Bappi Lahiri Meets Bedroom Pop: How Arjun C Is Redefining Homegrown Indie Cool

Oh no! Not another musician. The Instagram bio of New Delhi/Gurugram-based indie artist Arjun C speaks to a snarky self awareness that his whole artistic practice is rooted in. His world is built on lo-fi spectacle and high-functioning sincerity, where 80s synths meet late-night humour, in tracks feels like a carefully coded message wrapped in disco, daydreams, and the occasional dog cameo.

Arjun's musical journey began during the pandemic, in his room where a whiteboard (courtesy of his mom) bore the first bullet points of what would become the 'Arjun C brand.' “At some point during the 'pandemic era', I was intent on being a truly independent artist,” he says. “Something fun, something zany, but also, something that isn't too self-serious without somehow compromising on any artistic sincerity or integrity.” It's a tricky balance, but one he treads with the finesse of someone who knows exactly when to lean into camp and when to bare a little soul.

His sound pulls liberally from the dreamy optimism of 80s nu-disco and synth-pop, laced with alt-R&B and even a mix of Bappi Lahiri and Prince. This surreality also bleeds into the themes his songs touch on, including his 2024 album, 'Sense of Human', that meditates on love, self-reflection, dreams, growth, and all the quiet, unglamorous things that come with being alive. From the guitar tones to the shimmering synths and playful drums, there's joy and whimsy to be found, but also moments of real reflection.

His latest single, 'Miracle Man', continues this narrative arc. “It has a little to do with getting older (ageing) in a world that is quick, almost eager, to leave you behind,” he explains. “It’s for those who still fight for their place in the world, and even more so, their dreams.” The artist points how like his previous single, 'I Think I'm Dying' was an ode to hypochondriacs everywhere, Miracle Man is for those who are waiting on a miracle. “Hopefully, this song inspires hope. Because for the hopeful, a little love goes a long way, but a lot of love? And we're practically unstoppable.” (Bonus trivia: his producer Aman Saxena’s dog Louie makes a guest appearance in the outro, with his bark auto-tuned into the soundscape.)

Arjun’s visual identity comes from the archives of 80s Japanese infomercials. It’s kitschy but undeniably charming, lending itself to performance and parody in his mini-sketches that blend music, comedy, and cultural critique. His bits like mock news broadcasts announcing yet another song drop, about running out of ideas, or being burnt out by capitalism reveal a deeper relationship with music which for Arjun, isn’t just the output. It’s the medium, the language, the punchline, and the confessional. It's where he gets to be earnest and absurd at the same time.

As he continued taking up video editing and design, it eventually led him to direct, star in, and edit his own music video for 'Fairy Tale' (with a little help from his brother and bhabhi). The artist mentions that even if it received the least number of eyes out of all his projects, it remains the one he's most proud of. Watch it below:

“I slowly transitioned from 'guitar virtuoso guy' to 'oh I think he's a full-blown musician' guy,” he says. His collaborator Aman Saxena, whom he credits for polishing his sound, took his music from from "pretty good" to "oh this sounds professional”.

The irreverence of Arjun's wink-nudge humour and self-effacing persona coexists with genuine craft. He pokes fun at himself, and at the idea of being a musician, but beneath the spectacle is the irrefutable substance. His music reverberates with a deep understanding and more so the warmth of being young and uncertain yet hopeful. As one of the more compelling voices in India's indie scene, Arjun concocts the perfect cocktail of delusion and delight that this generation, and more specifically, dreamers live by.

Follow Arjun here and listen to his music below:

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