Rounak Maiti

Acoustic instruments and free software were the only tools at Rounak Maiti's disposal when he quietly began honing his ability to create rough-hewn music from 2012 to 2017. Released to a small but dedicated audience on SoundCloud, his continuous output proved a formidable ability as a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and genre-agnostic producer. Since then, his albums dedicated to country music (Bengali Cowboy, 2017), and technology (Waiting On The Comedown, 2019) have become widely beloved records in the Indian music scene, each characterized by stark, confrontational ballads and intimate storytelling. His relentless work ethic helming Indian experimental audiovisual collective EXCISE DEPT and LA outfit Small Forward, as well as collaborating with countless artists like shauharty, Dolorblind, Sijya, Karshni and Okedo, have allowed him to carve a singular presence in the contemporary South Asian music landscape. Five years after his last full-length release, Rounak returns to form with "Brute Fact/Home Truth"—an album that continues his insistence on reinvention from one release to the next. Out July 25, the album showcases the artists most assertive, ambitious and severe sonic palette till date.