to truly thrive.”  

Nikhil Udupa, The Festival Orchestrator 

Nikhil Udupa’s journey did not begin in boardrooms or client meetings, but on festival grounds. Former marine engineer, full-time fan, Udupa savored the adrenaline surge while headbanging to underground metal and punk gigs from the audience. He also made lifelong friends through festivals and online forums along the way, who continue to thrive in the music industry even today. An avid admirer of the scene primarily, he still carries that unbridled passion with him. “We were all kind of outcasts and misfits. We were fans before the internet, social media era, or, you know, everything.  I think that’s what kind of drives us.” Switching from PR and marketing to finally entering events, Udupa is the director and co-founder at 4/4 experiences, an entertainment think tank that focuses on building music and subculture-led IPs for brands, along with production and show running services for live music experiences. 

Building Visions from the Ground Up 

Primarily driven by a community-first approach, Udupa laid out the arduous process sans the frills and hype. “It’s actually a mammoth logistical exercise which needs to be held together tightly; it takes a fucking village,” he said. Booking an artist is just the tip of the iceberg. It’s only after the date and venue are locked that the real grind begins. Like levels in a video game, each expedition comes with its own challenges. Client expectations are scattered across spreadsheets and endless vendor calls, while design elements, standard stage builds, and tech packs are finalized in parallel. As festival formats continue to evolve, so does the thinking around how audiences move through, engage with, and visually experience these spaces. “People have started preferring open designs (i.e., different positions, multiple smaller stages), where there’s a lot more focus on visibility. We see the artists using the stage mostly as a backdrop.” Side by side, on-ground operations, consisting of housekeeping, ticketing, security, and F&B, are also laid out in detail, while marketing and communications keep the seamless flow of information going across channels.  

Being a silent witness to live music’s transformation into a lucrative ground for content creation, he reflected upon the cyclical, short-lived nature of such trend cycles. “This is the sign of our times,” he stated.” In our age, we pirated, but we are freaking proud about it. Each generation has its own thing. Social validation is what drives people right now; there is no right or wrong thing about it. As long as it leads to a better concert and experience, I’m good.” 

Community Over Clout 

Undeterred by the gloss of hype-driven markets, he urged a serious shift in focus for delivering well-rounded audience experiences. Highlighting his personal observations, he stressed certain infrastructural loopholes, such as overcrowded fan pits, long queues, compromised safety, and more, that have become recurrent bottlenecks in the Indian context. “I think that our infrastructure needs to catch up with our ambition. We take people who work on events for granted far too easily,” he reflected.  

Unfazed yet passionate, Udupa rarely sugarcoats. “The event business is merciless and heartless; I’m going to tell you point-blank.” Despite the ups and downs of on-ground chaos, Udupa says his commitment towards his crew remains consistent. “Where we come from, our first philosophy is to protect those people and do as much right by them as possible. In terms of security and how our people are treated, we try to stay off the hype wagon. We are not promoters. We are more of a head down and work and not compromise on that work.”  

Crew Code

Udupa also points out how the ground staff are the underlying backbone, working without recognition or applause. “The stage guys are the last to leave and first to come in, always,” he pointed out. Amidst multi-stage scenarios, Front of House management and artist well-being, an orchestral symphony of chaos unfurls, one that is silently absorbed by the crew. “Human interaction between crews is something that people don’t really understand. Communication is often overlooked, and that’s actually the most key part of most of the festivals.” Building on that sentiment, Udupa vouches for execution over exasperation, stating: “Never get enamored by the artist, be enamored by the art.”  

Kartik Kher, The Eagle-Eyed Snapper 

One look at Kartik Kher’s feed, and you’re immediately envious. Right from international heavyweights like Central Cee and Travis Scott, to I-Pop icons like King and Armaan Malik, he’s captured them all, up close and personal. One of the country’s most sought-after photographers, Kher is no stranger to the media pit. The founder of XO Visuals, his team has redefined visual imagery not just for the Indian live music scene, but also sports, lifestyle, and fashion. 

Accidental Pathways

Even with all the flashy accolades, however, his actual journey began casually with a borrowed DSLR, on a family vacation. “I actually was rejected from my school photography society; they thought I wasn’t qualified enough,” he chuckled. Things took a turn for the better once he began college. 

Joining Delhi University’s photography club, he not only found other equally passionate creatives but also learnt the facets of videography. “With video, you can tell a story,” Kher said. “You have more creative freedom.” Armed with a humble, ₹2,000 flash external flash bought from Chandini Chowk, he became a regular at campus events, slowly making his way into locking paid gigs at local clubs, DJ gigs, and student parties. Side by side, he was also covering events for the coveted student publication, DU Beat. It was also here that he photographed a music concert, featuring Armaan Malik, for the first time. The chaos of light and sound, all while the crowd surrendered to the music in unison; it was Kher’s first taste of festival frenzy. Amongst the many firsts was also his breakthrough moment: getting recognized by Armaan Malik, who not only dropped him a message of appreciation, but also credited Kher on his official account “I freaked out,” Kher admitted. Having his work get recognized, even amidst a sea of professionals shooting that event, flipped the switch for Kher.  

