This article introduces the March 2026 edition of Homegrown Handpicked, a monthly playlist spotlighting new releases from across India and South Asia.
Ahmedabad's Heat Sink have been one of the more quietly influential bands in Indian indie since their formation in 2017. Founded by guitarist and composer Chirag Todi, the band blends progressive rock, jazz, and RnB. They were the super-winners of the Nexa Music Contest and have collaborated with A.R. Rahman and Clinton Cerejo. The last track on their latest EP 'On Second Thought', 'Self Destruct' blends some mesmerizing jazz with some prog metal goodness towards the outro, topped off with a tasty guitar solo.
Chaand (Tu Jo Dekh Le) - Chaar Diwaari ft. Encore ABJ
Delhi experimental producer Garv Taneja, aka Chaar Diwaari, has been pushing the edge in Indian indie music and hip-hop. His latest EP 'Parvana', features collaborations from across the spectrum, from the likes of Sonu Nigam to Indian Ocean. On this track, featuring Seedhe Maut's Encore ABJ, Chaar Diwari is at his experimental best, working as a chapter in a storyline highlighting a love-torn moth. How's that for progressive hip-hop!
Kaadambari - Sutej Singh
Having come a long way from his debut album, 'The Emerging', Sutej Singh has been crafting some fine instrumental guitar with appearances at Bandland, Ziro Festival, Mahindra Independence Rock, and an opening stint for Steve Vai under his belt. 'Kaadambari' is already a defining track in his catalogue, but this live recording from Tagore Theatre, the closing night of his Restless | Relentless India Tour is a work of art. With vocals by Ananya Bhatt and violin by Disha Goswami, this is music at its finest.
Dabzee, born Mohammed Fasil in Kerala, is one of the most important voices to emerge from Indian hip-hop in the last few years. He first broke through nationally with the incredibly groovy 'Manavaalan Thug'from the Malayalam film 'Thallumaala'. 'ACHARRR' is raw and rooted in Malabar slang. Drawing directly from his own experiences of watching people find success and lose themselves, Dabzee uses the metaphor of squashed achar (pickles). The music video is absolutely essential viewing too.
Fire - Karthik Chennoji Rao
The first time I saw Rhythm Shaw perform was alongside Marco Minnemann and Mohini Dey at The Humming Tree. Since then, he's cemented his reputation as one of India's premier session guitarists and live collaborators, sharing stages with A.R. Rahman, Ustad Zakir Hussain, Shankar Mahadevan, and Louiz Banks. 'Nothing to Lose', his debut album recorded with a 42-piece orchestra, is an incredibly ambitious project. 'Vortex' is the album's most visceral moment; a plunge into prog metal and djent territory, recorded on a seven-string Strandberg, which casts some precise, syncopated aggression.
Feed The Clown - Champak
Champak is the 4-piece bedroom pop and alt-rock band project bringing together Shoumik Biswas (Disco Puppet), Lakshman Parsuram (February 31st), Aditya Bharadwaj (Badie A), and Aman Chawla, all names that will ring bells for anyone who's been paying attention to the Indian alternative space. 'Feed The Clown' is their debut single, from a forthcoming 7-track EP called A1, and it's a brilliantly crafted piece that mixes both whimsy and creativity.
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