"We’ve always written songs with a purpose."
Indian bands are talented, original, and confident in the music scene.
In the fascinating realm of Indian music, Bollywood reigns supreme.
However, the truth is that these musical groups have their own way of entertaining listeners.
They have distinctive methods to captivate their audience.
With the promise of hard-hitting, melodious, and divine tracks, they have carved a niche for themselves that deserves recognition.
Paying tribute to some of these artists, DESIblitz is proud to present a curated list of five Indian bands that you must add to your playlists.
Sanam
Consisting of articulate musicians like Sanam Puri, Samar Puri, Venky S, and Keshav Dhanraj, Sanam holds roots in the bustling city of Mumbai.
They were formed in 2010 and YouTube invited them to perform at the YouTube FanFest, which they did in 2015 and 2016.
Their debut album is ‘Supastars’. One of the chartbusters from the album is ‘Hawa Hawa‘.
Praising the song, a fan comments: “This song is so underrated!
“I heard this song a few years back and instantly fell in love.
“This music is intoxication. I am never able to hold myself from shaking my body from the beats.
“The lyrics are awesome. I listen to this song when I just want to break free.”
Sanam also prides itself on covering classic Indian film music, putting their original stamps on bygone numbers.
An example is ‘Kya Hua Tera Wada‘. The song was originally sung by Mohammad Rafi and is from Hum Kisi Se Kum Naheen (1977).
Band member Sanam Puri delves into what the purpose music plays in his life.
He says: “[I] didn’t really plan to become a musician specifically.
“The important thing has always been to do what feels good and music feels like it has a purpose in our lives.
“There’s so much we have learned about life and have been able to do through music.”
Sanam has undeniably earned a place for themselves in the music world.
Bloodywood
Those who are fans of both Indian bands and the heavy metal genre should definitely check this group out.
Formed in 2016, Bloodywood comprises of Karan Katiyar, Jayant Bhadula, and Raoul Kerr.
Karan quit his job in the legal sector with the goal of creating a band that would be “destroying pop songs.”
In 2022, the group released an album that is titled Rakshak.
In a review of the creation, Kenstrosity writes:
“Rakshak succeeds in no small part because it expresses complex human experiences through effortlessly accessible writing.
“I encourage anybody intrigued by this review to give Rakshak a fair shake.
“You might just find that Bloodywood crafted an energetic record worthy of your time and attention.
“It’s certainly worth mine!”
A Bloodywood single that is also rocking is ‘Aaj‘.
An Indian folk metal song – ‘Aaj’ creates excitement in listeners.
Its accompanying video depicts the members in various settings as they embrace themes of heavy instrumentation and machismo.
Karan Katiyar imparts knowledge about the band’s direct and impactful style:
“We’ve always written songs with a purpose.
“It’s not our style to write songs just for arbitrary or artistic reasons.
“We like to be very direct and impactful with our message.”
Masala Coffee
In 2014, an extremely versatile group came into play in the form of Masala Coffee.
The term ‘coffee’ is to signify the band’s interest in a diverse array of genres.
Members of Masala Coffee include Varun Sunil, Abhijit Anilkumar, Razik Mujawar, Amalsivan, Dayasankar, Paul Joseph, Surya Bharadwaj and Pranav KS.
Their debut album released in 2018 and is named Kimaya.
It contains 10 songs, all in Tamil, Malayalam, and Hindi.
One of the Hindi songs is the melodious ‘Safar‘.
The video showcases gorgeous shots of beaches and mountains.
Varun Sunil sheds light on the brand ethos of the musical group.
He says: “Masala Coffee wasn’t formed with the purpose of becoming a band.
“I simply wanted to do something of my own. I then decided to name it Masala Coffee.”
“It was all about sharing happiness, continuing to make music, practising, and most importantly, keeping ego outside the band’s door.
“It is important that you continue to be inspired by others and strive to be the best in whatever you do.
“In essence, be yourself.”
This mission shimmers in the works of ‘Masala Coffee’.
They are one of the most inspiring Indian bands.
When Chai Met Toast
The origin of When Chai Met Toast lies in Kochi, India.
Its main genre of exploration is Indian pop music.
Members of the band include Ashwin Gopakumar, Achyuth Jaigopal, Palee Francis, and Pai Sailesh.
When Chai Met Toast was formed in 2014 by Ashwin and Achyuth.
Since the arrival of Palee and Pai, the band officially started its activity in 2016.
They have become a firm fixture in Indian music, performing in languages including Hindi, English, Malayalam, and Tamil.
One of their early songs is ‘Firefly’, which is a breathtaking blend of English and Hindi lyrics.
On YouTube, a fan enthusiastically gushes about this number:
“I am just f***king overwhelmed hearing this song.
“You guys have got what you deserved long back.
“Your time is now guys. Shine bright like the fireflies.”
The number was briefly used in the announcement of Farhan Akhtar’s Jee Le Zaraa.
When Chai Met Toast have also dabbled in Bollywood, composing music for Do Aur Do Pyaar (2024).
They are thus a highly successful band and deserve every ounce of adulation coming their way.
Thaikkudam Bridge
Continuing with talent that has emerged from Kochi, we come to Thaikkudam Bridge.
Formed in 2013, the band comprises several members, each bringing their own gleam of shine to the group.
Their first original composition is ‘Fish Rock‘ (2013). The popularity amassed by it led to the group to widen their performing platforms to colleges and major events.
Blending rock with soul, ‘Fish Rock’ proved that Thaikkudam Bridge was here to stay.
The band discuss what ties them together in such a large cohort of musicians:
“The main aspect of it is mutual respect. We respect each other as musicians and friends.
“Sometimes, we swap the role as teachers and students too.
“If there is a difference of opinion, we sit together and discuss it and brainstorm on the solutions.
“Above all, we help each other understand that each decision is taken in the interest of the band and not to corner or burden one or a group of individuals.”
Respect and support are essential for a band to thrive and succeed. That generates positive chemistry that in turn aids the creation of entertaining output.
Entertainment is at the heart of Thaikkudam Bridge.
Over the years of their careers, these Indian bands have not only achieved their own dreams but have helped many others in realising theirs.
Their material is vast, diverse, and a joy to consume.
The Indian music scene is a tough industry, with many and much of the popular music being generated from the film industry.
However, these groups leave indelible impressions without the glitz and glamour of Bollywood.
They inspire millions of listeners and their music is a treasure trove of brilliance and innovation.
For that, these Indian bands deserve to be celebrated and applauded.
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