The New Year will see releases by some of the brightest stars of the Indian independent music scene as well as some new and veteran international acts. Here's a round-up of the albums and eps to look forward to.
NucleyaPARVAAZ
Photo: Niloptal Baruah
Bangalore-based rock band Parvaaz, whose songs are in a mix of Hindi, Kashmiri and Urdu, say their follow-up to 2014's Baran will be equally balanced across the three languages and, with a mix of acoustic and progressive rock elements, feature more of the sound they've come to be known for. Third quarter.
PAREKH & SINGH
Photo: Subir Halder
Kolkata-based electro-pop duo Parekh & Singh-who shot to fame in 2016 with the viral video 'I Love You Baby, I Love You Doll'-will release their sophomore. Their debut Ocean was written by singer and guitarist Nischay Parekh. The as-yet untitled 11-track album has been co-composed by Parekh and percussionist Jivraj Singh. Fans will be pleased to know that it will be preceded by a video for the tune 'Summer Skin', which, in Parekh's words, will feature "a new visual aesthetic". Second quarter.
MAJOR LAZER
The electronic music trio will release their fourth album, tentatively titled Music is the Weapon, which was originally scheduled for 2017. To be announced.
CAMILA CABELLO
Photo: Reuters
Former Fifth Harmony member Camila Cabello's solo debut Camila, which houses current international chart topper 'Havana', is the first big pop release of 2018. January.
JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE
The pop-R&B superstar's next is very likely to be released around the time he performs the Super Bowl halftime show in February. To be announced.
RITVIZ
VED, the new EP by Ritviz Srivastava-the voice behind 'Udd Gaye', the official "party anthem" of the Bacardi NH7 Weekender music festival-is a cross between his previous releases, Vizdum and Yuv. January.
SWARATHMA
Bengaluru-based Swarathma, which has been road-testing tracks from their third album, plans to head into the studio soon. Among the tunes are lead single 'Beta Sweater Pehno' and a song with Indian Ocean's Amit Kilam. Last quarter.
THE LOCAL TRAIN
The Local Train, which is emerging as one of the most popular Hindi rock bands in the country, will release their second album Vaaqif on which they will experiment with a heavier sound. Expect fewer love ballads and more philosophical musings, as heard on recent single 'Aftaab', which is about finding hope after a bad day. January.
PRATEEK KUHAD
Delhi-based singer-lyricist and the indie scene's favourite balladeer Prateek Kuhad's long-awaited follow-up to his 2015 album In Tokens and Charms will be a six-track English EP that will very likely include recent live hits such as 'For Your Time'. First quarter.
THAIKKUDAM BRIDGE
Namah, the next album by genre-mashing fusion rock ensemble Thaikkudam Bridge from Kochi, will be a "salutation to the legends" who have inspired them. International and Indian luminaries as guitarist Guthrie Govan, drummers Chris Adler and Marco Minnemann, keyboardist Jordan Rudess, sarangi player Ram Narayan, mohan veena player Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, vocalist Rashid Khan, mridangam player Umayalpuram Sivaraman and flautist Rakesh Chaurasia are the guests who appear on the record, which will have tunes in English, Hindi, Malayalam and Tamil. January.