India has been blessed with diversity, not only geographically but also culturally. Every region of India developed a sub-culture in itself. Along with food, language (dialects), customs, music was also a part of the culture and traditions that grew in various parts of our country. Today, we refer to such traditional music as folk music; music of the masses.
With Westernisation, even our thoughts and likes or dislikes got shaped according to Western culture. Our rich folk musical heritage was slowly dying as more and more people inclined towards non-folk music. But due to the efforts of certain musicians/bands, folk music is thriving and slowly gaining popularity, not just in India but in the entire world. These musicians/bands combine the elements of folk music to various other music styles. Called as Modern Folk, this music style has earned various fans throughout the world. Here is a list of 10 Indian Modern Folk artists who will surely win over your heart.
- The Raghu Dixit Project
Talking about modern folk music without mentioning The Raghu Dixit Project is like talking about gravity without mentioning Isaac Newton. It is a multilingual folk/fusion band. The front-man of the band is Raghu Dixit. The band is a living embodiment of talents and passion. What makes them unique is the manner in which they combine traditional Indian sounds with Western influence. The Raghu Dixit Project has never failed to mesmerise the audience with their heartfelt music.
Recommendations: Hey Bhagwan, Rain Song
2. Tetseo Sisters
The gorgeous sisters from Nagaland have added a new charm to the folk music scene. They are devoted to their land and culture and hence are constantly looking for inspiration around them. They have won many awards and accolades, not only in India but in the entire world. They effortlessly bring to life the vibrant folk music of Nagaland. Their music manages to strike the right chords and makes you sway along to their soothing voices.
Recommendations: O Rhosi, Cepho Celho Lizo
3. Papon & The East India Company
If you are a fan of Bollywood songs, Papon is no stranger to you. If you follow Coke Studio, you have lost yourself in his soulful voice. There exist very few versatile artists like Papon. He also happens to be the lead singer and founder of the electronic folk-fusion band called Papon & The East India Company. The band has performed live in nearly all major music festivals in India and have done many shows abroad too. The band never shies away from experimenting with different music genres and is a major force behind introducing the world to East Indian folk music.
Recommendations: Baarish ke Boondein, Boitha Maro Re
4. Maati Baani
In literal terms, Maati Baani means the language of the earth. Consisting of the husband-wife duo of Hindustani vocalist Nirali Kartik and composer/music producer Kartik Shah has created a unique niche for itself. Their music is a soulful combination of Indian folk music, classical music with funk and blues music. They also add sounds created by non-musical instruments, as music in their compositions which they call as ‘new age sounds’. Their music isn’t linguistically restricted and they often feature various folk artists from interior parts of India.
Recommendations: Banjara, Mitwa
5. Indian Ocean
It would be a shame to talk about modern folk artists in India and not mention Indian Ocean. People find it difficult to classify their music into any one specific genre. But their music style can be best described as folk-rock-fusion with heavy influences from jazz, Sufism and Indian shlokas and hymns. Often dubbed as the pioneers of fusion rock in the country, the band enjoys a huge following across the globe. With seven studio albums, soundtracks of more than ten films to their name and countless live performances, you are definitely missing out if you don’t listen to their soul-stirring music.
Recommendations: Behney Do, Kandisa (unplugged)
6. Swarathma
Swarathma is one of the leading folk-rock music bands in India. Their music blends various music styles like Indian folk, Reggae, Rock, Blues and Jazz. This has helped them create a unique space for themselves in the Indian independent scene. Their vocals are impactful and lyrics are meaningful, and often contain a social or political message. Their music is said to be as cheerful as their on-stage costumes. Their music reminds you of the rich flavour of Indian music and is the best way to relax after a stressful day.
Recommendations: Yeshu, Allah Aur Krishna, Patte Sare
7. Kailasa
Kailash Kher is the founder of this band. The band’s name is an accented pronunciation of the singer’s name. Kailasa effortlessly blends western, Sufi and rock music together with elements of Indian classical and folk which results in enchanting melodies. An important feature of songs of this band is that the lyrics are usually sung as if a female devotee or lover is trying to convince her deity or loved one. The band has performed in more than a hundred cities across the world.
Recommendations: Teri Deewani, Babam Bam
8. Advaita
Advaita means without any duality, being one. Their music does full justice to this meaning of their name. The band smoothly creates a blend of Indian and Western music. Not just the melody, but even their lyrics and vocals are a perfect blend of Indian and Western styles. Currently consisting of eight members, the band has performed in MTV Unplugged and MTV Coke Studio. They are considered to be one of the thrilling and innovative bands in the Indian modern folk scene.
Recommendations: Rasiya, Mo Funk
9. Masala Coffee
Based in Kerala, Masala Coffee is an eight-member band. The band debuted on a television music show “Music Mojo” in 2014. Their amazing renditions of “Munbe Vaa” and “Snehithane” ensured that the band went viral. To break from their image of being a South Indian band, Masala Coffee has ventured into Hindi compositions too. Their style can be termed as contemporary Indian folk genre, with slight hues of pop and rock. The band has also composed music for a few Tamil and Malayalam films.
Recommendations: Safar, Snehithane (cover)
10. Sukanti & Anushree
Not always does a debut album get nominated for “Album of the Year”, but the duo of Sukanti & Anushree have managed to attain this feat with their debut album “Ashman” in 2014. Their second album “Centurion Relay” is a tribute to the rich diversity of folk music in the Indian subcontinent. The album features covers of various famous Indian folk songs, performed with a twist. The duo has managed to create a perfect blend of soulful folk songs and western music styles like rock and jazz.
Recommendations: Jugni Ji (cover), Damadam Mast Kalandar (Cover)
Do you know of any band that definitely needs to be on this list? Let us know in the comments below!
Written By: Mallika Kelkar
WorthITT - Talent MEETS TECHNOLOGY 