I spent a good chunk of this week figuring out where home actually is and what it means to me. Leaving a place forces you to notice what gets left behind. Returning makes you realise what was missed along the way. I’ve been especially sentimental about the hills and the weather there, the people who make certain places feel familiar, and the seemingly insignificant daily routines that settled into my life without much fuss. Maybe home truly is where the heart is, and maybe the heart has a funny way of making itself at home in more than one place.
That thought stayed with me throughout the week, trailing into the music in my headphones, the art I spent time looking at, the stories on my screen, and the food on my table. Here is the lineup from this week.
Aryaman Singh, recorded under the moniker Sunflower Tape Machine, leans into fuzz, distortion, and guitar noise to build his debut record. The Chennai-based artist draws from rock albums his parents played during his childhood, using heavily textured guitar riffs to construct an unpolished sound. To skip digital cleanup plugins and capture raw grit, Singh recorded guitar lines direct to tape and amp patches, leaving every distortion and slip intact. The songs address awkward romantic moments, self-doubt, and the messy business of growing up. His approach normalises being open about failure, creating a comforting shelter through heavy reverb and honest songwriting. Read more here.
Ten years after forming in Pune, eight-member collective Easy Wanderlings are celebrating a decade of making music with a nationwide tour across intimate listening venues. Over the years, individual members have taken on separate jobs, relocated to different cities, and navigated evolving life priorities without abandoning the band. They maintain an open creative dynamic where every voice gets a say, even resolving arrangement ties through blind voting. Their acoustic folk roots have expanded over time to include soul and funk, leading up to their latest single Mellow featuring Mali. The band proves that creative partnerships can sustain momentum alongside everyday responsibilities. Read more here.
Four contemporary visual artists are bringing distinct perspectives to watercolour painting. Sumedha Sah uses soft washes to build nostalgic scenes reminiscent of childhood imagination. Simran Verma constructs detailed compositions centered around natural motifs like pomegranates. Jayati Bose paints women existing comfortably in self-contained spaces. Meanwhile, Archana Valecha focuses on daily observations, capturing fleeting travel memories and ordinary routines with light brushwork. Together, their collective work demonstrates how a traditional medium can convey both narrative storytelling and subtle observations of daily life. Read more here.
A group exhibition titled The Urban Biome at gallery KNYKNY in Mumbai examines how human presence impacts surrounding environments. Curated by Vivek Radhakrishnan, the show brings together works by six artists including Simran Yagnik, Hemanth Kumar, and Krisha Bhuva. Through various mediums ranging from oil paintings to printmaking, the artists depict domestic spaces, stray animals navigating city streets, and small household pests. By shifting attention away from human activity toward the creatures and objects coexisting alongside us, the collection highlights how thoroughly our daily routines influence the living ecosystems around us. Read more here.
A short film titled Giving Mom The Talk turns an awkward situation into a candid exploration of body autonomy. The narrative opens with a millennial daughter getting walked in on by her mother, a practicing gynaecologist. Instead of retreating into lingering silence, the moment opens up a frank conversation about intimacy and self-worth. The film highlights how women across generations are often given biological information about their bodies while being denied permission to express their own wants. Written with humour and care, the story addresses intergenerational openness without resorting to melodrama. Read more here.
Filmmaker Anuparna Roy returns to the Venice International Film Festival with her second feature, Lovers In The Blue Night. Set against Mumbai’s nocturnal landscape, the movie tracks four working-class migrants navigating survival, identity, and connections on the margins of the city. Roy draws from her own experiences of internal migration, incorporating regional languages like Sylheti Bengali alongside Hindi to reflect authentic movement across states. Her narrative avoids flat moral judgments, allowing each character room to exist as complex individuals driven by their own needs. Read more here.
Founded by Shyma Shetty, coffee brand Āne draws inspiration from her family’s coffee estate in Arehalli, Chikmagalur. The venture pairs traditional South Indian filter blends — incorporating chicory for body and familiarity — alongside single-origin Arabica roast options. Instead of overwhelming buyers with endless choices, the brand concentrates on two tailored blends built for everyday brewing routines like the Moka pot or French press. The initiative also includes a monthly print mailer featuring letters and illustrations, connecting drinkers directly to the region and hands behind each harvest. Read more here.
Located in Leh, Rantak by Dolkhar is a contemporary vegetarian bakehouse centered on Ladakh's regional agricultural traditions. Named after the historic stone water mills that once ground grain across Himalayan villages, the bakery uses stone-ground flours, local ingredients, and natural sweeteners suited for high-altitude baking. Architect Amisha Srivastava designed the interior space using native stone, wood, and handwoven woollen mats called challi. The venue operates as a communal gathering spot, bringing traditional Ladakhi grain culture into modern culinary practices. Read more here.
Seventeen years after launching, fashion label péro has established its first physical flagship store in New Delhi’s Lodhi Colony. Designed with fluid, curved lines, the interior incorporates raw brick, local stone, wood, and hand-beaten brass to mimic the layered construction of their garments. Site-excavated stone forms the outdoor flooring, while hand-carved details from regional artisans line the displays. The open floor layout allows the space to transition from a boutique into an exhibition venue for talks and gatherings, offering a permanent home for the brand's creative community. Read more here.
One Night In Toki-O Comes To Hyderabad
Taking place at Katha Crafthouse, organised by Homegrown in collaboration with Suntory’s Toki, One Night in Toki-O brings a slice of Tokyo’s nightlife to Hyderabad. The evening blends contemporary nightlife with Japanese cultural heritage, featuring specialised mixology, interactive installations, and curated music sets. The gathering offers a space for local creative communities to connect through food, music, and shared experiences.
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