Behind The Lens 

From shooting club gigs to visually chronicling artists like Badshah, Kher was slowly finding his musical footing, one capture at a time. What followed was a life of touring, shooting, and crafting visuals not just for musicians, but even for global stand-up tours. Aside from location scouting and sound checks, he stressed the importance of developing a rapport with the artist, “They have called me into their world; they need to be comfortable with me shooting them.” 

Like a chameleon, he adapts. Studying the artist, venue, and setlist thoroughly, he charts out all the onstage possibilities, right from–beat drops, confetti fires, and crowd interactions, to signature moves, mic drop ragers, and more, developing an almost telepathic camaraderie with the stage along the way. “It’s like a muscle memory thing of sorts. With King (Indian artist), I think I can shoot him blindly,” he laughs.  

Beyond The Fan Pit 

Not to be swayed by the allure of live music, he candidly opened up about the unspoken realities of touring. “It’s a tough life; there’s no routine to it.” Behind those money shots lie endless rounds of hectic tour schedules, erratic sleep, adrenaline-fuelled work hours, and an unhealthy diet that contributes to poor mental and physical health. It’s the readjusting to the stillness post a gig, however, that’s most jarring. “Once you go on tour, it’s very hard to connect back with reality,” he added. 

The current live music scene is also a cut-throat battleground, with job insecurity embedded into the system. Yet, Kher possesses a certain tranquility that is almost admirable. Having seen both sides of the coin, be it shooting for free or finally setting up charges that justify your craft, he chooses to let his visuals cut through the noise. “This industry is going to poach you pretty badly,” Kher reflected, “someone else is going to come do a better job than you, charge less, and then you’re gone; nobody is going to hire you.”  
Along the way, however, he’s created a loyal clientele that seeks his specific vision; a potent blend of the artist’s iconography and onstage theatrics. Unfazed by industry gatekeepers and naysayers, he remains committed to the long game: “I don’t need to be called Rory Kramer part two. Everyone has their own identity in the industry. You should know your worth and what you’re capable of. Don’t hold back if someone tries to get you down.” 

Rushi Honmore, The Sartorial Conjurer

There’s never a dull moment when Rushi is on set. With his all-time classic black boots and eclectic silk scarf, the Mumbai-based stylist and art director looks straight like he popped out of a Tyler, The Creator music video. A sartorial visionary, Honmore has styled onstage ensembles of sonic bigwigs like Aditya Rikhari, KR$NA, NAV, Reble, and Yung Raja. Best known for his boundary-pushing combinations, he goes for subtle eccentricities —textured patterns, disproportionate sleeves, asymmetrical cuts, and more.  

Dressing the Sound 

Having grown up in Miraj, Maharashtra, beside his dad, a tailor, stepping into the world of fashion felt almost instinctive. A fashion design dropout, Honmore chose to step away from theory and dive into the industry guns blazing. Aside from cultivating homegrown aesthetics driven by vintage sensibilities, what sets Honmore apart is his stylistic intuition. Although traditional celebrity styling gave him room to grow, he finds solace in putting together looks for musicians. “Most of my clients are from the music industry. Indian musicians, especially, are pushing the bar that nobody else has so far. Rather than looking polished, they want to try new things,” he reflected.  A self-proclaimed “music gatherer,” his playlist, consisting of hip-hop tunes, also becomes a reference point. Think baggy silhouettes, 90s R&B swagger, and accessories that scream “drip.”  

Substance Over Microtrends 

Breaking down his process, Honmore takes his homework quite seriously. Everything, from head to toe, is accounted for. By the same token, his team also deconstructs the artists’ taste, setting aside outfit combos along with backup options. “I always try to push the artist a little out of their comfort zone,” he said. Research is another integral cog. “People think styling is just sourcing from a Zara or an H&M, it’s quite the opposite.” Glued to his phone most of the time, Honmore is always on the lookout for Indian brands that are breaking the patterns of conventionality. “Rkive City, Almost Gods, and Aesthetic of Résistance are my top picks at the moment,” he added.  

As the looks take shape, fittings and courier coordination are added to the mix. Improvisation is a part of the job. Amidst rejections and last-minute revisions, Honmore recalled how it’s important to maintain composure. “There have been times when I’ve had to think of an ‘option 2’ on the spot. Yeah, it’s glamorous. You can attend the concerts and award shows. But it’s hectic work,” he admits. 
 

Stage Stories 

Among his standout projects, styling NAV, the Canadian hip-hop heavyweight of Indian origin, in a Chrome Hearts ensemble for Rolling Loud India stood out by a mile. “I used to listen to his songs in 2019, and this year, I got to work with him,” he cheerfully mentioned. While the rapper had certain preferences in mind, Honmore managed to convince him to take fashion risks. The trick? Kindness, patience, and dressing for the job: “My usual trick is to make the artist comfortable, be nice, and show them multiple options. And as I always say, if you’re a stylist, dress like one on set too. Your clothes speak to the artist before you do.” 

