Hidden Kohinoors

Playlist and Article by: Gunakkshi Garg

“You’re the summer sun... but she played me like a violin, violence...”

-”Easy Bake, Easy Wake” (on the playlist)

Thus sing the F16s, in one of their breezy songs with an experimental pop feel to it- sure to get you grooving. My journey with indie Indian artists began with a small newspaper article about the F16s– which is why the playlist begins with three of my favourite songs by them.

The Kohinoor is the world’s largest diamond, discovered in the Deccan mines of Southern-central India. By “Hidden Kohinoors”, I mean gems which remain undiscovered: hidden and buried in the inviting abyss of Indian music. Most of the songs included are in English, with a few exceptions which have limited lines in Hindi.

“I feel like a pawn under the rubble... I could read you like a looking glass.”

- “Diana” (on the playlist)

The playlist introduces the listener to artists like OAFF, with his gorgeous synths and smooth vocals; When Chai Met Toast and their funky, poetic tunes; even the renowned Tesher with hard-hitting beats and groovy raps (check out his viral collaboration with Jason Derulo here)

https://youtu.be/CTmKrwFu7wg?si=s6a6et2fETWMzlMs

The playlist was created with a light, summer feel to it so I would definitely recommend that you look out for songs like “Spiced Lemonade”, “Summer In My Lungs”, and “Sunday Bubble”, amongst many more!

For the cover of the playlist, I chose an artwork showcasing a common Indian sight- the “kirana shop”(the small general store). It holds small shelves within, which somehow have everything you could ever need. Most trade happens through the small window behind which a singular shopkeeper sits, where you ask and you shall receive. I believe the Indian music scene is like those shops; a window so small and a stock so vast, that the little sparkling kohinoors within might go unnoticed. I want to be the shopkeeper at the counter though, handing interested listeners these underrated and undiscovered gems: most with under 50,000 streams.

As always, I hope you enjoy the journey beat by beat, heartbeat by heartbeat.

Listen here!: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2RkSvRO77zGigfcXdA8UKh?si=Wh4YqQ8gQ-uEm8YM16DvGw&pi=u-gQvH7LS-T2KB