Dhee
Chennai · roots · folk-fusion
Read the interview ↗Mumbai / Chennai / Lucknow
Akhil
Tripathi.
Music Journalist · Editor · Content Creator
I write about India's independent music: pop, rock, experimental, and South Indian indie, with the hip-hop and Carnatic crossover coming out of Chennai.
Where it starts
A life spent
between the lines.
I grew up listening closely to my favourite music, reading between the lines. The lyrics, the credits, the little choices in an arrangement—I wanted to understand all of it.
It saddens me when an artist whose music means so much remains underrated. Part of why I write is the hope that someone else will find what I heard, and stay with it.
Listening & discovery
Some music stays with you.
And then you want everyone else to hear it, too.
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With @lorem.fm
Nine Indian indie artists I’d like to put you on.
A few introductions. Swipe through, turn the sound on, and spend a little time with the music.
On rotation · Essential Listening
“My stalking skills have left me with a great playlist.”
Open the playlist on Spotify ↗The Indian Music Diaries
Music journalism.
Long-form interviews and album reviews for The Indian Music Diaries. Conversations with artists about craft, process, and roots, and close readings of new independent records.
Siddharth Pandit & Alok Ranjan Srivastava
Independent music in mainstream cinema
Read the interview ↗The Indian Choral Ensemble
40 voices · led by Kalyani Nair
Read the interview ↗
Siddharth Pandit
Leaving production, finding a sound
Read the interview ↗Lagbhag Tumhara
Alok Ranjan Srivastava · Hashtag Jazbaat · truth over decoration
Read the review ↗
Behad
Anurag Mishra · His 4th album · love, unending
Read the review ↗“I can never be bored in Chennai because you go outside and there are thousands of stories.”· Dhee, The Indian Music Diaries
“It took considerable courage to leave the music production world behind and focus on discovering my unique sound.”· Siddharth Pandit, The Indian Music Diaries
The posts behind the bylines
Read them here, too.
The complete interview and review carousels, with their original captions and credits.
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Dhee
Dheekshitha Venkadeshan
Dhee, aka Dheekshitha Venkadeshan stormed into the global independent scene packing a strong message with her independent track “Enjoy Enjaami”; starting a wave in Tamil independent music. I remember playing her recent - ‘I Wear My Roots Like A Medal’ on speakers and being instantly wowed by the folk-fusion sonic palette and poetry and her unique voice. The grand rhythm section opens into an iconic synth swell that stays in impact long after the song ends. The song is a part of her upcoming album ‘Jackfruit’ which revolves about themes of identity, heritage and growing up. In this conversation with Dhee, we got to discuss about the many aspects of her life and music including her upcoming album and collaborations, her views on the independent music scene - it’s wins, challenges and opportunities. (Photo Credits : MADHAVAN) By Akhil(@psyyybaba)
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The Indian Choral Ensemble
Kalyani Nair & Karthik Manickavasakam
The Indian Choral Ensemble isn’t a regular chorus group. The Chennai-based outfit lead by Kalyani Nair and Karthik Manickavasakam is a diverse group of 40 singers, all trained and skilled in their respective diverse musicalities coming together to create ‘one’ cohesive sound that manifests into the personality of The Indian Choral Ensemble. The group’s collective output is a melting pot of harmony and tradition where art truly meets experience, through music that anchors you to your roots while connecting you to the global music palette. I had the opportunity to have a conversation with the co-founders, Chennai-based musicians, Kalyani Nair and Karthik Manickavasakam, discussing different aspects of their music. By Akhil(@psyyybaba)
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Azaad Sangeet
Siddharth Pandit & Alok Ranjan Srivastava
composer-poet duo Siddharth Pandit and Alok Ranjan Srivastava, who’ve long-collaborated over their independent project ‘Azaad Sangeet’. The project stands out for its fearless expression, stellar production musical styles, poetry, and a strong community around the project. With Azaad Sangeet 3 out now, we deep-dive into the very experimental and rich music of Azaad Sangeet, poetry and journey of the project to now a wonderful feature in Amazon Prime’s latest musical web series Bandish Bandits Season 2. Through this conversation, we explore their distinctive musical works, creative process, and the organic evolution that has shaped Azaad Sangeet into what it has become today. By Akhil(@psyyybaba)
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Siddharth Pandit
Panditjee · Composer & Producer
Siddharth Pandit, aka Panditjee, is a Mumbai-based music composer and producer from Uttar Pradesh who’s carved a niche for himself with his body of work, both in the independent and film genres. An alumnus of AR Rahman’s KM College Of Music and Technology, Chennai, his independent project ‘Azaad Sangeet’ is a love-letter to his musical sensibilities, as he puts it- ‘Organic Homemade Indian Independent Music’. Siddharth’s music flows ethereally as if there were no rules, tastefully fusing all kinds of genres and styles with Indian music at its heart. By Akhil(@psyyybaba)
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Behad
Anurag Mishra
Anurag Mishra’s latest album ‘Behad’ is all shades and sides of the phenomenon that is love - unending and tireless. The album places its focus on the nature of love, an emotion that produces a world of varied reactions, behaviours and outcomes with each one of us. There’s no end to situations one can be in, or experiences one can have while experimenting with vulnerability in love. With 4 different producers across 10 songs on the album, Anurag manages to maintain the mood and soundscape creating a cohesive experience. He presents a palette of emotions, with artistic vulnerability towards the listener, poetry that speaks directly without pretence, and arrangements that don’t obstruct the chain of thought. By Akhil(@psyyybaba)
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Lagbhag Tumhara
Alok Ranjan Srivastava
Alok Ranjan Srivastava’s ‘Lagbhag Tumhara’ is his third album, where he explores the experience of love, as a journey of thoughts. In a landscape of decorated poetry, Alok Ranjan Srivastava chooses the weight of his own experience, documenting a raw emotional state over the urge to write big words that get lost in translation. Sonically, the 5-track album is a nostalgic throwback to timeless melodies and atmospheric textures that really define the flavour of each song. Siddharth Pandit’s minimal and striking production elevates the poetry without crowding it. In the end, Alok’s writing leaves us with something better than a ‘beautiful’ song: he leaves us with the truth. By Akhil(@psyyybaba)
Music Community · Creative Fuel
Things I wanted to talk about.