Another highlight was working with KR$NA for Rolling Stone India’s cover, where Honmore handled both editorial styling and art direction, as well as projects with King, including a sold-out Mumbai show that required three rapid outfit changes backstage. “King was coming offstage, changing outfits, going back out—it was chaos,” Honmore recalls. “But it was a dream.” 

Despite his growing résumé, Honmore is candid about the industry’s long-standing nepotistic roots. For people coming with zero connections, it’s a difficult ladder to climb. But he refuses to give up without a fight. “These people are running a monopoly, and you have to break that by continuing to do good work.” Community is also a close second. “You need to be surrounded by crazy, creative hustlers–photographers, stylists, models, art directors, designers, and more– to grow, and I’m thankful to have my circle.”  

On the ground, Honmore has watched festival fashion evolve in real time. Cowboy boots, statement belts, experimental denim, stone-studded pieces; microtrends, albeit ephemeral, move at breakneck speed thanks to social media. Still, he hopes to see 2026 as the year of coloring outside the lines. As for what’s next, his wish list remains unapologetically ambitious: NBA YoungBoy, Central Cee, Drake.  

The post Front Of House: The Backbone of Indian Concert Culture  appeared first on Rolling Stone India.

Picture this, you’re back home from school, as the warmth of Summertime nostalgia wafts in the air. The soft static of the TV underscores the afternoon, while you browse through the channels, landing on the prime time slot, and your favorite musical drama film or TV show is on. As the character sets up their mic onstage for a soundcheck, thousands holler their name, and you chant along with them. The opening riff of the electric guitar not just fills the stadium onscreen, but also the confines of your room. You sing along to the barrage of bangers, syncing with the audience as they sway along to the tunes of the protagonist. 

Seems too familiar an experience? Well, that’s the beauty of Indian musical dramas. Be it wanting to get the same Quawwal jacket as Jordan from Rockstar, or write razor-sharp bars like Murad in Gully Boy, these films and TV shows have not only served as audio-visual fodder for music lovers across the country, but also inspired many to dig deeper into the world of independent music. Going beyond inspiration, these fictional personalities also oscillate on the spectrum of archetypes, from tortured artists and hip-hop underdogs to prodigal perfectionists, which closely mirror zodiacal personality traits. Wondering which fictional character would fit your astrological energy best? Read below to find out.

Capricorn: Aditya Shroff (Rock On!!)

 If you’ve nurtured the maniacal dream of being in a rock band with your best friends, you’ve Aditya Shroff to blame. A concoction of creativity and passion, Shroff is the charismatic, multi-talented lead vocalist of the band Magik. In typical Capricorn fashion, ambition functions as a double-edged sword in his life. On one hand, it’s his opiate; be it conquering stages, locking label agreements, or serenading audiences, there’s no plan B. On the other hand, pragmatism, coupled with his workaholic nature, blinds him from prioritizing things and people that truly matter. Vulnerability is a foreign, nightmarish concept, one that he struggles to embrace until the very end. Surviving the artist to finance bro pipeline, his soullessness is mistaken for callousness. However, beneath that icy exterior lies a heart that relentlessly yearns for reconciliation and basks in the nostalgia of his glory days.

Aquarius: Priyanka Sethi (Dhoom Machao Dhoom)

A sonic idealist, rules and stereotypes for Priyanka Sethi are like water off a duck’s back. The leader of the fictional “Pink Band,” Sethi is an eccentric Aquarian, comfortably reveling in her imaginative bubble of ideas and melodies as she shapes her next song. 

Pisces: Rahul Jaykar (Aashiqui 2)

The signature electric riff from “Sun Raha Hai Na Tu” instantly reminds you of Rahul Jaykar from Aashiqui 2, the personification of the wounded artist archetype. A supremely talented musician afflicted by the evils of fame, Jaykar is like an empty vessel, in search of a boundless reserve to give him meaning. Charming yet sincere, he covers up his fallacies with an outpouring of unconditional love. High-strung and elusive, Jaykar embodies the Piscean quintessence of hopeless romance, one that catalyzes his self-expressive, artistic nature. Marching to the tunes of his own ebbs and flows, he harnesses his intuition to identify potential and lend a hand to those in need. 

Aries: Krish Kapoor (Saiyaara)

Unfiltered and impassioned, Krish Kapoor is the poster child of fire signs. Tenacious and competitive, he’s relentless in his pursuit of shaping his own trajectory. Rarely one to sugarcoat, Kapoor is criminally aware of his self-worth. This fiery intensity also extends emotionally in the form of warmth and ingenuity that soothes his loved ones. A serial rule-breaker, he is often an authoritarian nightmare. Yet his raw temperament either manages to captivate or intimidate those around him. 

Taurus: Joseph Mascarenhas (Rock On!!)

A man of few words who lets the guitar do the talking, Joe is a reliable and grounded peson, displaying unfailing loyalty towards his loved ones. A classic Taurus, he thrives in predictive situations, marinating in the comfort of routines far more than normal. His stubbornness and incessant need to go all-in or all-out cost him at times, compelling him to put his authenticity on the back burner. Yet it is that very bullishness that eventually leads him back to music, his one true calling.

