Best Indian Indie Albums of 2012: Topiwalleh, The Silent Sea, Std

2012 was the year Indian independent music started to sound confident on record. Swarathma made their second album, Advaita brought out a long-awaited follow-up, Skyharbor arrived with a double album, and Kryptos put Bengaluru heavy metal on the map with The Coils of Apollyon. This list picks the best Indian indie albums of 2012 that you can stream on Apple Music India today, plus the EPs worth hearing.

How we checked. Every date and track count below comes from Apple Music India (iTunes catalogue, country IN), checked on 28 October 2026. We also checked the date of every song on every record. A record is only here if its songs carry a 2012 date on Apple. Where the album and song dates differ, or where Apple shows a 1 January placeholder date, we say so. Only released music is covered. For the year after, see our best Indian indie albums of 2013. For the year before, see our 2011 albums list.

Quick answer: the best Indian indie albums of 2012

• Swarathma – Topiwalleh (11 May 2012, 10 tracks)
• Advaita – The Silent Sea (8 October 2012, 10 tracks)
• Skyharbor – Blinding White Noise: Illusion & Chaos (22 April 2012, 10 tracks)
• Kryptos – The Coils of Apollyon (21 September 2012, 9 tracks)
• Sridhar/Thayil – Std (13 April 2012, 13 tracks)
• Indus Creed – Evolve (dated 2012, 8 tracks)
• Agam – The Inner Self Awakens (11 October 2012, 6 tracks)
• Barmer Boys – At Home (1 December 2012, 9 tracks)
• Blakc – Motheredland (3 June 2012, 10 tracks)

The albums

Swarathma – Topiwalleh (May 2012, 10 tracks). The Bengaluru folk-rock band's second album, and the one most fans still start with. The album and all ten songs are dated 11 May 2012 on Apple. It runs from the title track and "Ghum" to "Naane Daari", "Duur Kinara" (with Shubha Mudgal) and "Yeshu, Allah Aur Krishna". Start with: "Topiwalleh". See the Swarathma band guide and our Swarathma songs guide.

Advaita – The Silent Sea (October 2012, 10 tracks). The Delhi band's second album blends Hindustani vocals with rock and electronic textures. The album is dated 8 October 2012, but most songs carry a 10 February 2012 date ("Dust", "Gorakh", "Meinda Ishq", "Spinning", "The Silent Sea") and two, "Mandirva" and "GaMaPaNiPa", show 1 January 2012. Start with: "Gorakh". See Indian folk fusion bands.

Skyharbor – Blinding White Noise: Illusion & Chaos (April 2012, 10 tracks). Keshav Dhar's progressive metal project in its first full form, split into an "Illusion" half and a "Chaos" half. The album is dated 22 April 2012 and every song 20 April 2012, from "Illusion: Dots" and "Illusion: Order 66" to "Illusion: Maeva" and "Chaos: Insurrection". Start with: "Illusion: Catharsis". See the Skyharbor band guide.

Kryptos – The Coils of Apollyon (September 2012, 9 tracks). The Bengaluru band's classic heavy metal album, all twin guitars and big choruses. The album and all nine songs are dated 21 September 2012, including "The Mask of Anubis", the title track, "Serpent Mage" and "Starfall". Start with: "The Coils of Apollyon". See Kryptos albums.

Sridhar/Thayil – Std (April 2012, 13 tracks). A sharp, literate rock record from Suman Sridhar and Jeet Thayil. All thirteen tracks are dated 13 April 2012, from "Here in the Morning" and "Punk Bhajan" to "City of Sisters" and "This Be the Beat", plus an Audiopervert mix of "City of Sisters". Start with: "Punk Bhajan". See Mumbai indie bands.

Indus Creed – Evolve (2012, 8 tracks). The band's return album, decades after their first records. Apple dates the album 5 April 2012 and every song 1 January 2012 (a placeholder date). Songs include "Fireflies", "Dissolve", "Bulletproof" and "Goodbye". Start with: "Fireflies". See the Indus Creed band guide.

Agam – The Inner Self Awakens (October 2012, 6 tracks). The Bengaluru band's Carnatic progressive rock debut. Five tracks are dated 11 October 2012 and "Swans of Saraswathi" 1 October 2012. The set includes "Brahma's Dance", "Dhanashree Thillana", "Rudra" and "The Boat Song". Start with: "Brahma's Dance". See Indian progressive rock bands.

Barmer Boys – At Home (December 2012, 9 tracks). Rajasthani folk musicians recorded in a simple, warm setting. All nine tracks are dated 1 December 2012, including "Moomal", "Raichand", "Kaachi Kariyo" and "Hum Bhi Jaaney". Start with: "Moomal". See Rajasthani folk singers.

Blakc – Motheredland (June 2012, 10 tracks). A dark, heavy alternative rock album. All ten songs are dated 3 June 2012, from "Bitten" and "Dreamcast" to "Peddler of Rainbows" and "Porcelain". Start with: "Bitten". See Indian alternative rock bands.

The best EPs and short releases of 2012

• Arjun Vagale – Random Eye Movement (23 July 2012, 4 tracks): the title track, "Terrakoz" and two "Danger Mouse" remixes. For techno listeners. See Indian electronic music producers.
• Arjun Vagale – Recline Better EP (21 March 2012, 3 tracks): the original plus two remixes.
• Kohra – Dust Particle (10 August 2012, 3 tracks): the original plus two remixes.
• Them Clones – Jealousy & All About a Heartbreak EP (dated 2012, 5 tracks, all songs 1 January 2012): two songs plus three remixes, one by the Punditz.

Dated 2013, but 2012 songs

• Parvaaz – Behosh EP (dated 12 June 2013, 5 tracks). Apple dates the songs, including "Behosh", "Marika" and "Dil Khush", to 12 July 2012, so we count them as 2012 songs. See Parvaaz songs.

What is left out

• Film soundtracks, even with indie involvement (Avial's Second Show, Vishal & Shekhar's 2012 scores).
• Live and archive releases: Raghu Dixit's Unplugged (Live in York) (19 March 2012) and Indian Ocean's Nostalgia (dated 21 November 2012, but every song dated 1 March 2000).
• Thermal and a Quarter's 3 Wheels 9 Lives (dated 28 September 2012, 28 tracks). Every song shows a 1 January 2012 placeholder date and it plays like a three-disc collection, so it is better read through our Thermal and a Quarter albums guide.
• Singles. The best 2012 songs are in our songs list for the year.

How to use this list

For one evening, play Topiwalleh, The Silent Sea and Std back to back: three very different ideas of what an Indian rock album could be. For heavier music, go to Blinding White Noise and The Coils of Apollyon, then see the best Indian metal albums. For the bigger picture, see the best Indian indie albums of the 2010s.

FAQ

What was the best Indian indie album of 2012? On this list, Swarathma's Topiwalleh (11 May 2012). Advaita's The Silent Sea is close behind.

When did Skyharbor release Blinding White Noise? Apple Music India dates the album 22 April 2012 and its songs 20 April 2012.

When did Kryptos release The Coils of Apollyon? The album and all nine songs are dated 21 September 2012 on Apple Music India.