Best Indian Indie Albums of 2016: 8 Records Plus EPs

2016 was the year Indian electronic music grew up on record, metal bands put out some of their sharpest albums, and a few singer-songwriters showed how far a home-made sound could travel. This list picks the best Indian indie albums of 2016 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 album date is 2016 and most of its songs carry a 2016 date on Apple. Where songs came out earlier as singles, we say so. Only released music is covered. For the year after, see the best Indian indie albums of 2017.

Quick answer: the best Indian indie albums of 2016

• Dualist Inquiry – Dreamcatcher (12 September 2016, 12 tracks)
• Sandunes – Downstream (27 September 2016, 10 tracks)
• Karsh Kale – Up (28 January 2016, 11 tracks)
• The Ska Vengers – XX (1 July 2016, 9 tracks)
• Kryptos – Burn Up the Night (23 September 2016, 8 tracks)
• Spud in the Box – Lead Feet Paper Shoes (dated 1 January 2016, 12 tracks)
• Kailash Kher – Kailasa Ishq Anokha (21 March 2016, 9 tracks)
• Su Real – Twerkistan (26 September 2016, 16 tracks)

The albums

Dualist Inquiry – Dreamcatcher (September 2016, 12 tracks). Sahej Bakshi's debut full-length as Dualist Inquiry, and one of the defining Indian electronic records of the decade. Every song is dated 12 September 2016 on Apple. It moves between guitar-led instrumentals and vocal tracks: "Zero Hour" and "Opaque" feature Kavya Trehan, and "For Joss" features Sohrab Nicholson. Other highlights are "Divide", "Moongaze", "Sleepwalker" and "Violet". Start with: "Zero Hour". More in our Dualist Inquiry albums and Dualist Inquiry songs guides.

Sandunes – Downstream (September 2016, 10 tracks). Sanaya Ardeshir's first full album as Sandunes: playful, piano-led electronic music that sounds warm rather than clubby. All ten tracks are dated 27 September 2016, from "Mighty Protonic" and "Honey Tree" to "Crystal Pink", "Indigo Village" and the "Downstream Outro". Start with: "Honey Tree". See Sandunes albums and Sandunes songs.

Karsh Kale – Up (January 2016, 11 tracks). The tabla player and producer's return to a full album, packed with guests. The title track came out first on 4 December 2015; the rest is dated 28 January 2016. Benny Dayal sings on "Shiva" and "Thin Line of Blue", Papon appears on "Snowflake", Monali Thakur on "Shyam" and Alam Khan on "Wake". Start with: "Up". See Karsh Kale albums.

The Ska Vengers – XX (July 2016, 9 tracks). The Delhi ska band's second album is political, loud and danceable. "Frank Brazil" was released as a single in August 2015; the other eight songs, including "Kick up a Rumpus", "Double X", "Shut Your Mouth", "Badda Kirvani" and "Jail Mein", are dated 1 July 2016. Start with: "Frank Brazil".

Kryptos – Burn Up the Night (September 2016, 8 tracks). The Bengaluru heavy metal band's fourth album, released on AFM Records. "One Shot to Kill" came out a week early (14 September); the rest, including "Blackstar Horizon", "Full Throttle", "Waverider" and the title track, is dated 23 September 2016. Start with: "Burn Up the Night". See Kryptos albums and best Indian metal albums.

Spud in the Box – Lead Feet Paper Shoes (2016, 12 tracks). The Mumbai indie-rock band's debut album. Apple shows an album date of 1 January 2016, but the songs themselves are dated September 2016: "Bullet Points" on 29 September, everything else, including "Drown In", "Institute of Madness", "Headrush" and "Hold Your Horses Closer", on 23 September. Start with: "Bullet Points". See Indian alternative rock bands.

Kailash Kher – Kailasa Ishq Anokha (March 2016, 9 tracks). Kailash Kher's band album, outside his film work. All nine songs, from "O Jogi" and "Vaari Vaari" to "Siyah Tara" and "Turiya Turiya", are dated 21 March 2016. It sits close to the Sufi-rock sound Kailasa made their name with. Start with: "Vaari Vaari". See Sufi rock bands in India.

Su Real – Twerkistan (September 2016, 16 tracks). A long, high-energy bass record from the Delhi producer, with features from Tanya Nambiar, Karma and Ritviz (on "Turn Up"). All sixteen tracks are dated 26 September 2016. It is a party record first, but it captures where Indian club music was in 2016. Start with: "Twerkistan". See Indian electronic music producers.

The best EPs of 2016

• Nucleya – Raja Baja (3 September 2016, 6 tracks): "Bhayanak Atma", "Scene Kya Hai", "Jind Mahi" and "Bakar Bakar". See Nucleya albums.
• Ritviz – Yuv (18 July 2016, 4 tracks): "Bali", "Taan", "Yuv" and "Jiti", all dated 6 June 2016 — his early, pre-"Udd Gaye" sound. See Ritviz albums.
• Raja Kumari – The Come Up (18 November 2016, 6 tracks), with "Believe in You" (October 2016) and "Meera".
• Papon – The Story Now (23 November 2016, 4 tracks): "Loving A Dream", "Saahil" and "Kahin Na Kahin". See Papon songs.
• Kohra & SHFT – Sphera (10 October 2016, 4 tracks): one track plus three remixes, for the techno crowd.

Dated 2016, but older songs

• Parekh & Singh – Ocean (album dated 28 October 2016, 9 tracks). This is the Kolkata duo's debut as most listeners found it, after its Peacefrog release. Apple dates all nine songs, including "I Love You Baby, I Love You Doll", "Newbury Street" and "Ghost", to 2013, when the record was first made. We list it here for the 2016 release, not in the main list. See Parekh & Singh songs.

What is left out

• Film soundtracks, even where indie artists contributed.
• Faridkot – Ek: Apple shows a 2016 album date, but every song is dated January 2011, so it is not a 2016 record.
• Singles collections and one-song releases. The best 2016 singles are in our songs list for the year.

How to use this list

If you only have an hour, play Dreamcatcher, Downstream and Up back to back: together they show how Indian electronic music changed in 2016. For guitars, go to Burn Up the Night and Lead Feet Paper Shoes. For a wider view of the decade, see our best Indian indie albums of the 2010s and the essential Indian independent albums.

FAQ

What was the best Indian indie album of 2016? On this list, Dualist Inquiry's Dreamcatcher (12 September 2016). Sandunes' Downstream and Karsh Kale's Up are close behind.

Was Parekh & Singh's Ocean a 2016 album? The album is dated 28 October 2016 on Apple Music India, but its songs are dated 2013. We note it separately for that reason.

Which Nucleya release came out in 2016? The Raja Baja EP, dated 3 September 2016 with six tracks. His Bass Rani album came a year earlier, in September 2015.

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