Homegrown Handpicked: A Playlist Of Our Favourite Tracks From March 2025

I grew up listening to a lot of Punjabi music. Back in our teenage years, my friends and I spent countless evenings nursing heartbreaks with tracks by Imran Khan, Falak Shabbir, and Bilal Saeed. Nothing quite hurt as good as a Punjabi track in the 2000s. And then, of course, there was the other side of it — the notorious Billy X, Honey Singh, and Raftaar who singlehandedly kept any feminist uprisings within me at bay with their misogynistic but oh so infectious and hilarious songs.

The expanse of Punjabi music ranges from soulful, patriotic and radical folk songs to hits that top charts for months. It is the only regional language that infiltrated Bollywood movies and music in such an extensive scale. It was also the first genre from South Asia to break into the electronic music scene with Punjabi Garage in the UK; something that allowed us to be part of the rich taptestry of global music.

Now, it’s making history as the first South Asian language to feature in a major Hollywood animated film. The upcoming Smurfs movie features a track with a Punjabi hook alongside, if you can believe it, Cardi B and DJ Khaled. Read about it in our playlist for March below:

Higher Love is a groundbreaking fusion of hip-hop, R&B, and South Asian sounds, with Natania’s English vocals with Subhi’s all-Punjabi hook. Produced by DJ Khaled and featuring Cardi B, the track reimagines Belinda Carlisle’s 'Heaven Is A Place On Earth', marking a historic moment as the first Punjabi Indian song in a major Hollywood animated film.

Originally featured on Aftab’s 2024 album, 'Night Reign', 'raat ki rani' was already a rich, atmospheric track influenced by Brazilian maracatu rhythms and classic house beats. But in the new remix, Khruangbin transforms it into something even more expansive. Their signature dub-funk sensibilities infuse the track with deep, heady grooves, while Aftab’s re-recorded vocals float over the new arrangement.

Anyasa's latest single from his upcoming 'Flectere' EP, is a soulful deep house track with groovy basslines, crisp drums, and lush piano chords. Made in collaboration with Parallel Voices and Grammy-nominated songwriter Richard Walters (aka Lake Silver), the track builds beautifully, leading into a euphoric second drop with an acid-tinged synth.

'AZADI' from Ditty's much-anticipated album, 'KĀLĪ ', captures her personal evolution through loss, migration, and love. Recorded outdoors in the Aravali forest, the track blurs the lines between live music and poetry, allowing natural sounds to become part of its fabric. “The birds and the forest sang along and are also recorded LIVE on the track. All other instruments — cello, guitars and synths were overdubbed," shares the artist.

'Pathiye/Falling' brings a UK Garage twist to a soulful Malayalam pop song, creating with a production that's both rhythmic and deeply emotive. Floating between breezy beats and lush melodies, it captures the feeling of falling in love; like lingering sunlight after rain and a longing that feels just out of reach.

“I want to carve out a niche where storytelling through music takes center stage, combining the depth of film music with the accessibility of pop," shares the Mumbai-based composer who brings his experience in film scoring to his latest single. The track follows a young boy navigating a dystopian dream world, drawn to a mysterious figure who feels inexplicably familiar. With sweeping cinematic elements and an unconventional structure, the song mirrors the boy’s search for meaning and connection.

'Dheere' from Anvaya's upcoming debut EP, 'Sands Between Us', under record label Indo Warehouse, is a melodic house track made up of deep grooves and South Asian influences crafted for late-night dancefloors. Anvaya weaves swirling basslines, sultry vocal refrains, and organic percussion into a slow-burning, darker, and more mystical soundscape.

Bharg Kale infuses this track with a fresh mix of funk and synth-pop, while Lothika’s expressive vocals add an undeniable charm. “Every note feels like a memory waiting to happen, and I’m ‘Besabar’ for people to lean in and go ‘Ooolalalelo!’” she shares. A celebration of friendship, spontaneity, and endless possibilities, 'Besabar' makes for a catchy summer tune.

The prologue, Jaani, from Dizlaw's latest EP, 'Dilbar' is the sound of remembering something you wish you could forget. The reverb-soaked vocals feel like whispers from the past; floating just out of reach. The hypnotic groove wraps around you, dragging you into a hazy dream of nostalgia and maybe even regret (depending on your past relationships).

'VIBE fuses Paal Dabba’s bold regional rap with SickFlip’s experimental electronic production. Driven by an almost Latin-American beat and electrifying rhythms, the track embodies the thrill of adventure and the spirit of breaking boundaries. “Our goal was to create a track that is high-energy, real, and for everyone across India,” says Paal Dabba.

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