We are officially half-way through 2017, and boy have we been treated to some exceptional releases from artists around the country! With the likes of heavyweight acts including Anish Sood, Arjun Vagale, Zaeden, Prateek Kuhad and more who have made sure to bring in their A-game for their latest tracks, we have also been treated to some incredible EPs and albums from the likes of Kumail, Sid Vashi and Short Round. As we get ready for the second half of the year, we at The Bangin Beats have decided to compile some of our favourite releases over the past six months!
Read on.
15. Ritviz – YUV (Su Real Remix)
Earlier this year, New-Delhi-based producer Su Real decided to take on fellow bass music act Ritviz‘s smash hit ‘YUV‘! Taking listeners on his own sonic journey, Su reworked the stadium-sized bass record into a lethal trap bomb which draws heavy influences from hybrid trap and hip-hop. An insanely unique and energetic creation, the impressive remix is ought to be a solid addition to any bass music aficionado’s playlist.
14. Moon Roots Project – Esin [EP]
Pune-based sibling duo Moon Roots Project caught our eye following the release of their latest ‘Esin‘ EP. A stunning three-track effort which switches from dance-floor warmers to uplifting sounds, and ultimately sending listeners to darker soundscapes, Moon Roots Project are the duo to watch out for!
13. Prabh Deep x Sez – Kal
One of the main flag bearers of India’s underground hip-hop movement, Prabh Deep returned to action this May for his latest single ‘Kal‘! Produced by longtime friend and collaborator Sez, a solid urban-inspired production provides him with the ideal playground to show off his signature lyrical flow. A powerful, new anthem courtesy the man himself, his newest effort once again sees him keeping it real!
12. Seven & Seven – Amber
Delhi-based producer Seven & Seven has been a rising name within India’s very own bass music circuit. Having made a name for himself with several originals and remixes, Nischay Sharma blew listeners away earlier this year with his latest single ‘Amber‘. Released via MrSuicideSheep, the gorgeous future bass-influenced record has already amassed more than 100k plays, and continues to find its way into playlists around the world!
11. aswekeepsearching – Zia
Known for their immersive yet expansive soundscapes coupled with soaring melodies, the extremely talented post-rock band from Ahmedabad, aswekeepsearching returned with their second studio album ‘Zia‘ earlier this year! Featuring 11 tracks, the album follows a number of stories, depicting the journey of the band so far. With a whole lot of different textures and layers on the tracks, ‘Zia‘ is an extremely well crafted album that stands testament to aswekeepsearching‘s maturity and growth as a band.
10. Zaeden feat. Cimo Frankel – City Of The Lonely Hearts
Following up to his massive 2016 summer record “Never Let You Go” with Nina & Malika, Zaeden kicked off the year with his latest single ‘City Of The Lonely Hearts‘ featuring Cimo Frankel. A quality deep house track led by the Dutch singer/songwriter’s ethereal vocals, mellow guitar plucks act as major focal point within the single before sultry rhythms and tropical-influenced melodies blend together to craft an exceptional summer-inspired record.
9. Anish Sood feat. Andy Wilson-Taylor – Going Under
One of India’s finest producers, Anish Sood left us impressed with his latest single ‘Going Under‘ featuring Andy Wilson-Taylor. Released via his own Class Action label, the Goan talent’s latest release is yet another exemplary showcase of his penchant for dance-floor ready sounds. It is a groovy house anthem with layers of live piano and guitar instrumentation, punchy bass stabs, creative melodic elements, and Andy’s strong vocals to top it all off.
8. MojoJojo – Shankar
Mojojojo blew us out of water with his debut offering of 2017 in May. Titled ‘Shankar‘, the bass-filled offering was released as the first single off his forthcoming ‘Rudra‘ EP which is slated to drop later this year. It is a high energy anthem which boasts of signature desi bass elements led by moombahton inspired overtones and traditional vocal samples that drive the track forward. With high pitched synths and aggressive drops which take over listeners’ ears for a second outing, Mojojojo’s latest packs enough energy to tear up festival crowds and dance floors around the country.
7. Jwala 001 – Where There’s Smoke
Newly formed collective Jwala made a memorable debut late last month with their debut compilation ‘Where There’s Smoke‘! Comprised of some of India’s newest talents from the electronic music space, what made us love their forward thinking effort is that with each track, listeners will be able to immerse themselves within each artist’s creative output which oozes quality and embodies the passion for his/her craft. A steadily paced effort right from start to finish, the compilation is an extremely well-balanced and exploratory ride which only makes us eager for what’s next to come from the budding collective!
6. Ankur & The Ghalat Family – Side B
Ankur & The Ghalat Family fans were finally treated to the long awaited unveil of ‘Side B‘, the second chapter of their double album ‘Side A/Side B‘! Featuring the likes of Karsh Kale, Grain, Sandunes and Zoe Viccaji. ‘Side B’ which spans throughout 6 tracks stands testament to the band’s easy acoustic sound, with Ankur Tewari’s polished vocals sitting perfectly with the arrangement, and lyrics that revolve around love and friendship.
5. Sid Vashi – Azuma Kazuma
What surely was a long time coming, Sid Vashi finally released his highly awaited sophomore album ‘Azuma Kazuma‘ this May. An inventive, intriguing story narrated through an exceptional LP which sees each track stitched together in seamless fashion, Sid’s ‘Azuma Kazuma‘ is a strong contender for being one of the most definitive albums to come out of the Indian music scene in 2017.
4. Kumail – From you to blue [EP]
One of our favourite producers from the homegrown scene, Kumail returned to action earlier this year with his brand new EP! Titled ‘From you to blue‘, the 7-track effort is yet another exemplary showcase of his knack for crafting experimental releases which escape genre boundaries for its own good.
3. Prateek Kuhad – Tum Jab Paas
One of India’s most talanted singer/songwriters, Prateek Kuhad unveiled his latest track titled ‘Tum Jab Paas‘ this April. Reminiscing about first loves and relationships, he paints quite a surreal picture with the evocative lyrics, taking you on a nostalgic walk down memory lane!
2. Arjun Vagale – ModMatrix
While Indian techno kingpin Arjun Vagale is definitely experiencing the best year of his career till date, his first offering of the year is what started it all! The title track off his “ModMatrix” EP has successfully managed to put an Odd mark on dance floors around the world. Pounding kickdrum and ping-pong affected electrifying synth signals throughout the single make it a proper techno bomb of its own kind.
1. Short Round – With Friends Like These [EP]
Mumbai based singer-songwriter Jishnu Guha released the second EP under his Short Round alias earlier this year! A collaborative EP, ‘With Friends Like These’ is an extremely well crafted, heartfelt effort from Guha, who sets the bar high with every single track on the record. Continuing with the folk-rock sound that he has perfected over the years, Jishnu conjures up a beautiful landscape of sunbathed melodies, be it the mellow ‘Autumn‘ featuring Rahul Pais and Mali, or ‘Losing Day‘ featuring Siddharth Basrur, and delivers what possibly could be one of the finest records we’ve heard this year so far.