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
Raga started rapping in sixth standard and never stopped — not even during a period of drug addiction he's spoken about openly. From a self-released debut album to a Def Jam India deal, a mentor slot on MTV Hustle, and a Rolling Stone India Future 25 placement, here's how he built a career on refusing to perform strength he didn't feel.
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.
Lollapalooza India returns to Mumbai on 23–24 January 2027. Here’s what’s confirmed, how ticket tiers work, and how to plan the weekend before the lineup drops.
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.'
Curated dispatches on festival commissions, day rates, and verified credits across India.