first.wav recommends: Breakout indie artists of 2024
Editor’s Note: Every month, we feature a fantastic playlist of the best indie music by our partners first.wav.The company works as creative partners for artists—with producers, songwriters and engineers—to help them succeed. The cool bit: first.wav is entirely run by artists—who really know and care about music. For the first post of this year, first.wav selected their picks for budding artists who they see as breakout stars of 2024.
Written by: Adi Verma, a music producer, drummer and songwriter.
Recently, an independent artist, Anuv Jain topped streaming charts across several platforms in India with his release, ‘Husn’. The independent music ecosystem is certainly growing in India—and we predict some of these artists will become household names in the coming year! We’ve picked artists that encompass an array of genres. The criteria for inclusion is not just streaming numbers, but also their cultural impact.
Utsavi Jha: Born and raised in Mumbai, Utsavi isn't just a singer; she's a storyteller. Featured on Spotify's "Radar India" and "Naya Indestian" playlists, she's performed at venues like NMACC and left a mark at festivals like Zomaland, NH7 Weekender and Toast. Her Songs ‘Tum Jaise Ho’ and ‘Saanjh’ are testaments to her ability to connect with audiences through heartfelt lyrics and captivating vocals. Utsavi’s artistic pursuits include an acting debut in the web series ‘Gulmohar’, alongside Manoj Bajpayee and Sharmila Tagore—which showcases her versatility and growing fame. Check out the music vid for her soulful single ‘Woh Ghar’ for the Disney+ Hotstar show below.
Bharg: The Delhi-based singer-songwriter and producer has produced chart-topping hits for well-known artists like King, Tsumyoki, and Ikka. In 2023, Bharg stepped into the spotlight with his own alternative rock album ‘Nikamma’—accumulating over a million streams. The album showcases his versatility through collaborations with rising DHH (Desi Hip-Hop) artists Yashraj and Chaar Diwaari on ‘Boldu Sach’ and ‘Roshni’ respectively. His collaboration with Moses Koul—the guitarist for the Delhi-based band Kraken—on the title track ‘Nikamma’ (below) highlights his comfort with rock's heavier side.
Samad Khan: Samad is a 23-year-old classically trained Hindustani music vocalist from Gurugram. He traded Instagram covers for a Spotify ‘Fresh Finds’ cover on his very first release ‘SAVERA’—which got more than 1.5 million streams in just months. His vocals soar effortlessly over contemporary pop soundscapes, breathing fresh air into the pop scene with Urdu lyrics that add depth and soul to his storytelling. Beyond the impressive streaming numbers, his live performances have captivated audiences at venues like Delhi's JLN Stadium, Raasta Delhi and the Mumbai Festival. We leave you with his smashing hit ‘SAVERA’ below.
Ashwin Adwani: Born and raised in Indore, Ashwin has a voice smooth as butter—that melts hearts every time he performs. ‘Mai Ni Meriye’—a rendition of a folk song ‘Chamba’—is a collab with Lost Stories and Jonita Gandhi and a bona fide gem. This coupled with his catchy bops like ‘Parchaiyon Mai’, ‘Jugnoo’ and ‘Unke Rangon Mein’, mark his impressive growth as an artist. Ashwin also opened for The Yellow Diary last year and we expect him to dominate playlists and live stages in 2024. Listen to ‘Mai Ni Meriye’ below.
Shubham Kabra: Hailing from Bhilwara, Rajasthan, Shubham is a singer-songwriter with an impressive nine releases in 2023. Tracks like ‘Mirza’, ‘Yeh Shaam’, and ‘Vaari Vaari’ showcase his raw songwriting talent and heartfelt narratives. His ability to connect with audiences at a deeper level with his purity of expression distinguishes him from the crowd. He has been performing at various intimate venues and festivals such as House Concert, Delhi and Musicathon in Bir, Himachal. In 2024, we expect his debut album 'Sapne’ will turn him into a household name. Check out this beautifully crafted music video for ‘Yeh Shaam’.
About first.wav
first.wav is a music company run by artists that helps connect listeners to new music. With a team of writers, producers, singers, first.wav is a creative partner to artists that helps them navigate the tricky music world by giving them a platform to scale-up. Head over to our Spotify page to find out all the music we've been listening to.
