2017 is finally coming to a close! And that leaves us with making yet another attempt at rounding up everything that has gone down within the music scene in the country over the past twelve months. And to kick things off, we at Bangin Beats have decided to share our top 10 releases of the year by Indian artists. With the likes of Short Round, Kumail, Sid Vashi, Prabh Deep and more who rose to the occasion to share some of their most memorable works till date, head down below and get to know if you have managed to catch up on some of our favourite releases of 2017.
10. Jwala – Flame Of The Forest
One of the biggest takeaways from the electronic music scene in the country this year has been the birth of Jwala. An internet-based collective consisting of a bunch of self-taught, internet-raised music producers who aspire to form a community around this shared mindset, they have been steadily making some major moves to be recognized as one of the brightest spots within India’s independent scene. Already six compilations old, Jwala finds a place on our Top 10 list with their sophomore compilation ‘Flame of the Forest’. Featuring contributions by the likes of Three Oscillators, Ayush, Moebius, Cosmic Attic, Echofloat, Sews, Debo, Mug£n and aimsir., the 9-track effort explores the length and breadth of the genre, and also stands out as a masterful creation which manages to find cohesion among its sonic extremes. Not only does their latest body of work offer us a deeper look into each individual’s musical mind, but also is a nod to Jwala’s ethos which echoes throughout this impressive form of creative expression. Crafted by some of the most promising talents within the Indian electronic landscape, ‘Flame of the Forest’ stands out as one of their best works till date, and also is a subtle reminder as to why they are the ones to watch out for in 2018!
9. Chrms feat. Zoya – Heart Rates
It certainly is 2017 where age is nothing but a number! And talking about age, 16-year old Chrms certainly got the dance music community in the country excited, thanks to what he had in store for us. Heavily influenced by new age heroes like Flume, Porter Robinson, Mr. Carmack, Oshi and more, Veer Kowli’s music appealed to the masses almost instantly. Besides dropping flips and remixes for Drake, XXXTenacion and Flume, the Jwala co-founder grabbed the attention of many, and finds himself on our list with his brilliant release ‘Heart Rates’. Teaming up with Indian-born songstress Zoya, the soul stirring creation also garnered support from international superstars like The Chainsmokers and more.
8. Mali – Rush [EP]
Mumbai-based singer/songwriter Maalavika Manoj aka Mali kickstarted her (and our) 2017 with an incredible EP titled ‘Rush’. Featuring 5 marvelous cuts, the EP is a glowing testament to Maalavika’s growth as a musician, and her effervescent vocals combined with some wonderful arrangement makes for some easy listening for the ears. With a successful 2017 behind her, we can’t wait to see what 2018 holds for the talented artist.
7. Oceantied – Paradise/Closets [EP]
Unarguably, one of the finest beatmakers in the country at the moment, Ketan Bahirat aka Oceantied’s purple patch is yet to leave. Changing the landscape of the electronic music scene one beat at a time, the RBMA graduate had everyone in awe after delivering the power-packed ‘Tribes’ EP late last year. And with a strong 2017 now also under his bag, he managed to explore new sonic territories earlier this year with his two-track EP ‘Paradise/Closets’. A laudable effort courtesy Oceantied which finds the #7 spot on our Top 10 list, the talented producer/DJ is already looking forward to what promises to be an even bigger 2018 for him!
6. Kumail – From you to blue [EP]
Mumbai-based producer Kumail rose to greater heights after gaining positive reviews from critics and fans alike for his 2016-released debut album ‘Links’. And come 2017, the young act impressed listeners once again with his ‘From you to blue’ EP! Released via Knowmad Records, the 7-track EP saw the DASTA co-founder deliver the perfect collection of sounds to soundtrack your moody moments. With tonal shifts which can be noticed throughout the proceedings, Kumail’s production on offer escaped genre boundaries for its own good albeit, drawing influences from downtempo, lo-fi and ambient sounds to manufacture an essential package of raw, sonic goodness.
5. Prabh Deep – Class-Sikh
New Delhi-based MC and rapper, Prabh Deep came out all guns blazing in 2017 to deliver one of the finest homegrown hip-hop albums the country has been treated to in recent years. Known for his raw and bold lyricism, the 12-track album ‘Class-Sikh’ has already managed to prove its mettle as a powerful LP which is destined to become a future classic. Boasting of standout cuts like ‘Kal (Future)’, ‘Suno’, ‘Click Clack’ amongst others, his debut album not only finds a well-deserved spot in our Top 10, but also serves as a gentle reminder to Prabh’s imminent rise towards the top!
4. Disco Puppet – Princess This
What a phenomenal year 2017 has turned out to be for Disco Puppet! The consolidate affiliate was not only packing a ton of new ideas, but he also managed to deliver two albums in a span of three months. And if ‘I’m Going Home’ was a fun-filled, eccentric display of his signature sounds, then ‘Princess This’ surely announced its arrival as one of the most complete and path-breaking body of work from Shoumik Biswas. Securing a well-deserved spot on our Top 10 list, his 10-track LP lives up as one of the best experimental albums to have come out of the Indian sub-continent in recent years. A world class creation which has its own share of invigorating bangers and challenging, psychedelic creations alike, ‘Princess This’ manages to tick all the right boxes, all while offering listeners with an overwhelming package of sounds.
3. Sid Vashi – Azuma Kazuma
What surely felt like it had been a long time coming, Sid Vashi finally returned to action in 2017 with the release of his highly awaited sophomore album ‘Azuma Kazuma‘. Following up to the success of his 2013-released debut LP ‘Motherland Tourism’, his latest record boasting of 7 tracks managed to put some of his most ambitious and experimental works till date on display. An inventive and intriguing story narrated through an exceptional LP which sees each track stitched together in seamless fashion, Sid’s ‘Azuma Kazuma’ has managed to emerge as one of the most definitive albums to come out of the Indian music scene in 2017.
2. Short Round – With Friends Like These [EP]
Mumbai based singer-songwriter Jishnu Guha returned to action earlier this year under his Short Round alias to deliver his collaborative EP, ‘With Friends Like These’. A heartfelt effort from Guha, who sets the bar high with every single track on the record, the well executed EP sees him showcase 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 certainly lives up as one of the finest records we’ve heard this year so far.
1. Arjun Vagale – Liquid
Without any glimpse of doubt in our minds, Indian techno heavyweight Arjun Vagale has officially bagged the #1 spot in our Top 10 list of the best releases of the year from Indian artists. Having dominated the past twelve months with multiple releases, the famed act blew everyone out of the water with the release of his brilliant original ‘Liquid‘ which found a well-deserved place on Drumcode’s annual A-Sides compilation. Additionally becoming the first Asian artist to release music on Adam Beyer’s prestigious label, the stellar cut dominated dancefloors across the world. Broody, pounding basslines coupled with dark synths and simmering hi hats give the track a unique flavor, sitting perfectly with the esoteric Drumcode sound that has come to be appreciated by techno enthusiasts across the world.
With Inputs from: Pranav Gupta