Editorial and social writing I wrote and conceptualised for Music Community, now Creative Fuel. Lists, features, essays, and film-and-songs pieces on Indian and global music, a selection from over a hundred posts.
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Ticket To Theft
e-lafda ho gaya hai guyzz
e-lafda ho gaya hai guyzz Video Courtesy in 7th slide - @prerna__tripathi Written by @psyyybaba
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Indian Indie Artists
Just so many of them. What’s your fav indie indian artist tho?
Just so many of them. What’s your fav indie indian artist tho? Written by @psyyyduckkk
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Beyond The Music
Sometimes we wish we could be there for them like their music never left our sides when we felt our absolute worst.
Sometimes we wish we could be there for them like their music never left our sides when we felt our absolute worst. Written by @a_philomath_._ and @psyyyduckkk
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Coke Studio Shows
P.S. We know some of these shows have stopped airing, and some moved to different platforms.
P.S. We know some of these shows have stopped airing, and some moved to different platforms. How many of them did you watch?
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Independent Acts
In my ‘independent music discovery’ era🥁😌
In my ‘independent music discovery’ era🥁😌 By @psyyybaba
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Laila Majnu
Laila Majnu is one of my favourite bollywood albums since forever, way before it started getting love all over again. ❤️
Laila Majnu is one of my favourite bollywood albums since forever, way before it started getting love all over again. ❤️ Forever grateful to @imtiazaliofficial sir and greats of @niladri_kumar @joibarua @everythingisalif & Hitesh Soni for this album!🌻 Written by: @psyyybaba
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Kai Po Che
@itsamittrivedi and @hiteshsonik gave us this beauty of an album 10 years ago and there’s not a single day that I do not think about it. 🫶🏻
@itsamittrivedi and @hiteshsonik gave us this beauty of an album 10 years ago and there’s not a single day that I do not think about it. 🫶🏻 Written by: @psyyybaba
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Kal Ho Naa Ho
One day I’ll be mature enough to watch this entire movie without crying.
One day I’ll be mature enough to watch this entire movie without crying. Written by @psyyybaba
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Aib Parody
Wish @tanmaybhat would release these versions on Spotify already😌🥁
Wish @tanmaybhat would release these versions on Spotify already😌🥁 Written by: @psyyybaba
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Ar Rahman
We end this beauty of a week with everyone's favourite.
We end this beauty of a week with everyone's favourite. Ps- Don't you dare say Rockstar or Tamasha because they're mentioned everywhere so we conveniently put them in honourable mentions. 😌👍 Written by @psyyybaba
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Coke Studio Songs
Best product of Coke is not Cola Cola, It’s the Coke Studio.
Best product of Coke is not Cola Cola, It’s the Coke Studio. Written by @psyyyduckkk
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Underrated Songs
How many of these did you already know? 👀
How many of these did you already know? 👀 Written by @psyyyduckkk
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Iconic English
These songs are one of the most ✨iconic✨
These songs are one of the most ✨iconic✨ P.S. Yes we know there are many others, who said we won't have a part 2?😌 Written by- @preetiiish & @psyyyduckkk
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Cover Artists
Difficult to beat the originals but these artists never disappoint.
Difficult to beat the originals but these artists never disappoint. Written by @psyyyduckkk
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Infamous Songs
Which one disappointed you the most and why Masakkali 2.0?