Gemini: Ishaan (Ishaan: Sapno Ko Awaaz De)

A quirky high school student with a hidden musical talent, Ishaan shuttles between fulfilling his class clown duties and being the lead vocalist of his band. A self-proclaimed butterfly, he uses humor as a crutch to deflect difficult situations. Leading a double life, both as a musician and student, he juggles a myriad of dilemmatic situations, right from exploring intercollegiate band culture and record deals to balancing friendships, all while being tested at every step of his journey. But he wades through courageously, thanks to his adaptable nature. His added comedic timing and melodic musings help him win over the most sour-faced individuals. 

Cancer: Qala Manjushree (Qala)

Cancerian sensitivity remains embedded in Qala’s artistry. Her voice is her arsenal, but also her Achilles heel. To the world, she’s the golden songbird, but behind closed doors lies an emotionally turbulent yet intelligent individual who yearns for approval. Is it her own or the world’s? The lines forever remain blurred. Nevertheless, she’s a successful, self-made woman who uses her agency to bolster other female artists, while also rightfully demanding what is hers. Honing her craft with dedication and consistency, Qala is the tragic equivalent of the water sign prototype.

Leo: Rosie Noronha (Bombay Velvet)

Born to perform, Rosie possesses an intrinsic theatrical flair, with gritty Leo ambition acting as her primary fuel. She wears her heart on her sleeve, and when the show lights turn on, it’s going to be the performance of a lifetime. A grandiose personality emboldened by warmth, she remains in charge of her own destiny, driven by an insatiable appetite for wanting more from life.

Virgo: Radhe (Bandish Bandits)

A zodiacal perfectionist, Radhe is an analytical, detail-oriented, and thoroughbred disciplinarian who will push himself to musical extremes. With an undying love for his craft, which is sometimes powered by intense self-criticism, his quest to seek purpose and fulfillment even after being a classical music prodigy never stops.

Libra: Insia (Secret Superstar)

Using her voice not just for expression, but also for familial harmony, Insia strives to create balance between her extreme, dwindling parallels. While wanting to free her family from the clutches of her abusive father, she also strives towards setting up her dream career as a singer. An inherent diplomat guided by empathy, she relies on herself as a moral compass to chart a unique course shaped by her ambitions.

Scorpio: Jordan (Rockstar)

Whether he’s the nonchalant Jordan or the gullible Janardhan, a sense of secrecy creates a fog over his true identity. There’s something poetic about Jordan’s rage; it comes in layers, masked as anarchy, but in reality, there’s a visceral purity to his pain. Defiant and outlandish, he’s willing to bite back with equal ruthlessness against society’s cruel intentions, using his words and tunes to express the unsaid. However, like the typical Scorpio, when it comes to love, he’s unabashed and unapologetic. It becomes his all-encompassing sanctuary, a utopian middle ground where everything plays out like a fairytale. Willing to go to extreme lengths to protect his prized possessions, Jordan lives in an eternal tussle between self-sabotage and acceptance, chasing any modicum of normalcy with added intensity. 

Sagittarius: Murad (Gully Boy)

A dynamite explosion of talent powered by fiery grit, Murad lets temperament guide his quill in a constant “me against the world” rhythm. A true explorer at heart, the gully underdog is driven by Sagittarian impulsivity and the unflinching bravery to face the unknown. Turning every thought, wound, and wonder into cutting bars, Murad looks his setbacks in the eye, welcoming them for another battle round.

The post Which Indian Music Protagonist Are You, According to Your Zodiac Sign? appeared first on Rolling Stone India.

Before we begin the last Rodeo of the year, let us all take a moment to soak in this unhinged rollercoaster that was 2025. Apart from contributing to the apparent matcha-dubai-chocolate-labubu-ification of pop culture, we also sank into deeper levels of clanker and Gen Alpha slop. Seasons were defined by “Jet2holiday” Summers and “Weird Girl Winters.” Amidst the spectrum of male performativeness and loneliness, a new bombshell emerged: the concept of boyfriends being embarrassing. As poetically encapsulated by the Oxford Dictionary, these 365 days were nothing short of “Rage bait,” the official word of the year.

By the same token, this year consistently made us all question: “What timeline is this?” From watching Nicki Minaj’s Conservative fall from grace to seeing Trump swoon over Mamdani, FYP’s were refreshed multiple times. 

Back home, the worsening AQI gave the country a Silent Hill 2 makeover, while Oscar-worthy Akshaye Khanna “Rahman Dakait” edits from Dhurandhar flooded our timelines. The world also watched with their mouths agape as Indian baddies looksmaxxed during Tyla’s performance at the Indian Sneaker Festival. Over these 365 days, we also collectively whispered a prayer of hope as Deepak Goel of “Digital Snan” fame initiated one for Steve Harrington from Stranger Things S5. Conversely, he also began “Gutter Snan,” a spotlight for some of the country’s most shameless public figures, which was met with equal enthusiasm. 

