It’s been a week of surprise releases as well as long-anticipated projects finally reaching audiences. King dropped a new three-track EP called Shayad Koi Na Sune to indulge his loverboy pop side again, while multi-genre artist Rounak Maiti served up his new album Brute Fact/Home Truth that’s been in the works for five years. Plus, there’s a formidable new prog anthem from Peekay, a question posed by Alif and more.
King – Shayad Koi Na Sune
King’s new EP Shayad Koi Na Sune marks a reflective, stripped-down turn in his music, showcasing a softer and more emotive side of the artist. The three-track project—”Sab Be Asar,” “Speak Softly,” and “Yeh Zindagi Hai”—leans on minimal production and heartfelt songwriting, with King exploring themes of heartbreak, resilience, and acceptance. Moving away from his rap-heavy roots, he embraces a singer-songwriter style, letting intimate lyrics and mellow melodies take center stage.
Peekay – “Hyperspace”
Hyderabad/Los Angeles act Peekay—led by singer-songwriter Pranati Khanna—deliver a soaring prog rock/metal earworm with “Hyperspace.” Walking a fine balance between alt-rock influences for the chorus and bringing out the screams that she’s been honing for some time now, Peekay also offer a tech-dystopic music video for the track. The band says in a statement, “‘Hyperspace’ is a sonic freefall through emotional distance and digital illusion — a song for the ones chasing ‘better’ until they break. We sell ourselves the lie that the grass is greener, that another city, another life will save us. But hell wears many faces — and whether it’s the U.S. or modern India, the media dresses it up to sell us dreams that bleed.”
Rounak Maiti – Brute Fact/Home Truth
On his first album in five years, Mumbai-based artist Rounak Maiti is ephemeral (in a good way) across 10 songs on Brute Fact/Home Truth. There’s a familiar lo-fi waviness that is both, electronic and acoustic that throws back to his SoundCloud producer/singer-songwriter roots. He goes from loud to quiet, noisy to dreamy and all the spaces in between on songs like “Scary Season.” Bright beats drive “Self-Discipline” and there’s hints of jazz (“A Thorn In Your Side”) and trip-hop (“Unworried”) and earnest confessions on “2x Playback Speed” and “Blinding Light America.” It’s like he becomes a different artist on each track and sometimes, he gets a little help, like the warm “Learnt My Lesson” with Karshni and the giddy, self-defeating “Self-Medicate” with Shantanu Pandit. Maiti says in a press release about the album, “It is a searing critique of the self; a deeply personal form of catharsis that has been long overdue; a deeper inquiry into his many “home truths”––things, especially those that are unpleasant, that are known to be true and cannot be ignored; and “brute facts”—facts that cannot be explained in terms of a deeper, more fundamental fact. As it might be put, there may exist some things that just are. Brute Fact/Home Truth is a testament to those things.”
Shillong Chamber Choir – “You Came Into Our Lives”
The feted Shillong Chamber Choir pay respect to their founder—composer, conductor and pianist Neil Nongkynrih—on a somber new release called “You Came Into Our Lives.” The Hindi and English song features lyrics by Nongkynrih as well as Deelip Kumar Sahu in an aptly vocal-driven arrangement. While Nongkynrih—who passed away in 2022—wrote the lyrics to express gratitude to friends and family, the song is now a tribute to him. The choir says in a statement, “Uncle Neil gave us more than music, he gave us purpose, family and direction towards a meaningful life, especially as young people in the great sea of music and entertainment. ‘You Came Into Our Lives’ is not just a song; it is our way of saying thank you to the man who shaped us, and to all those who have been part of this incredible journey with us.”
Perfect Strangers – “Honey Words”
Bengaluru band Perfect Strangers return with their first song in two years with the funked-up “Honey Words.” Led by vocalist Ananya Raja’s sublime R&B and jazz vocal range and produced by Ahmedabad’s Raag Sethi at Compass Box Studio, there’s plenty of bounce and intriguing turns by the band, who bring in horns, guitars and keys and lay them over fist-tight but breezy rhythms. The band says in a statement, “‘Honey Words’ delves into the sticky, addictive trap of a toxic love. With a sarcastic edge, this track explores the struggle to break free from a relationship where love becomes a painful habit.”
