Radio City Freedom Recommends: Latest Hits by Your Favourite Indie Artistes: Edition 6

Vocalist-guitarist/synth player Chinmay Patkar alongwith drummer Parth Malhotra, bassist Soumitra Vichare and guitarist Swanand Thakur gives us a plateau of sentiments with 'Midas'. What starts as slow and comforting eventually grows into a robust composition of rage, expressing the two-facedness of humankind. Electro-psychedelic rock outfit from Mumbai, Corner Caf Chronicles released the track as an inclusion to the first part of their debut album, 'Renaissance'.

Featuring Shweta Venkatramani on vocals, Sandesh Rao and Desikan Gopalan on guitars, Rajiv Menon on bass and Rahul Kannan on keys, 'Gullible Child' is a stand-out track from Protocol's album 'Friar's Lantern'. Guest-featuring Siddharth Shankar on guitars, the lyrics of the song suggest a person's vulnerability to be easily clouted by external validation and judgements to such an extent that their own individuality ceases to exist. The track almost plays out like a satire on our collective social thinking which has been endangered by agenda and opportunism. A great example of good songwriting accompanied by a thumping composition.

Gin City, the brainchild of guitarist Shishir Singh also comprises of brother and drummer Swapnil Singh, guitarist Nikhil Sinha and bass player Kaustubh Meher. Formed in November 2019, the band released two singles in 2020 from their upcoming debut album namely, 'Blackout' and 'Ambush'. 'Old and New' is the third single to follow and it only manages to intrigue us further towards the band's potential. The lyrics penned by Shishir, draw inspirations from childhood scars that run deep within our evolved and matured personalities. Layered within the composition is a connect that will bind one and all.

Poly-genre Cha'bi from New Delhi keeps the emotions real in 'Shayad Ke Main Zinda Nahin'. Off late, a lot of songs that deal with introspection or contemplation follow a set musical structure, striking across as a clich. Thankfully, Cha'bi succeeds from not falling into that trap. Akshay Kapoor's vocals feel like a gentle nudge, sort of reassuring you that the troubled waters will recede, even though he mellifluously expresses pain and heartbreak.

Ahmedabad's Mukt has proven to be a rousing discovery, personally. Comprising of Tarun Gagdekar and Udit Bhavsar on vocals and guitars, Dhaval Yadav on percussions and vocals, Yash Joshi on drums, Raag Jadav on bass and Joby Joy on the tabla, 'Doosra Banwas' from the band's debut album 'Jogi' is a fitting ode to noted poet Kaifi Azmi's verses which questions man's futile intent to own his religion than embrace it. The entire album is inspired by the works of India's most celebrated poets, but 'Doosra Banwas' particularly stands out.

Kashmir's most evocative voice Ahmer combines forces with Delhi Sultanate to deliver a stinging commentary upon the cries of Kashmiris going unheard following the statewide lockdown since August 2019. It also highlights the ugly measures taken by the establishment to circumvent political uprisings and unreasonably detain well-meaning activists, despite them expressing their dissent while abiding by the laws and constitutional rights laid.

Your weekly listing of the best in the Indian independent music scene is here. Here are our six picks for this week.