Best Indian Indie Albums of 2019: 12 Records Plus EPs

2019 was the last full year of Indian independent music before the pandemic shut down gigs, and it was a strong one for full-length records. Rappers put out debut albums, post-rock and fusion bands returned with their biggest records, and singer-songwriters from Arunachal to Bengaluru released albums that people still play. This list picks the best Indian indie albums of 2019 that you can stream on Apple Music India today, plus a handful of EPs.

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 each song on each album. A record is only here if most of its songs carry a 2019 date on Apple. Records whose songs mostly date from 2018 are left out and noted at the end, for a future 2018 list. Only released music is covered.

Quick answer: the best Indian indie albums of 2019

• DIVINE – Kohinoor (9 October 2019, 8 tracks)
• Peter Cat Recording Co. – Bismillah (7 June 2019, 10 tracks)
• Parvaaz – Kun (17 October 2019, 9 tracks)
• Taba Chake – Bombay Dreams (25 April 2019, 10 tracks)
• Lifafa – Jaago (1 January 2019, 8 tracks)
• Aswekeepsearching – Rooh (27 September 2019, 8 tracks)
• Blackstratblues – When It's Time (12 September 2019, 8 tracks)
• Sid Sriram – Entropy (6 February 2019, 12 tracks)
• Gauley Bhai – Joro (5 June 2019, 10 tracks)
• Raghu Dixit – Courtyard Jam Sessions (3 June 2019, 12 tracks)
• Arivu & ofRO – Therukural (25 June 2019, 7 tracks)
• Ahmer & Sez on the Beat – Little Kid, Big Dreams (5 July 2019, 8 tracks)

The albums

DIVINE – Kohinoor (October 2019, 8 tracks). The Mumbai rapper's debut album arrived the same year Gully Boy made street rap a national story. The title track came out as a single on 13 September 2019; the other seven songs, including "Wallah" with Shah Rule and "Gandhi Money", are dated 9 October 2019. It is a big, confident record about where he came from. For more, see our DIVINE songs guide.

Peter Cat Recording Co. – Bismillah (June 2019, 10 tracks). The Delhi band's best-known album opens with "Where the Money Flows" and includes "Floated By" and "Soulless Friends". It mixes jazz, gypsy swing and old Hindi film sounds into something that only this band makes. All ten songs carry the 7 June 2019 date. Full details are in our Peter Cat Recording Co. albums guide.

Parvaaz – Kun (October 2019, 9 tracks). The Bengaluru band's second album is darker and heavier than Baran. Songs are in Urdu and Kashmiri, and "Kun", "Harf" and "Mushq-E-Gul" open the record. Apple dates seven songs 18 October and two 17 October 2019. See Parvaaz albums.

Taba Chake – Bombay Dreams (April 2019, 10 tracks). The Arunachal singer-songwriter's debut album sings in Hindi, English and Nyishi over fingerpicked guitar. "In Waadiyon Mein" opens it and "Aao Chalein" became his best-known song. Nine songs carry the 25 April 2019 date; one is dated July 2018, when it first came out as a single. See Taba Chake songs.

Lifafa – Jaago (January 2019, 8 tracks). Suryakant Sawhney's solo project outside Peter Cat. The title track opens a record of Hindi synth-pop that sounds like old television broadcasts rewired. Seven songs are dated 1 January 2019 and one December 2018. See Lifafa songs and albums.

Aswekeepsearching – Rooh (September 2019, 8 tracks). The Ahmedabad band's third album moves from post-rock towards softer, sung songs. "Chasing Light", "Aas Paas", "Rooh" and "Aitbaar" are all here, every one dated 27 September 2019. See our aswekeepsearching band page.

Blackstratblues – When It's Time (September 2019, 8 tracks). Warren Mendonsa's instrumental guitar project at its most relaxed. "Tiny Bit of Sky", "Looking for Polaris" and "Too Cool for Sunday School" show off his clean, singing tone. All songs are dated 12 September 2019. See Blackstratblues albums.

Sid Sriram – Entropy (February 2019, 12 tracks). Better known for film songs, Sid Sriram made his own R&B and soul album here, sung in English. Ten songs are dated 6 February 2019, one January 2019 and one, "It Isn't True", October 2018. See Indian R&B artists.

Gauley Bhai – Joro (June 2019, 10 tracks). A Nepali-language folk-rock album, all ten songs dated 5 June 2019. "Thupari Udi", "Sanglanga Dooby" and "Simrayo" open the record. It is a warm, singalong record built on hill folk melodies. See Northeast India bands and artists.

Raghu Dixit – Courtyard Jam Sessions (June 2019, 12 tracks). Live-feel versions of Kannada folk songs, beginning with "Hey Bhagwan" and "Gudugudiya Sedi Nodo". Eleven songs are dated 3 June 2019; one bonus track was added in 2023. See Raghu Dixit Project.

Arivu & ofRO – Therukural (June 2019, 7 tracks). The Tamil rapper's protest record with producer ofRO, including "Kalla Mouni" and "Anti Indian". Six songs carry the 25 June 2019 date, one late May. See Tamil indie hip-hop artists.

Ahmer & Sez on the Beat – Little Kid, Big Dreams (July 2019, 8 tracks). The Kashmiri rapper's debut, produced by Sez on the Beat, opens with "Sifar - Intro" and "Galat". All eight songs are dated 5 July 2019. See underground Indian rappers.

EPs worth hearing from 2019

• Sandunes – 11:11 (6 September 2019, 5 tracks). The title track with Landslands came out first on 21 August. See Sandunes albums.
• Dualist Inquiry – Life Forms (15 November 2019, 4 tracks), all four songs dated that day. See Dualist Inquiry albums.
• Raja Kumari – BLOODLINE (22 February 2019, 5 tracks). Three songs are dated 22 February 2019, "KARMA" 14 February and "SHOOK" November 2018.

Left out, and why

• Ritviz – Ved (EP, 1 July 2019, 6 tracks). Its songs date from November 2017 to June 2019, so it is a collection of singles more than a 2019 record. See Ritviz albums.
• Nucleya – Tota Myna (EP, 13 March 2019, 6 tracks). Five of its six songs are dated October and November 2018; it belongs on a 2018 list. See Nucleya albums.
• Gully Boy (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack). A film soundtrack, not an artist's own album.
• Lucky Ali & Sajid Ali – Gori Teri Aankhen (Apple date 30 January 2019). This is a 2019 Zee Music edition of an older Lucky Ali and Sajid Ali record (our Lucky Ali songs guide dates the title song to 2001), so it is not a 2019 album.

Where to start

If you want one album, play Bismillah. For rap, Kohinoor. For something quieter, Bombay Dreams or When It's Time. For more of the decade, see the best Indian indie albums of the 2010s. For the next year, see the best Indian indie albums of 2020.