Which one disappointed you the most and why Masakkali 2.0? Written by @psyyyduckkk
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Osho Jain
Which one brings you the most amount of sukoon?😁
Which one brings you the most amount of sukoon?😁 Written by @psyyybaba
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Abhijeet Srk
They are made for each other and you cant tell me otherwise 😤
They are made for each other and you cant tell me otherwise 😤 Written by @psyyyduckkk
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Fictional Shaan
One of the sweetest voices of Bollywood- Happy Birthday @singer_shaan
One of the sweetest voices of Bollywood- Happy Birthday @singer_shaan Written by @psyyybaba
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Artists I Wish
Nominees for Part 2 in the comments pls👇
Nominees for Part 2 in the comments pls👇
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Devdas
Big thanks to Ismail Darbar and Pandit Birju Maharaj for giving us this incredible album
Big thanks to Ismail Darbar and Pandit Birju Maharaj for giving us this incredible album By @psyyybaba
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Michael Jackson
There are songs you can dance to, and then there are songs you sit and absorb.
There are songs you can dance to, and then there are songs you sit and absorb. By @psyyybaba #kingofpop #michaeljackson #explore
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Mithoon
Happy Birthday to one of the most genuine and impactful musicians of our time @mithoon11 ♥️
Happy Birthday to one of the most genuine and impactful musicians of our time @mithoon11 ♥️ By @psyyybaba
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Fa9La Dhurandhar
John Mayer
No pieces match that search.
Graphic design · 29 pieces
Posters & cover art.
Posters, cover art, and campaign work I've designed for KM Music Conservatory, SAHA Records, and the Vinay Verma Collective. Any tile opens full size.
Mixing With The MastersWorkshop ↗Rehem KarCover Art ↗
10 Ways to Spice Up Your Song's HarmonyMasterclass ↗
This Is RNBWorkshop ↗DarpanConcert ↗Mayer & PopWorkshop ↗
What About That Bass?Masterclass ↗
Hot Trumpet SummerConcert ↗
How To Mix SufiWorkshop ↗
Film Scoring & Music ProductionCourse ↗
Rehem KarCover Art ↗
Deconstructing Green DayMasterclass ↗
History of JazzMasterclass ↗
Shaan LiveConcert ↗
Peter Cat Recording Co.Workshop ↗
The Sufi RouteWorkshop ↗
Rehem KarCover Art ↗
Decoding Synthwave: Daft PunkMasterclass ↗
KM Day '25Concert ↗
The Art of Film ScoringMasterclass ↗
Finding Collaboration OpportunitiesWorkshop ↗
Jazz & BallConcert ↗
Signal Chain MasteringMasterclass ↗
Sound Design for Games & VRWorkshop ↗
Film Scoring & ProductionCourse ↗
RiyaazCourse ↗
Film Scoring & ProductionCourse ↗
Licensing WorkshopWorkshop ↗
DarpanConcert ↗Film & video
In motion.
Behind-the-scenes films, promos, documentaries, and reels I've shot, edited, and colour-graded. Tap any to play.
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▶Video editing
Edited & graded.
▶Darpan · Events
On stage & behind the scenes.
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▶SAHA · Music films
Songs, performances & rehearsals.
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▶About me
A life around music.
I sing and play keys and bass. The writing, performing and visual work have always lived alongside each other.
I write about India's independent music. At The Indian Music Diaries I cover pop, rock, experimental, and South Indian indie, along with the hip-hop and Carnatic crossover coming out of Chennai, with a reporter's eye for credits, references, and the stories behind a record.
I've interviewed artists including Dhee, Siddharth Pandit, Alok Ranjan Srivastava, and The Indian Choral Ensemble, and reviewed records like Alok Ranjan Srivastava's 'Lagbhag Tumhara' and Anurag Mishra's 'Behad'. Before that I wrote and conceptualised around a hundred posts of music writing at Music Community (now Creative Fuel), from film-song deep dives to lists, appreciation pieces, and reported discussions on the scene.
My ear comes from a life around music. I'm a singer, keyboardist, and bassist with ten years and a hundred-plus shows behind me, and I trained at KM Music Conservatory. Alongside the writing I handle branding, release copy, and production for SAHA Records and the Vinay Verma Collective, including the orchestral Vande Mataram recorded across Mumbai, Chennai, and Budapest.
I'm looking to do this work full time: editorial that takes Indian music seriously, told with care and an insider's understanding of how the records are actually made.
40K → 140KAudience grown
100+Pieces & posts
10 yearsWorking musician
100+Live shows
Where the work lives
Along the way.
The Indian Music Diaries
Writer & Interviewer · features, reviews, artist interviews
SAHA Records / Vinay Verma Collective
Branding, marketing & production support across releases
Music Community / Creative Fuel
Content writer & conceptualiser · 100+ posts. Music Community ran from 2021; acquired by Creative Fuel in 2025, where I was full-time Nov 2025 to Feb 2026.
KM Music Conservatory
Publicity, marketing & social for concerts and recitals
Live Music & Performance
Singer, keyboardist, bass · 100+ shows, audiences to 300
Editorial direction · interviewing · captions & scripts · brand and visual identity · social and campaign content · DaVinci Resolve color grading and edit · video editing · research · curation · AI-assisted workflows · Figma · Adobe Illustrator
A record, a story, a conversation
Let’s talk
music.
I'm available for editorial roles, interviews, features, and music writing. My full archive of work is a click away.