A new breed of bands are currently on the rise in the Indian music scene, making a lot of noise with their unique sounds. We take a look at some of the leaders of the pack.

THE F16s

Band members: Joshua Fernandez, Sashank Manohar, Harshan Radhakrishnan, and Abhinav Krishnaswamy.

The Chennai-based F16s have something for everyone. Their music places heavy emphasis on catchy melodies, with a mainstream appeal to it, and never strays too far from its indie and alternative roots. The band loves diving into different musical territories, which helps them encapsulate varying ranges of melancholy and euphoria in one single project. With international tours and four solid projects already under their belt, there’s nothing stopping the F16s from becoming India’s next big band.

APE ECHOES

Band members: Sid Shirodkar, Nirmit Shah, Sahil Shah, and Harshvardhan Gadhvi

It was during an internship at Indus Creed keyboardist Zubin Balaporia’s studio that Sid Shirodkar and Nirmit Shah met, and decided to start working together. Soon, Sahil Shah and Harshvardhan Gadhvi were enlisted, and Ape Echoes was formed. Over the years, the band has grown to become a festival favourite, with a musical palette as diverse as the colours on a Van Gogh painting. They move through genres like progressive rock, electronica, soul, funk, among others. The Apes’ music is a complicated weave of raw instrumentals and immersive sounds, with experimentation being a big part of the band philosophy.

BOMBAY BANDOOK

Band members: Sannidh Shah, Brijesh Joshi, Jagravi Rao, Avneesh Gadgil, Amarjeet Prabhudesai, and Shravan Samsi

If Mumbai’s mesmerising rains had an official anthem, it would probably be a Bombay Bandook song. Bombay Bandook is a Hindi fusion rock band that incorporates powerful and lyrically-driven classical vocals, complimented by intricate, instrumental layers that seem symbolic of the hypnotising and synchronised chaos of the city. The result is a concoction of melodies that are equally emotionally potent and healing.

MAN.GOES HUMAN

Band members: Kaprila Keishing, Shitij Gulati, Sharan Gulati, and Akshat Pathak

Man.Goes Human is a Delhi-based indie-rock outfit with a unique soundscape. Started by brothers Sharan and Shitlij Gulati as just another college band, which then became a career, the band dabbles in everything from blues to psychedelic, but usually stays true to their indierock sound that has primarily helped them garner a loyal fanbase. While the band has several projects under their belt, the most recent — and the biggest one — was their work in the Hollywood Netflix action thriller Extraction, which placed them right under international spotlight.

PAKSHEE

Band members: Akshat Pradhan, Dan Thomas, Pranay Parti, Sreerag, and Kunwar Tanishque

Pakshee is a bird of many feathers, who take fusion music to new heights. The band members were part of the music society of their college in Delhi, and soon, after college festivals, decided to make it a professional venture. The members hail from different states across India, and let their influences and culture flow right into their music. Pakshee prides itself on its potential to deliver moving tones that marry traditional Indian sounds vocals with instruments like guitars, piano, and the drums.

TILL APES

Band members: Doc.Awes, Hanumankind, Soorya Praveen, Sange Wangchuk, Philip John, and Gautam David

Till Apes (Till All People Evolve Slightly) is a young band from Bengaluru, who classify themselves under the neo-hip-hop genre. It’s always a party with Till Apes, as the band’s sound attracts lovers of rap, rock, funk, and jazz, all to one stage. All six members of the band contribute in their own way to the band’s signature sound, through some incredible saxophone layers and funky rhythms, paired along with solid bars and lyrical rhymes.