Indian Indie Folk: 5 Acoustic Acts to Start With

Indian indie folk is, at heart, songs written on an acoustic guitar. It ranges from bedroom recordings in Hindi and English to festival-sized sing-alongs. The sound owes as much to Elliott Smith and Fleet Foxes as to Lucky Ali, and it has become one of the most streamed corners of Indian independent music.

This genre guide covers five acts that define the style, with a starting point for each. Every fact comes from the sources listed at the end. If you want traditional folk songs reworked with rock bands, that is a different genre, folk fusion, which we cover separately.

What is Indian indie folk?

The sound

The sound is built on acoustic guitar, close-miked vocals and spare arrangements, often with ukulele, piano or light percussion. Lyrics are usually personal, about love, distance and growing up. Many artists move between Hindi and English, sometimes within a single song.

Why it grew

These songs work as solo sets in small rooms and travel well on streaming playlists. Artists can start with a guitar and a phone, without a full band or label support.

1. Prateek Kuhad

Prateek Kuhad was born in Jaipur in 1990. He picked up the guitar at 16 and started writing songs in his late teens. While studying maths and economics at New York University, he discovered Elliott Smith, then Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie, Laura Marling and Fleet Foxes. He also credits Lucky Ali as an influence. After returning to India he released two EPs in 2013, Prateek Kuhad and Raat Raazi, followed by his debut album In Tokens & Charms in 2015.

Kuhad writes in both Hindi and English, and his music leans towards Americana and folk, with acoustic sounds and unconventional song structures. In 2020 he became the first Indian artist signed by the American label Elektra Records. He released The Way That Lovers Do on 20 May 2022 and his fourth studio album, Full Moon Chamber, in 2026.

Start with: "Kasoor" and "Co2", his best-known tracks.

2. Anuv Jain

Anuv Jain, from Ludhiana, is probably the clearest example of how far a quiet acoustic song can travel in India now. His songs include "Baarishein", "Alag Aasmaan", "Gul", "Husn" and "Jo Tum Mere Ho". "Husn" and "Jo Tum Mere Ho" reached No. 1 on Spotify and Apple Music in India, and he was named on the Forbes India 30 Under 30 list in 2023. Lollapalooza India announced its 2027 lineup in September 2026, and Jain is on the first-day bill. That puts a guitar-and-voice songwriter on one of India's largest festival stages.

Start with: "Baarishein", then "Husn". Read our Anuv Jain profile for more.

3. Nikhil D'Souza

Mumbai singer, songwriter and guitarist Nikhil D'Souza (born 1981) studied geology at St. Xavier's College, Mumbai, before turning to music. He names Sting and Jeff Buckley as his main influences, and he was the South Asia soloist winner at SUTASI '09. He signed with East West Records, a Warner Music UK label, and released songs including "Silver and Gold" and "Beautiful Mind". He has appeared on MTV's Coke Studio and at Sofar Sounds. Rolling Stone India's Neha Sharma wrote that "his falsetto glides over twangy guitar riffs".

Start with: "Silver and Gold".

4. When Chai Met Toast

When Chai Met Toast formed in Kochi, Kerala, in 2016 and play upbeat, acoustic-leaning indie folk-pop. They were selected for Spotify's RADAR programme for emerging artists and have performed at NH7 Weekender, which makes them one of the clearest examples of South Indian indie folk reaching a national audience.

Start with: their festival sets, which show the band at its best.

5. Easy Wanderlings

Easy Wanderlings formed in Pune in 2015 and stretch indie folk into a fuller, warmer band sound. Their debut album As Written in the Stars came out in 2017. The 2022 EP Caught in a Parade was named best Indian EP of the year by Rolling Stone India. Their song "Enemy" was used in the film Gehraiyaan, which brought them a wider audience.

Start with: "Enemy", then Caught in a Parade.

What these artists have in common

All five reached listeners through EPs, streaming, live sets and festival bills. Their songs moved into the mainstream on their own terms: through Elektra in Kuhad's case, chart-topping streams in Jain's, a Warner UK label for D'Souza, Spotify RADAR for When Chai Met Toast and a film placement for Easy Wanderlings. That mix of routes is what makes indie folk one of the steadiest growth stories in Indian independent music.

How to explore further

1. Start solo: Kuhad's early EPs show the bare guitar-and-voice template.
2. Hear it scale: Anuv Jain's chart hits show how far the format can reach.
3. Add a band: When Chai Met Toast and Easy Wanderlings show what the genre sounds like with a full lineup.
4. See it live: small-venue singer-songwriter nights are where most of these artists started. Our guide to Indian indie live gigs and venues covers how the circuit works.

FAQ

What is Indian indie folk music?

It is independent, mostly acoustic songwriting by Indian artists, usually built on guitar and voice, in Hindi, English or both. Its influences include Western folk and Americana as well as Indian pop.

Who is the most popular Indian indie folk artist?

Prateek Kuhad and Anuv Jain are two of the most prominent. Kuhad became the first Indian artist signed to Elektra Records in 2020, and two of Jain's songs reached No. 1 on Spotify and Apple Music in India.

Is indie folk the same as folk fusion?

No. Indie folk here means original singer-songwriter music in a Western folk style. Folk fusion reworks traditional Indian folk music with rock or electronic elements.

Where can I hear Indian indie folk live?

Festivals such as NH7 Weekender and Lollapalooza India, and small singer-songwriter venues and Sofar Sounds-style house gigs in the larger cities.

Sources

• Wikipedia, "Prateek Kuhad", "Anuv Jain", "Nikhil D'Souza", "When Chai Met Toast", "Easy Wanderlings" (accessed 23 Oct 2026)
• "Lollapalooza India 2027 lineup", The Hindu, 3 Sep 2026

Related on Discography

• Anuv Jain: the artist profile
• The Local Train: the band profile
• Best Indian independent artists of 2026

Cover photo: NabihaT / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).