Reigning supreme for “White Boys of the year” were Timothee Chalamet and Esdee Kid, whose legendary collaboration of the “4Raws” remix laid all the doppleganger rumors to rest. Giving them tough competition, however, were the Canadian ice hockey yaoi sweethearts Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie) and Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams), who had the entire internet in a chokehold with Heated Rivalry.

In other news, whether your Spotify Wrapped age was 21 or 67 (cue comedic drum sting), you can finally let go of the post-frontal lobe existential dread, as a new study indicates that adolescence can linger up to the age of 32. In the spirit of celebrating 2025’s unabashed unhingedness,  saddle up, as we clock all the shenanigans in the year’s last Rodeo.

A Labubu Movie In This Economy?

It seems that the world is still not done with these furry, gremlin-esque collectibles. Sony Pictures, which had acquired the screen rights of the pop mart relic earlier this year, appointed Paul King (director of Paddington and Wonka) to take over the directorial reins. Maybe Labubu will also return for Avengers: Doomsday. 

“Central Shree” At Rolling Loud India

It appeared as though global artists were on a secret mega-race to obtain their Aadhar card, and British rapper Central Cee set the benchmark high with his onstage outfit while performing at Rolling Loud India. Along with repping a beanie from his own merch line, “Syna,” the rapper was seen sporting a T-shirt featuring collage-like images of the Hindu deity, Shiva.

Goodbye Unemployment, Hello Nannies for Billionaires

In what could be the final boss of “eat the rich,” working as nannies, butlers, security personnel, chefs, and executive assistants for billionaire families has emerged as one of the most lucrative Gen Z side hustles of 2025. A classic by-product of late-stage capitalism, younger individuals are channeling their white-collar job disillusionment into sustainable service-oriented pathways, namely through “private staffing.” In an article by Business Insider, Cassidy Hogan, a 28-year-old with an orthopedic sales background, pivoted to nannying for the rich after seeing the horrid condition of the current job market. Think paid vacations at luxury hotspots, private chefs, medical benefits, dedicated “me time,” a whopping six-figure salary, and more. All we need to know is–where do we sign up? 

Messi Performing an Aarti Before GTA VI?

In a series of visuals that is most likely to prompt “Is this AI?”, the OG GOAT, Lionel Messi, was seen with a ceremonial puja thaali in hand at a temple complex along with his Inter Miami teammates, Luis Suarez, Rodrigo De Paul, and, you guessed it, the Ambanis. The  Argentinian footballer also interacted with a lion cub called “Lionel” at the Vantara enclave in Jamnagar, Gujarat; a true Spiderman pointing meme moment right there. 

Puff, Puff, Pass…AI Chatbot Version?

What can only be termed as the plot of a Black Mirror episode, Swedish Creative Director Petter Rudwall has created “Pharmaicy,” an online marketplace where you can purchase code forms of Cannabis, alcohol, ayahuasca, and ketamine to get your chatbot tipsy or high. Taking “nightmare blunt rotation” to a whole new level, a Wired article explored how the concept aims to elevate the already “humanized” ways in which people communicate with LLM models, using specific code sequences that influence the way the AI responds to the prompt. The source? Studying human drug-fueled experiences. Perhaps your 3 AM conversations of “enlightenment” are now going to be mimicked by your friendly neighborhood chatbot. All in all, we want whatever ChatGPT is “smoking.”

Sigh, AI-Powered Cults are a Thing Now

Coined as “Spiralism,” the cult-like collective, found on the extreme fringes of subreddits, Discord servers, and public forums, is a growing form of algorithmic spirituality that places chatbots on a divine pedestal. Prompt-generated material surrounding the foundations of human existence becomes the new opiate, transforming chatbots into mystic oracles who reveal “hidden truths.” With prevalent cases of AI-induced psychosis already on the rise, such pseudo-religious belief systems gaining widespread popularity is a warning sign, a freakish testament to our dependency on the fake emotional intimacy provided by chatbots, LLMs, and artificial intelligence as a whole. 

“Lowkenuinely” is the new “6 7”

This year felt like playing the hardest level of Scrabble alongside doomscrolling, thanks to the brainrot-ification of internet slang. The spectrum of “WTF did I just read?” oscillated between “ts pmo icl” (This Shit Pisses Me Off, I Can’t Lie), “Sybau” (Shut Your Bitch Ass Mouth), and last but definitely not least, “Lowkeuinely.” A portmanteau of “low-key” and “genuinely,” the term is now being used to show sincere yet subtle appreciation online. Cheers to making every English professor’s life a living nightmare. 

The post The Rodeo: Nannies for Billionaires, Drugs for Chatbots, And Messi’s Aarti Moment appeared first on Rolling Stone India.

There’s no easy way to quantify the best songs of the year when there are hundreds of new songs coming out every week in the country. But, we know a powerful, memorable and important song when we hear one. 

This year saw fist-raising voices from across languages and genres, even as others celebrated the power of love, devotion, and even food. From newly-crowned hitmaker Kushagra, Bharath, and Saaheal’s “Finding Her” to Gujarati rapper Bhadrankar’s “Lafangey Parindey,” Faheem Abdullah and Huzaif Nazar’s “Sajde” and the unexpectedly baller team-up between Tsumyoki and Gini on “Don’t Even Text,” there was plenty of diversity to dive into in 2025. Here are our top songs of 2025, in no order or ranking. 

