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Rishbh Tiwari and Rishabh Kant Are Quietly Reshaping Indian Pop

 Two artists. Two paths. One shared goal: to make Indian pop more honest, more original, and more personal. Rishbh Tiwari and Rishabh Kant may come from different corners of the indie spectrum, but both are creating music that refuses to blend in.

Rishbh Tiwari: The Minimalist Storyteller

Rishbh Tiwari isn’t chasing fame or playlists. His music lives in quiet spaces—acoustic settings, bare arrangements, and lyrics that read like unsent letters. Based in Mumbai and often performing under the moniker Acoustic Rishbh, Tiwari has developed a small but loyal following built around intimacy and lyrical depth.

His single “Aankhon Ke Darmiyan” brought him early recognition when it was shortlisted at the International Songwriting Competition, judged by global artists like Chris Martin and Dua Lipa. Rather than using the moment to pivot toward commercial sounds, he doubled down on his own voice.


“I’m not trying to go viral,” he says. “I just want to write something true.”

Tiwari’s songs such as “Aankhein Kafirana” and “Fantasy” showcase his signature blend of poetic language, fingerpicked guitar, and soft, confessional vocals. They may not top charts, but they resonate with listeners seeking honesty in music—a rare commodity in a highly saturated space.

Rishabh Kant: The Producer-Composer Building New Space

While Tiwari relies on subtlety, Rishabh Kant—known as The Rish—is comfortable with scale. His music is lush, expansive, and rooted in modern RnB and electronic pop. A producer, composer, and singer, Kant’s sound draws from both Western and Indian influences, moving easily between genres without ever feeling disjointed.

His collaboration with Prakriti Kakar on “Dooriyan” was a breakout moment, followed by his Bollywood debut with “Barbaad” for Yash Raj Films’ Saiyaara. While the vocals were delivered by Jubin Nautiyal, Kant shaped the track’s emotional arc through composition and production.

“Genre doesn’t matter to me,” Kant says. “I care about the mood. I care about how it feels when the song ends.”

Other tracks like “I Want You!” and “Aaja Mere Naal” reveal his range, blending hip-hop elements, cinematic layers, and RnB vocals into emotionally resonant compositions. His influences include The Weeknd, A. R. Rahman, and Travis Scott—and while his music is contemporary, it carries a strong narrative voice.

Different Sounds, Shared Vision

Tiwari and Kant operate in vastly different spaces: one writes from his bedroom, the other from behind a mixing desk. But both are pursuing music without compromise. Neither is following a formula. Neither is waiting for permission.

Tiwari performs with just a guitar. Kant builds full studio productions. But their work is tied together by a desire to write songs that reflect personal truth over commercial polish.

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