Best Indian Indie Albums of 2017: 12 Records Plus EPs

2017 was the year Indian independent music started to sound like a scene with its own labels and its own audience. Azadi Records released a Delhi rap album that changed what Indian hip-hop could be, post-rock and instrumental guitar records found listeners far beyond the gig circuit, and a wave of singer-songwriters and small bands put out debut albums through platforms like OKListen. This list picks the best Indian indie albums of 2017 you can stream on Apple Music India, 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, and we checked the date of every song on every record. A record is only here if most of its songs carry a 2017 date on Apple. Only released music is covered. For the following year, see the best Indian indie albums of 2018.

Quick answer: the best Indian indie albums of 2017

• Prabh Deep & Sez on the Beat – Class-Sikh (16 October 2017, 12 tracks)
• Aswekeepsearching – Zia (28 April 2017, 11 tracks)
• Blackstratblues – The Last Analog Generation (15 August 2017, 8 tracks)
• Komorebi – Soliloquy (4 October 2017, 8 tracks)
• Kamakshi Khanna – Cakewalk (13 January 2017, 7 tracks)
• Easy Wanderlings – As Written in the Stars (6 August 2017, 8 tracks)
• Anand Bhaskar Collective – Excuse Me (24 January 2017, 10 tracks)
• Alobo Naga – KINI No.2 (26 September 2017, 12 tracks)
• Demonic Resurrection – Dashavatar (15 March 2017, 10 tracks)
• Disco Puppet – Princess This (14 September 2017, 10 tracks)
• Shubh Saran – Hmayra (7 May 2017, 9 tracks)
• Gutslit – Amputheatre (15 October 2017, 9 tracks)

The albums

Prabh Deep & Sez on the Beat – Class-Sikh (October 2017, 12 tracks). The West Delhi rapper's debut, produced by Sez on the Beat and released on Azadi Records. Two songs came out first in May, "Kal" (10 May) and "Kal (Future)" (15 May); the other ten, including "Suno", "Abu", "Click Clack", "Murder" and the title track "Classsikh", are dated 16 October 2017. It is a quiet, heavy record about a neighbourhood and its drugs, and it set the tone for Delhi hip-hop for years. Start with: "Suno". See Prabh Deep songs and our new Prabh Deep albums guide.

Aswekeepsearching – Zia (April 2017, 11 tracks). The Ahmedabad band's second album, all eleven songs dated 28 April 2017. It moves between post-rock build-ups and Hindi vocals, from "And Then Came Spring" to "Kalga" and "Ascend". Start with: "Kalga". See aswekeepsearching albums.

Blackstratblues – The Last Analog Generation (August 2017, 8 tracks). Warren Mendonsa's guitar-led instrumental project at its most melodic. Songs include "Lead Chain Swing", "North Star", "Aurora Borealis" and "Love Song to the Truth" featuring Tejas. Apple shows a 2022 ℗ line but dates every track 15 August 2017. Start with: "Lead Chain Swing". See Blackstratblues albums.

Komorebi – Soliloquy (October 2017, 8 tracks). Tarana Marwah's debut album of electronic pop. "Time" with Sohrab Nicholson came out on 15 September; the rest, including "Little One" featuring Blackstratblues and two tracks with bassist Mohini Dey, are dated 4 October 2017. Start with: "Little One". See Komorebi songs.

Kamakshi Khanna – Cakewalk (January 2017, 7 tracks). A gentle, jazzy debut from the singer-songwriter, with "I'm in My Own Way", the title track and "Moved by Stillness". Apple dates all seven songs 13 January 2017 (℗ 2016). Start with: "Cakewalk". See Kamakshi Khanna songs.

Easy Wanderlings – As Written in the Stars (August 2017, 8 tracks). The Pune band's debut album of sunny folk-pop, with "Ode to a Bristlecone", "Summer Is Away" and "Enjoy It While It Lasts". Start with: "Summer Is Away". See Easy Wanderlings songs.

Anand Bhaskar Collective – Excuse Me (January 2017, 10 tracks). Hindi rock with classical touches, from "Malhar" and "Naina" to "Shukraguzaar". All ten songs are dated 24 January 2017. Start with: "Malhar". See Hindi indie bands.

Alobo Naga – KINI No.2 (September 2017, 12 tracks). The Nagaland singer's KINI No.2. One song, "Chasing Ghosts", dates from June 2016; the other eleven, including "Never Let You Go", "Last Train" and "Wolo", are dated 26 September 2017. Start with: the title track. See Nagaland bands.

Demonic Resurrection – Dashavatar (March 2017, 10 tracks). A concept album about the ten avatars of Vishnu, from "Matsya: The Fish" to "Kalki: The Destroyer of Filth", released on the band's own Demonstealer Records. Start with: "Narasimha: The Man-Lion". See Indian metal bands.

Disco Puppet – Princess This (September 2017, 10 tracks). Bengaluru producer Shoumik Biswas's playful, glitchy electronic album, with "Cheese Chase", "Lie Alone" and "Sea Salt". Start with: "Lie Alone". See Indian electronic music producers.

Shubh Saran – Hmayra (May 2017, 9 tracks). Instrumental guitar fusion, from "The Profane" to "The Sacred" and "Ascent". Apple shows a 2020 ℗ line but dates the songs 7 May 2017. Start with: "Tyaga". See Indian instrumental bands.

Gutslit – Amputheatre (October 2017, 9 tracks). Brutal death metal from Mumbai, nine short, violent tracks from the title song to "Death Hammer". Start with: "Brazen Bull". See Indian death metal bands.

The best EPs of 2017

• Seedhe Maut – 2 Ka Pahada (20 May 2017): the Delhi duo's first release, with "Seedhe Maut Anthem" (8 May), "Royalty" and "Keh Chuka, Pt. 1". Apple carries a 4-track and a 5-track edition; the longer one adds "Classsikh Maut" with Prabh Deep. See Seedhe Maut albums.
• Ankur Tewari & The Ghalat Family – Side B (16 February 2017, 6 tracks), with "Teri Yaad", "Dil Haare" and "Yaaron". See Ankur Tewari songs.
• Mali – Rush (27 January 2017, 5 tracks).
• Whale in the Pond – Marbles (30 June 2017, 5 tracks), Bengali-and-English indie rock from Kolkata.
• Kraken – LUSH (8 September 2017, 6 tracks), math rock with long, funny song titles.
• Bombay Bassment – Ok, Dance (11 May 2017, 5 tracks).

What is left out

• Film soundtracks, including Chef and Phillauri.
• Compilations of older songs, such as Raghu Dixit's Antaragni (2017), whose songs are dated 2007 and 2010.
• Records whose songs are mostly dated 2016.

More lists

For the decade, see the best Indian indie albums of the 2010s. For more post-rock, see Indian post-rock bands.