Stories, careers and news from India’s independent creative economy.
Aditya Modak’s path links riyaz, a day job, teaching and a film role—without treating any one of them as a shortcut to the other.
NOV 14, 2026 · 9 MIN READ
Adi and Dishaan weren't looking to start a duo the night they met at Mumbai's Antisocial club. Two years, seven-hour daily sessions, and a Lonavala writing retreat later, their debut album became a Lollapalooza India set the crowd sang so loud they couldn't hear themselves onstage.
Natania wrote her first song at 15, after a breakup, in Mumbai. Over a decade later, she'd signed a publishing deal with Jay-Z's Roc Nation, co-written a Nick Jonas global crossover single, and heard Cardi B sing over her own chorus on a Smurfs soundtrack cut. She's spent most of that career writing for other people's voices before finally building one of her own.
Sejal Kumar spent years building one of India's biggest YouTube channels on budget-shopping videos and fashion advice before an Obama Foundation campaign turned her into a musician. She's since released two projects and admitted she nearly quit entirely. Here's her real arc — no inflated numbers, no invented timeline.
Siddharth Pandit dropped out of A.R. Rahman's KM Music Conservatory because he wasn't making enough of his own music. Years of session keyboard work, a Bandish Bandits composer credit, and an independent album series later, he's built a career at what he calls 'the bridge between Indian and Western music.'
Wazir Patar spent years behind the camera and the mixing board — directing music videos, then producing tracks for Sidhu Moose Wala, including one of his final releases — before stepping out as an artist himself. His debut project pairs an EP with a restored 1990 Mercedes. Here's how a producer became a movement.
Hashbass spent over a decade playing bass on other people's records — for Sid Sriram, Divine, Karsh Kale, and dozens more — before he built his own stage. In January 2023, he closed Lollapalooza India's debut edition with a live concept called 'House of Hashbass.' Here's how a session player became a headline name.
Curated dispatches on festival commissions, day rates, and verified credits across India.