Indian Indie Pop Artists: 15 I-Pop Names

Indian indie pop artists to know, from Prateek Kuhad, Anuv Jain and Ritviz to Aditya Rikhari, GINI, Tsumyoki and W.i.S.H, with sourced facts.

Key facts

Chart record: Aditya Rikhari's 2023 single Sahiba became the longest-running non-film No.1 on Spotify India's charts in 2025, holding the top spot for more than 11 weeks (ELLE India).
Label first: Prateek Kuhad became the first Indian artist signed by the American label Elektra Records, in 2020 (Wikipedia).
Streaming milestone: Anuv Jain's first recorded song, Baarishein (2018), was his first to pass 100 and then 200 million Spotify streams (Wikipedia).
Girl group: W.i.S.H debuted in March 2024 with Lazeez, from their eight-track album Sweetburn (ELLE India).
Spotify push: Spotify India's Dhruvank Vaidya told ELLE India that I-Pop consumption has "increased significantly" and that the platform held its first I-Pop Icons Live event.

The Indian indie pop artists to know right now include an established tier, Prateek Kuhad, Anuv Jain, Ritviz and When Chai Met Toast, and a newer wave that Spotify India now markets as I-Pop: Aditya Rikhari, Kushagra, GINI, Tsumyoki, Hansika Pareek, Maan Panu and the groups W.i.S.H and OutStation. What they share is that they built audiences on streaming, festivals and Reels, not through film soundtracks, even if several have since crossed into Bollywood. This list draws on ELLE India, Mirchi, Esquire India and Wikipedia, and every fact is sourced.

More facts

Aditya Rikhari's 2023 single Sahiba became the longest-running non-film No.1 on Spotify India's charts in 2025, holding the top spot for more than 11 weeks (ELLE India).
Prateek Kuhad became the first Indian artist signed by the American label Elektra Records, in 2020 (Wikipedia).
Anuv Jain's first recorded song, Baarishein (2018), was his first to pass 100 and then 200 million Spotify streams (Wikipedia).
W.i.S.H debuted in March 2024 with Lazeez, from their eight-track album Sweetburn (ELLE India).
Spotify India's Dhruvank Vaidya told ELLE India that I-Pop consumption has "increased significantly" and that the platform held its first I-Pop Icons Live event.

What counts as Indian indie pop in 2026

The label has widened. In November 2025, ELLE India described a "new generation of I-Pop artists, young, bold, internet-native and sonically adventurous," whose rise "is no longer tied to Bollywood soundtracks." Spotify India's head of music and podcasts, Dhruvank Vaidya, told the magazine that I-Pop listening had "increased significantly." He said Spotify was building an I-Pop playlist ecosystem and had staged its first I-Pop Icons Live event. This list covers artists who started outside the film system, whether they now sign to majors or not. For a wider view, see our guide to the best Indian independent artists of 2026.

The established names

Prateek Kuhad

Prateek Kuhad writes and sings in Hindi and English, and Wikipedia notes he is best known for Kasoor and Co2. In 2020 he became the first Indian artist signed by Elektra Records. His 2018 song cold/mess was on Barack Obama's "Favorite Music of 2019" list. He released his third album, The Way That Lovers Do, on May 20, 2022, and his fourth, Full Moon Chamber, in 2026.

Anuv Jain

Anuv Jain's songs usually feature just an acoustic guitar or ukulele, with no percussion, and lyrics about love and heartbreak, according to Wikipedia. Baarishein (2018) was his first recorded song and a sleeper hit, later passing 200 million Spotify streams. Husn (2023) ranked among the most-streamed Indian songs of 2024. Mirchi reported a busy 2025 that included Arz Kiya Hai, Afsos with AP Dhillon, and Inaam. Our Anuv Jain profile has the full story.

Ritviz

Pune producer and singer Ritviz rose after his song Udd Gaye won the 2017 Bacardi House Party Sessions and was shared on AIB's YouTube channel. He opened for Katy Perry and Dua Lipa at the OnePlus Music Festival in 2019. His debut album, Mimmi, came out on September 2, 2022, followed by a launch tour through 2023. On June 21, 2024, he released Mehrbaan featuring the Pakistani singer Hasan Raheem.

When Chai Met Toast

This Kochi band formed in 2016: vocalist Ashwin Gopakumar, guitarist Achyuth Jaigopal, keyboardist Palee Francis and drummer Pai Sailesh. Wikipedia describes their music as happy and light-hearted, mostly in English and Hindi with some Tamil and Malayalam lyrics. Spotify recognised them through its RADAR programme, and in 2021 their music featured in the trailer for Farhan Akhtar's film Jee Le Zaraa. Kerala's wider scene is covered in our Kerala indie music guide.