Dreamhour x Dokodoko – “Human Ideal”

Dreamhour and Dokodoko’s “Human Ideal” tore through the clutter with nu metal fury and Pritam Adhikary Goswami’s visceral screams over ominous vocals, marking a daring escape from genre constraints into something totally unhinged. The thrilling pivot — complete with a mind-melting music video — proves how the Sikkim/Siliguri-origin duo can soundtrack the downfall of humanity.

The Down Troddence, T.M. Krishna – “Maharani” 

Folk-metallers The Down Troddence’s “Maharani,” bringing in Carnatic vocal doyen T.M. Krishna, was the crossover no one saw coming. It spawned a defiant anthem against oppression that’s as musically audacious (and more polished than their previous songs) as it is urgent. 

Mali – “Dr. Dust” 

Mumbai-based singer-songwriter Mali’s “Dr. Dust” was her lone release this year, and that’s just as well. With producer Rohan Rajadhyaksha casting long shadows over a dark, trip-hop-influenced exploration of blind faith and cult manipulation, it’s a rare moment where an Indian pop artist commits fully to darkness.

Bloodywood – “Tadka”

Considering their broad global fanbase, it was only a matter of time before folk-metallers Bloodywood thought writing about Indian food was a great idea. “Tadka” is delivered in their expectedly exhilarating style, but also leaves room for nuance when they talk about the power of cuisine, connecting kitchens, roadside stalls, and family homes in one slick package.

Siroyi, Siddhant Bhatia – “8 Haath”

Siroyi’s “8 Haath” channeled classical training and fusion sensibilities into a searing critique of how Indian women are expected to be everything at once. In a gimmick-heavy music world, she brought rage, but ensured she wasn’t overplaying her hand when it came to showing off her musical chops.

Aksomaniac, Shreyas, Fatboi Raccoon – “Paapam” 

Indian hip-hop needs more boundary-pushing explorers like Aksomaniac and Shreyas Sagvekar. With producer Fatboi Raccoon’s roving beats, “Paapam” becomes a sensual, unflinching look at desire and intimacy, a Marathi-Malayalam crossover that would’ve never existed if it weren’t for these two risk-takers. 

The Yellow Diary, Shilpa Rao – “Saaye” 

After “Roz Roz” became one of their biggest hits starting in 2021, The Yellow Diary and Shilpa Rao teaming up again was a no-brainer. Both have grown in the years since, making for a more understated, heartwarming song about togetherness. 

Sijya – “Do I Know” 

There’s a wonderful vagueness in Sijya’s Leather & Brass EP that’s well captured in “Do I Know.” Tunneling, cavernous melodies, and a thumping beat make for a powerful yet open-ended treatise on existentialism, or something like it.   

Midhaven – “The Veiler”

When a band says they’ve put out their heaviest song, you can either treat it with skepticism or welcome it with excitement. Thankfully, Mumbai prog/sludge band Midhaven make it an easy decision right from the opening riffs of a seismic song that proves they’re sharpening their craft more than ever before.

Kushagra, Bharath, Saaheal – “Finding Her” 

Singer-songwriter Kushagra with producer Bharath and lyricist Saaheal made for quite the dream team with “Finding Her,” a waltzy, schmaltzy love song that won hearts and evoked bittersweet memories of lost love.  

Kunwarr – “Piche Tere”

Punjabi artist Kunwarr, along with lyricist Taseer and producers Dishant and Chiveer leap for a global sound with “Piche Tere.” In total loverboy mode over house and UK drill-informed beats, Kunwarr brings a refreshing addition to Punjabi pop lore in 2025.

Sudan, Frizzell D’Souza – “Ghost” 

Haunting vocals drift through minimalist production on “Ghost.” Producer and singer-songwriter Sudan’s ethereal tone haunts you, while Frizzell D’Souza adds lush textures that make a sparse beginning feel unexpectedly intimate.

When Chai Met Toast, Job Kurian – “Dreamland” 

If the distinct folk and multi-lingual draw of When Chai Met Toast wasn’t an invitation enough, they called on Job Kurian for a Malayalam verse, added chenda, komb, and elathalam on “Dreamland.” It’s a shiny ode to home that may as well be Kerala’s official tourism anthem.

Street Stories – “Left Me On Read” 

Hungover on Blink-182 and Green Day, Dimapur-based Street Stories serve up a short punk heartbreak story on “Left Me On Read.” It’s got barbs and bass riffs, all packed into a minute. 

Rascals Of The First Order – “Feels Like Shit”

A lot of Bengaluru band Rascals Of The First Order’s debut EP Caged Authority is pure unadulterated rock, but the crowning glory is the stoner epicness of “Feels Like Shit.” Mixing funk, rap and molten riffs, the rage bubbles just right. 

