Opening acts

These young, new musicians are facing family pressure, juggling full-time jobs, and battling the rise of AI. They tell us what it's like to debut in 2024

- Karishma Kuenzang

Pink Moss

Xathor. Released in April 2024 The four-member Goa band's debut song, Xathor, means 'riddle' in Assamese. Vocalist Sampriti Dastidar says it grew out of a conversation with her sister, who was getting bullied in school because of her stretch marks. It reminded Dastidar of all the taunts she faced as a dark-skinned kid. "Such comments bring down one's selfesteem and can cause trauma for life. Xathor was a response, in hope that women find empowerment through it," she says.

Xathor has a pop and jazz vibe. The band, with Dastidar on vocals, Siddharth Rajmohan on drums, Subid Khan on guitar and Souvik Bhattacharya on bass, draws influences from such acts as Moonchild, Hiatus Kayote, and Ezra Collective, and from R&B and soul.

They've already picked up their first lessons about the music scene in 2024. Pink Moss wanted to release an EP with three songs. Their distributor told them, for a three-song collection, at least one of the songs would have to be 10 minutes long. So, they decided to do what so many artists now do: Release all three songs as singles, instead.

They're also learning how much the perception of good-quality music is related to a band's online buzz. "It has become more about creating content continuously to stay relevant and get followers than putting out good art," says Dastidar.

Gaurav Sharma

Butterflies. Released in January 2024

Gaurav Sharma, 25, grew up listening to Haryanvi folk music and Bollywood hits while growing up in Delhi. It didn't just play in the background. "My mother paid attention to the vocal texture and the pitch of the songs," he recalls. She also encouraged Sharma to sing and enter competitions just to enjoy the experience.