The I-Pop breakout class

Aditya Rikhari

Rikhari's 2023 single Sahiba made history in 2025 as the longest-running non-film No.1 on Spotify India's charts, holding the top spot for more than 11 weeks, ELLE India reported. Vaidya said Sahiba held the top spot on Spotify's Weekly Top Songs India chart at the time. Mirchi noted that an unplugged version followed in 2025 and that Rikhari has since moved into playback singing. ELLE named his newer releases Suroor and Channa (featuring Ravator).

Kushagra

Kushagra Thakur's breakout single Finding Her topped the Spotify India charts, according to ELLE India. Mirchi called it "one of the most beautiful indie tracks of the year" and said it stayed in the charts and in listeners' playlists through 2025.

GINI

Dehradun-born GINI released Aashiyan and Naadaani in 2025, played YouTube Fanfest India and toured the UK in mid-2025, ELLE reported. Her collaboration with Tsumyoki, Don't Even Text, was one of the year's most-played songs among Gen Z. Mirchi said it "ruled all platforms including Instagram reels." ELLE reported that she is set for a Lollapalooza India debut in 2026.

Tsumyoki

Tsumyoki is Nathan Joseph Mendes from Goa, a rapper, singer-songwriter and producer whose sound moves between pop, trap, R&B and experimental electronica, ELLE said. Besides Don't Even Text, he contributed verses to the soundtrack of the Ranveer Singh film Dhurandhar.

W.i.S.H

ELLE calls W.i.S.H, made up of Ri, Sim, Zo and Suchi, India's first major Gen Z girl group. They debuted in March 2024 with Lazeez, part of the eight-track album Sweetburn. In 2025 they released Galti, Therapy, Bolo Bolo and Drameboss, and their reworking of Desi Girl went viral on Reels.

Hansika Pareek

ELLE described Hansika Pareek's vocal style as raw, haunting and poetic, with minimalist production. In 2025 she sang on Tum Ho Toh, from Saiyaara, and Yaad Tumari Aayi, crossing between film and indie work.

OutStation

OutStation is a new five-member boy band: Bhuvan Shetty, Hemang Singh, Mashaal Shaikh, Kurien Sebastian and Shayan Pattem. Their debut single Tum Se, with a prom-night music video, put them in the spotlight, according to ELLE.

Maan Panu

Uttarakhand's Maan Panu mixes indie-rock textures with confessional songwriting. ELLE said his performance of I'm Done on I-Popstar brought him wider attention, followed by AGAR with Nimit Music Project and Tu Hain Jahan.

Faheem Abdullah

Mirchi put Faheem Abdullah at the top of its 2025 indie list. It said he "was unstoppable in 2025" with Ehsaas, Teri Yaad and Bichadna.

Talwiinder

Mirchi said Talwiinder "had a solid year" in 2025: Haseen became a favourite, and Panchi stood out for its visuals.

Indie pop beyond the charts

Not every Indian indie pop act chases the streaming top 50. In April 2025, Esquire India picked artists shaping the year from across the indie spectrum. They included Delhi Indie Project, which marks a decade in 2025; Raman Negi, formerly of The Local Train, whose second solo album Chaltey Purzay came out in October 2024; and Tejas Menon, who contributed to the soundtrack of Netflix's The Archies. Esquire also wrote about Peter Cat Recording Co., known for mixing jazz, cabaret and indie pop, which completed the 77-stop Good Luck Beta '24 world tour. The F16s were the fifth pick: Esquire said their newer sound draws on post-punk, psychedelia and Brazilian Tropicália. These acts sit at the more adventurous end of the pop spectrum.

How to start listening

For the songwriter tradition, start with Prateek Kuhad's cold/mess and Anuv Jain's Baarishein. For producer-led pop, Ritviz's Mimmi is the album to try. For the 2025 wave, Sahiba, Finding Her and Don't Even Text are the songs that defined the year. When Chai Met Toast's Firefly is a good introduction to the band side of the scene.

FAQ

Who are the best Indian indie pop artists right now?

Established names include Prateek Kuhad, Anuv Jain, Ritviz and When Chai Met Toast. The 2025 breakout class includes Aditya Rikhari, Kushagra, GINI, Tsumyoki and W.i.S.H.

What is I-Pop?

I-Pop is the name Spotify India and the press use for Indian pop made outside Bollywood soundtracks. ELLE India describes it as an internet-native wave built through indie labels, collaborations and streaming.

Which Indian indie pop song has spent the longest at No.1?

Aditya Rikhari's Sahiba became the longest-running non-film No.1 on Spotify India's charts in 2025, holding the spot for more than 11 weeks, according to ELLE India.

Is Prateek Kuhad signed to a label?

Yes. Wikipedia reports that he became the first Indian artist signed by Elektra Records, in 2020.

Are there Indian indie pop bands, not just solo artists?

Yes. When Chai Met Toast from Kochi is a long-running band, and the newer pop groups include the girl group W.i.S.H and the five-member boy band OutStation.