Serpents of Pakhangba – “Invocation of Pakhangba”

Taken from their latest mind-alteringly avant-garde album Air and Fire, Serpents of Pakhangba’s “Invocation of Pakhangba” is a smoldering, hair-raising reintroduction to the band. Featuring the Manipuri pena and metal riffs, there’s a mystique that few others can match. 

Justh – “Unse Jaake Kehdo”

Almost a year and a half after “Chor,” singer-songwriter Justh returned with “Unse Jaake Kehdo.” The stirring love song retains his simple, heartwarming wisdom and charm, and throws in uplifting gems like “Hum toh khud ko phir pasand karne hai lage.” (“I’ve begun to love myself again”) 

Bhumi, Pixlpxl, Flameboi – “Thalapathi”

Tamil pop’s future is in safe hands thanks to the likes of Bhumi fka Bebhumika. She’s already elevated film songs like “Oorum Blood,” and with her EP Uyir Ponaalum, she added more fervor. “Thalapathi” is an ode to star power like Rajinikanth but also buoyed by folk drums and sweet hooks.

Utsavi Jha – “Maan Jao”

Pop artist Utsavi Jha pivoted from lush and atmospheric songs to a danceable love anthem with “Maan Jao,” produced by Bharath Rajeevan. There’s a nostalgia-tinged music video, but even without it, Jha’s yearning vocals seal the deal, giving us a cheery earworm. 

Skrat – “Circus Act”

Chennai rock trio Skrat still have a good thing going, and thankfully, they’re keeping the engine running to a roar with songs like “Circus Act.” Retaining their fun-loving balance between dancey and ragey, it’s all focused into nearly six-minutes of lore that’ll keep everyone moving.   

Sid Sriram – “Sivanar”

Globe-trotting and genre-hopping are perhaps two of Sid Sriram’s favorite things, and he does both on “Sivanar,” taking a thiruppugazh (14th-century Tamil devotional song) composed by the saint-poet Arunagirinathar and rendering it with reverence and an otherworldliness that clearly comes from treating music as a spiritual medium.

Brodha V – “Hengaithe Maige”

Resolved to be in his own lane as a rap star, Brodha V pats himself on the back with the kind of Kannada wordplay only he can ace on “Hengaithe Maige” (“How Do You Feel Now?”). Over a shimmering dance beat, it really makes you wonder: is there anything the seasoned rapper can’t do? 

Frappe Ash, Toorjo Dey – “Sharmeeli” 

New Delhi hip-hop artist Frappe Ash is in his pookie era on “Sharmeeli,” off his latest album Ice Cream Frappe. Over buoyant production by Toorjo Dey, the rapper adds charm with Garhwali lyrics and there’s even a tabla section that surprises, making “Sharmeeli” ripe for replay value. 

Akshath – “Rozaana” 

A lo-fi diary entry with emotional weight, Akshath’s acoustic arrangements and hushed, humming vocals blossom into something you’d play over a moody evening walk, brimming with poetry and intimacy.

Anirudh Varma Collective, Aniket Chaturvedi, Chie Nishikori – “Saade Naal” 

One of the strongest voices in Indian fusion right now, Anirudh Varma Collective’s resplendent “Saade Naal” is like a rollercoaster, driven by Aniket Chaturvedi on saxophone and flute and Chie Nishikori on trumpet and rhythms that have a party-starting effect. 

Sufr, Arpit Bala, Toorjo Dey – “Bargad”

A modern-day soundtrack for Indian yearners stuck in maladaptive fantasies, “Bargad” builds upon contrasts. Arpit Bala’s intoxicating verse, paired with Sufr’s syrupy vocals, seamlessly glide over electric riffs and an addictive shehnai loop, leaving the listener lingering for more.

Pacifist – “Running Out”

Embodying the true essence of 2010s hardcore punk energy, “Running Out” by Pacifist circles around dystopian themes of disillusionment. 

Karan Aujla, Ikky – “Daytona”

A certified Aujla rager, backed by Ikky’s Don Toliver–esque production inspired by “Kryptonite,” “No Pole,” and “FWU,” “Daytona” is a high-octane victory anthem. Going beyond the materialistic ladders of success, Aujla vocalizes his commitment to the long game. 

Kinari – “Animal”

“Animal” by Kinari, a seven-minute critique of the performative hyper-masculine DHH scene, manages to remain unapologetically audacious until the last minute. Armed with a killer, smooth flow, each one of her verses lands with lethal precision. 

Reble, Parimal Shais – “New Riot”

A track that could score revolutions, “New Riot” is equal parts gritty and flippant, as Reble is growing more comfortable in her identity as a rapper, and unabashedly takes up space.

Ranj, Tienas – “One Stroke”

A track that is just a minute long, “One Stroke,” is almost surgical in its execution. Ranj’s effortless delivery, coupled with Tienas’s sickening, siren-blaring instrumental, heightens the listening experience.

Yelhomie – “We Outside”

Unflinchingly authentic, “We Outside,” infused with Meitei couplets, roars like a war cry. With sharp lyricism that calls out the socio-political disillusionment in Manipur, Yelhomie’s verses vocalize that the personal is indeed political.