Ahmer, Pho, Arif Mir – “Dunya”
Srinagar’s hip-hop firebrand Ahmer teams up New Delhi artist Pho and producer Arif Mir for “Dunya,” marking a return to English rap but this time blended with his Kashmiri and Hindi bars. Introspective and defeated, Ahmer’s rap is elevated by Pho’s understated but deep lyrics of togetherness. Mir, for his part, introduces a sample of a classic Kashmiri folk song sung by the legendary Ghulam Hassan Sofi, and penned by feted poet Rehman Rahi. “Dunya” comes with a music video directed by filmmaker Mehran Ali Ansari. The visuals take a few surreal turns while remaining grounded in the reality of the Kashmir Valley. A press release adds, “‘Dunya’ is a soulful reflection on the illusion of permanence we all fall for — the idea that this world will last forever.
Takar Nabam, Donna – “Goodbye Dreams”
Arunachal singer-songwriter Takar Nabam pens down his 30-something ruminations on dreams that he’s let go of, on the reminiscing R&B/pop single “Goodbye Dreams” featuring Korean singer-songwriter Donna. It was written first during the “gloom of the post-COVID era,” according to Nabam. “This soulful song was rediscovered unexpectedly while I sifted through old recordings, revealing a poignant piece that’s finally ready to resonate,” he says in a statement. Shot in Japan during his recent tour earlier this year, the music video shows that while he’s bid farewell to some dreams, the artist in him still thrives.
Subhi – “Ishq Chalawa”
U.S.-based Indian pop artist Subhi keeps her listeners guessing on her new folk-pop song “Ishq Chalawa.” With longtime producer Aman Moroney, there’s sarangi by Eklash Khan Langa to kick things off, but then there’s cheery, earthy folk-informed vocals by Subhi, piano melodies and a bass-heavy beat. With a music video shot in Jodhpur, there’s plenty of vibrancy on the Desi Trill release. Subhi says in a statement, “The track is not your typical love song. It’s a reflection on why you shouldn’t fall in love. The concept is simple. When you fall in love, you risk losing yourself. (Ishq mein padh ke khud hi Ishq ban jaoge!) Love consumes you, and with it, your sense of self.”
Alif – “Dil Ka Rang Kya Hai?”
Kashmiri singer-songwriter Alif’s Mohammed Muneem posits some philosophical questions when it comes to matters of the heart on “Dil Ka Rang Kya Hai?” It’s plaintive to start off, but Muneem’s quirky vocal turn of phrase allows for a sudden jazz-informed movement, making the track more of a sonic snapshot rather than follow a conventional song structure. The artist urges us to ask “Dil Ka Rang Kya Hai?” (What is the color of the heart?) and “persist” with the answer. He says in an Instagram post, “It’s so difficult to find out the color of one’s heart. And perhaps so difficult to ask sometimes and (borderline) inappropriate too. Perhaps if one does ask, what does one do with it?”
Ed Sheeran – “Sapphire” ft. Arijit Singh
Ed Sheeran has released a special version of “Sapphire” with Indian music legend Arijit Singh, recorded in Goa. The track features a mix of Hindi, Punjabi, and English vocals, with production by Ilya Salmanzadeh, Johnny McDaid, and Savan Kotecha. In a statement, Sheeran says, “One of my favorite experiences ever in my career was going to Jiaganj Azimganj with my dad to see Arijit for the final jigsaw piece of Sapphire. We spent the day talking, eating, riding scooters, and making music. He even taught me how to sing in Punjabi and a bit of Sitar. It was one of the most amazing days of my musical career, and I love this version—it’s the one I listen to every morning with my daughters because I love Arijit’s voice, tone, flow, and rhythm.” The video, featuring Arijit Singh and Shah Rukh Khan, has crossed 130 million YouTube views and made “Sapphire” the first English track to top Spotify India since 2021.
Talwiinder – “Panchii”
Talwiinder’s new single “Panchii” is an electro-pop track produced by his long time collaborator NDS, released on July 23, 2025. The song is about wanting to escape and feel free, carried by soft melodies and heartfelt lyrics. The music video adds to this mood with visuals that match the song’s calm, floating vibe, showing Talwiinder’s growth as an artist. Fans have called “Panchii” one of his most emotional songs yet, with many saying it feels like “a song that frees the soul and gives quiet hope.”
Hanumankind – Monsoon Season
Hanumankind’s debut mixtape Monsoon Season is a bold, 12-track project that captures his journey from India’s underground rap scene to an international stage. Released on July 25, 2025, the tape features powerful singles like “Big Dawgs” (including its A$AP Rocky remix), “Holiday,” and “Run It Up,” as well as collaborations with Denzel Curry and Maxo Kream. With production from Kalmi, Parimal Shais, and Hisab, the mixtape combines heavy beats, cinematic textures, and Indian influences. Songs like “Someone Told Me” and the interlude “29.11.23” reveal a more personal side, including a voice note from his mother. Read Rolling Stone India’s Monsoon Season mixtape review here.
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