Best Indian Indie Albums of 2015: Aalas Ka Pedh, Bass Rani and More

2015 was a turning-point year for Indian independent music. Hindi rock found a band that could fill arenas, a bass producer from Ahmedabad turned Punjabi and Tamil folk into festival music, and a Jaipur singer-songwriter put out a debut that is still being discovered. This list picks the best Indian indie albums of 2015 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 most of its songs carry a 2015 date on Apple. Only released music is covered. For the year after, see our best Indian indie albums of 2016; for the decade view, see the best Indian indie albums of the 2010s.

Quick answer: the best Indian indie albums of 2015

• The Local Train – Aalas Ka Pedh (25 September 2015, 9 tracks)
• Prateek Kuhad – In Tokens & Charms (21 January 2015, 10 tracks)
• Nucleya – Bass Rani (7 September 2015, 7 tracks)
• Thaikkudam Bridge – Navarasam (2015, 10 tracks)
• Aswekeepsearching – Khwaab (14 October 2015, 11 tracks)
• Blackstratblues – The Universe Has a Strange Sense of Humour (March 2015, 8 tracks)
• Thermal and a Quarter – No Wall Too High (24 October 2015) and The Scene (23 February 2015)
• Midival Punditz – Light (2015, 9 tracks)
• Zygnema – What Makes Us Human Is Obsolete (June 2015, 11 tracks)

The albums

The Local Train – Aalas Ka Pedh (September 2015, 9 tracks). The Delhi band's debut album, and the record that made Hindi rock feel young again. Every song is dated 25 September 2015 on Apple: "Manzil", "Aaoge Tum Kabhi", "Bandey", "Choo Lo", "Kaisey Jiyun", "Yeh Zindagi Hai" and "Dil Mere", plus an acoustic "Kaisey Jiyun" and a demo of "Yeh Zindagi Hai". Start with: "Aaoge Tum Kabhi". See The Local Train albums and The Local Train songs.

Prateek Kuhad – In Tokens & Charms (January 2015, 10 tracks). Kuhad's English-language debut album, recorded simply and sung close to the microphone. All ten songs are dated 21 January 2015, including "Oh Love", "Holding On", "Flames", "Into the Night" and "Cold Shoulders". A 14-track deluxe edition is also on Apple. Start with: "Oh Love". See Prateek Kuhad albums.

Nucleya – Bass Rani (September 2015, 7 tracks). The album that made Nucleya a headliner. All seven tracks are dated 7 September 2015: "Laung Gawacha" and "Aaja" with Avneet Khurmi, "Chennai Bass" with Sivamani and Chinna Ponnu, "Heer" with Shruti Pathak and the title track. Start with: "Laung Gawacha". See Nucleya albums.

Thaikkudam Bridge – Navarasam (2015, 10 tracks). The Kerala band's debut album mixes Malayalam folk, rock and Carnatic touches. Apple shows the album as 2015 and dates every song 25 July 2015: the title track, "Sultan", "Urumbu", "Aarachar", "Jai Hanuman", "Khwaab", "Chathe", "One", "Viduthalai" and "Shiva". Start with: "Navarasam". See our Thaikkudam Bridge history.

Aswekeepsearching – Khwaab (October 2015, 11 tracks). The Ahmedabad band's debut: big, slow-building post-rock with Hindi and English vocals. All eleven tracks are dated 14 October 2015, including "Ativa", "In Circles", "We Sound Like Strangers", "Banshee" and "B-303". Start with: "We Sound Like Strangers". See Aswekeepsearching albums and Indian post-rock bands.

Blackstratblues – The Universe Has a Strange Sense of Humour (March 2015, 8 tracks). Warren Mendonsa's guitar instrumentals at their most melodic. The songs are dated 13 March 2015 and the album 14 March. Nikhil D'Souza sings on "Come Anyway"; "Renaissance Mission", "Anandamide" and the title track are the instrumental highlights. Start with: "Anandamide". See Blackstratblues albums and Blackstratblues songs.

Thermal and a Quarter – No Wall Too High and The Scene (2015). The Bengaluru band put out two albums in one year. The Scene (23 February 2015, 10 tracks) is a funny, sharp look at the music business, with "I'm Endorsed, Are You", "Godrocker" and "The Sponsors Backed Out". No Wall Too High (24 October 2015, 11 tracks listed, 10 visible in India) is darker, with "Ghost of Godiva", "Dresden Drumbeat" and "Bangalore Blues". Start with: "Bangalore Blues". See Thermal and a Quarter albums.

Midival Punditz – Light (2015, 9 tracks). The Delhi electronic duo's album with folk singers and guests. Most songs are dated 28 April 2015 and "Run" 19 May. Kutle Khan sings on "Baanwarey" and "Echoes", Malini Awasthi on "Nadia" and "Laagee", and guitarist Baiju Dharmajan plays on "Rushing". Start with: "Baanwarey". See Indian electronic music producers.

Zygnema – What Makes Us Human Is Obsolete (June 2015, 11 tracks). Mumbai groove metal, heavy and precise. Songs are dated 13 and 16 June 2015, including "Embryo", the title track, "Endangered" and "The Phoenix Effect". Start with: "Shell Broken Hell Loose". See Indian metal bands.

The best EPs of 2015

• Sandunes – Unfinish (1 December 2015, 4 tracks): "Dashiga", "E.P.P.S.", "Stitches" and "True That". See Sandunes albums.
• Madboy/Mink – Union Farm (3 June 2015, 4 tracks), including "Fire in the Street" and "Sharaabi".
• Su Real – Brown Folks (31 August 2015, 5 tracks), including "Indian Curse" and "Dilli Shahar".

What is left out

• Film soundtracks, such as Masaan and Angry Indian Goddesses, even where indie artists contributed.
• Best-of and older-material collections, such as Rediscovered Gems and Best of compilations.
• Single-song releases. The best 2015 singles are in our songs list for the year.

FAQ

What was the best Indian indie album of 2015? On this list, The Local Train's Aalas Ka Pedh (25 September 2015). Prateek Kuhad's In Tokens & Charms and Nucleya's Bass Rani are close behind.

When did Nucleya's Bass Rani come out? 7 September 2015, with seven tracks, according to Apple Music India.

Did Thermal and a Quarter release two albums in 2015? Yes: The Scene in February and No Wall Too High in October.

Are these albums on Apple Music in India? Yes. Every record here was checked on Apple Music India (country IN) on 28 October 2026.