From heart-fluttering indie folk to bass-heavy electronic bangers, these 15 South Asian tracks capture love, longing, self-discovery, and cultural pride in ways that will make your playlist feel like a journey. Whether it’s the gentle warmth of acoustic melodies, the infectious energy of folk beats, or genre-defying experiments that push the boundaries of sound, each track is a story in itself—ready to make you dance, reflect, and fall in love all over again.
When Chai Met Toast — Khoj (Passing By)
A track that captures the brimming hope that comes with going on a journey into the unknown when embarking on self-discovery and reflection. The track uses an indie folk melody to give the track a personalised and homely feel that mirrors the feeling of warmth that comes with internal reflection.
The beautiful lyrics that alternate between Tamil and English create a beautiful tapestry to spread the message of the song with lines such as, “Let me go passing by, let me be who I am, let me be who I am.”
Sai Abhyankkar — Aasa Kooda
This upbeat track mixes modern elements of western pop with the vocals that bring in an element of Indian classical singing with brilliant vibratos that add a new layer of depth to the track with each vocal flip. There are also hints of South Asian classical instruments infused in the track to give it a top-tier fusion of musical culture.
The lyrics illustrate a colourful and cheeky love story as they say, “The moment you brushed past me, I lost my breath, didn’t even see it coming, couldn't even ask for your name”—describing the overwhelming nerves and infatuation that comes with love at first sight.
Ritviz — Udd Gaye
‘Liggi’ is a breath of fresh air as it blends electronic music with traditional Indian melodies and instrumentals that set it apart from other mainstream records in that genre. That extra infusion of culture makes it the perfect addition to your playlist when you're looking for a song with that extra something to add into your daily rotation of music.
The lyrics describe a moment at which the world goes still and one feels like the only ones awake for miles and miles as they say, “since then you have been in my sight, we have become the world, the moment was slow, now only the one who makes it has to be there.”
Dhee — I wear my roots like a medal
‘I wear my roots like a medal’ is an unapologetic detailed account of Dhee’s life that was full of culture, love and family, touching on topics such as generational trauma while reminiscing her favourite meals like jackfruit and Indian steamed rice cakes called puttu she used to share with her grandma—making her want to go back to where she grew up.
The music uses raw “Kuthu” beats, a term used to describe energetic South Asian folk music that has a heavy influence of percussion instruments. The “kuthu” music definitely makes one want to get up and let loose, dancing to the unique and addictive lull of Dhee’s voice.
Arivu — Thodaadha
A piercing rap track that is the perfect blend of modern hip-hop with the snappy and sharp Tamil rap verses that bring a sense of fierceness to the track. The track perfectly captures the anger of the suppressed as it points out how those who belong to a lower income group are silenced and taken advantage of and uses this song as a wake-up call to unleash the anger with lines such as, “we work day and night, who provides you a stove to cook, who makes the clothes you wear on your back,” pointing out that without the work they do, nobody would have the basic necessities that they need.
Thaikkudam Bridge — Fish Rock
'Fish Rock' starts off with a shredding guitar and bruising drumline and opens to beautiful Malayalam lyrics. The folk-rock track celebrates their love of fish by weaving together a playful list of different species and cooking styles. At one point, a backing vocalist even chimes in with an offer to demonstrate how to eat it.
The lyrics unfold like a quirky fishmonger’s chant, set against a catchy folk-rock backdrop, resulting in a one-of-a-kind ode to the aquatic delicacy that struck a chord with listeners and quickly went viral.
Agam — Mist of Capricorn
'Mist of Capricorn' fuses Carnatic music with progressive rock elements. As it starts off slow with an almost hypnotically beautiful vocal performance that features lyrics in one of the oldest languages in the world, Sanskrit—creating a beautiful contrast between the ancient words and modern slow rock music.
The lyrics paint a beautiful picture surrounding someone asking their partner to reflect internally and to listen to the secrets of their hearts.
Ankur Tewari — Kuch Na Rahe
'Kuch Na Rahe' uses a bouncy and jazzy tone with a haunting melody, making it the perfect track for a rainy day. The song has an air of sorrow surrounding it as it talks about reminiscing a past life and a past version of oneself while they were with the person they loved, with lyrics that say, “Forgotten memories came rushing back, that I was yours, yes, but no longer anything now.”
Thermal and a Quarter — Stone Circle
The slow rock beat gives the song a calming and reverent sound as it incorporates beautiful harmonies, making it a heavenly track that talks about how being in love with someone makes them feel incredibly safe in their presence and how they feel that they can take on the world with them by their side. The lyrics reinforce this by saying, “You are my stone circle, you protect me from the world.”
Parekh & Singh — I Love You Baby, I Love You Doll
The track has a real retro feel to it with its 50s flair as it features a bouncy and plucky guitar line and ambient synth sounds with distant and light drums to give the song a slightly groovier beat. The lyrics express love for someone incredibly special in their life and how their love for them will never falter, as the lines say, “Times may get tough but my heart won’t change at all, I love you baby, and I love you doll,” making this the perfect cozy jazz silent confession.
Prateek Kuhad — Kasoor
'Kasoor' is an intimate, emotional indie-folk song with tracks that feel like handwritten love letters. The melody and strong drums give the track an uplifting feel, with clap adlibs added, making it sound like a celebration of happiness. It captures the softness in love and describes the beauty of the one that you’ve fallen head over heels for, as the lyrics say, “you are the story of the soul, this moisture of your hair, this intoxication of your eyes, even if I get lost here, what is my fault?”. Overall, the vibe of the track feels like a whispered confession that slips out while dancing and basking under the moonlight with the person of your dreams.
Nucleya — Baaraat
‘Baaraat’ is a bass-heavy electronic maestro, incorporating dubstep, trap, and electronic fusion. It uses an abstract melody with light traditional musical elements mixed with electronic beats and top-tier production to create this sonically interesting masterpiece that describes the nerves that come on a wedding day, depicting it in the fictional situation of a wedding procession, as the lyrics say, “Whatever memories we got, let us share them together in your name, love is a city on a lonely journey, will we be able to meet you, the night passed, the morning has come, right? young age but great vision, we will definitely meet you, hiding and hiding, you noticed it, didn't you? now the wedding procession is coming near you.”
The Yellow Diary — Roz Roz
‘Roz Roz’ uses a combination of electronic music and pop in this track as the soft vocals beckon a loved one to break out of their shell and stop hiding from them to be able to feel the full extent of their love, with no secrets that pull them apart. The lyrics support this story as they say, “why do you close your eyes, I feel as if, you hide yourself (You hide yourself), what good is that, feeling upset”. The track builds up with a soaring harmony between the soft female vocals and impactful male vocals to leave a lasting impact on the listener.
Sandunes — Eleven Eleven
‘Eleven Eleven’ is a beautiful sonic masterpiece that combines electronic music featuring fluttery and airy synths with dreamy vocals to create the ultimate track to feel like you're floating off to a new dimension.
The Local Train — Choo Lo
‘Choo Lo’ is a beautiful slow rock ballad that showcases a heartwarming declaration of love as the lyrics scream out the devotion and commitment that one has for the person they love, with lyrics that say, “say whatever you want once, you are mine, only you are mine, you are in my sight, I am still standing there, I feel like I have only hope for you,” demonstrating the intense desperation to want to spend every waking moment smiling and talking, sharing moments, and creating memories with the person who shapes your happiness and gives meaning to every new and sunny day—giving new meaning to the word reverence.
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