Hanumankind, Kalmi – “Run It Up”

Using the crescendo of the Chendamelam to build a frenetic climax, Hanumankind ties culture, community, and hip-hop into one potent blend through “Run it Up.”  

Bhadrankar – “Lafangey Parindey”

Bhadrankar blends vintage R&B textures with Gujarati hip-hop in “Lafangey Parindey,” all while giving the world a taste of an ambition rooted in Vadodara identity and untouched by Western ideas of success.

Dhanji, Rasla – “Khatla Par”

“Khatla Par” by Dhanji and Rasla glides with a butter-smooth cadence, instantly setting the tone like the opening scene of a Western gangster film. Anchored by an earworm chorus and a wicked bassline, the track steadily amps up the cinematic groove.

Vengayo, Foxn – “Chikkama”

Vengayo and Foxn’s “Chikkama” is an unrelenting banger that refuses to let you stay still, redefining Kuthu euphoria with its sudden, thrilling beat switch-ups. Vengayo’s slick delivery pairs effortlessly with Foxn’s suave, old-school production, maintaining the energy throughout.

Seedhe Maut, Ghaatak,  Hurricane – “Abaad”

Seedhe Maut and DL91FM’s “Abaad” is a mellow, ambient rager that commands attention. Bars glide seamlessly against a high-bpm, hyperpop-reminiscent production, interwoven with piano and saxophone riffs. 

Tsumyoki, Gini – “Don’t Even Text”

Peppy from the get-go, the track featuring Gini’s dulcet vocals and Tsumyoki’s effortless flow, is a catchy ode to the “will-they-won’t-they” energy that comes with playing hard to get.

Faheem Abdullah, Huzaif Nazar – “Sajde”

A mellifluous, modern-day ballad, “Sajde” explores the undercurrents of an all-encompassing love — adulation, surrender, obsession, and heartbreak. The track possesses an old-school charm, right from its classical arrangements to Urdu lyricisms. 

KR$NA, Seedhe Maut, Hurricane – “Sensitive”

A clever callout to the fragile state of post-modern internet — cancel culture, half-baked critiques and intellectual bankruptcy — “Sensitive” urges one to not fall for the ragebait, rise above the censorship and live their truth unapologetically. 

Abdon Mech – “Noye Lhokuthu Iwu”

A swoon-worthy indie pop track that transports you to 2000s romcoms, Abdon Mech’s “Noye Lhokuthu Iwu” serenades the listener through its wistful Sumi Naga lyrics.

Param, Manni Sandhu – “That Girl”

Dropping verses over a U.K. drill beat, Param’s voice reverberates from the bylanes of Punjab across the nation. One of the few female rappers in the DHH scene, the 19-year-old Moga native wears her folk identity with pride. 

Shashwat Sachdev, Shilpa Rao, Ujwal Gupta – “Ghafoor”

An oddball that slowly grows with each listen, “Ghafoor” is a certified house-party addition that is bound to stir up the dance floor. 

Chaar Diwaari, Sanjith Hegde – “Banda Kaam Ka”

Fit for the protagonists simping over their manic-pixie dream love interests, “Banda Kaam Ka” sees Chaar Diwaari expand on the “Pyaar Diwaari” arc. Sanjith Hegde comes in full clutch with his bridge, consisting of poetic, classical verses that further heighten the romantic devotion quotient.

Lisa Mishra – “Teri Hoon”

A desi sapphic anthem that scores the quietest, most intimate glimmers of love, “Teri Hoon” is a ballad rooted in tenderness.

Dasagriva – “Jordaar Bonalu”

Telugu rapper Dasagriva comes in guns blazing with “Jordaar Bonalu,” a fiery composition of colloquial bars powered by thumping Dappu beats in the background.

Naam Sujal – “Killa Klassic”

Bound to cause a full-blown gig shutdown, this headbanger of a track by the Nagpur-based rap ace solidifies his signature penchant for lethal verbal weaponry. Part of his upcoming mixtape, Mammafication, the track offers a glimpse into the 19-year-old rapper’s archetype — equal parts ambitious, unfiltered, and cheeky. 

Shikriwal – “Real Baat”

Shikriwal’s “Real Baat” is reminiscent of Tyler, The Creator’s Flower Boy, with the saxophone instrumentals heightening the charisma. A sonic exploration of folk identity, the rapper blends jazz and Bhojpuri rap into a dreamy, immersive soundscape that unravels the poetic soul of the language.

Mary Ann Alexander – “Student of Love”

“Student of Love” shines with its dreamy arrangement and Alexander’s honey-smooth vocals, channeling sultry, syncopated 2000s R&B rhythms reminiscent of Aaliyah’s One in a Million, while SZA-esque vocal riffs take it up several notches.

Parvaaz – “Faani”

Fit for an indie coming-of-age film, “Faani” unfolds like the perfect road-trip anthem. A love child of Euphoria’s “Maaeri” and “Yu Hi Chala Hi” from Swades, the track feels like a time capsule to early 2000s I-Pop, infused with intricate harmonies and instrumental arrangements.

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