Pioneer: How Sutej Singh is crafting a new voice for Indian Instrumental music

India’s independent music ecosystem has grown into one of its most diverse creative spaces, creating room for artists working beyond conventional song formats. Progressive instrumental music occupies a specialised corner of that ecosystem, sustained by independent releases, live performances and a growing audience. Guitarist and composer Sutej Singh has emerged as one of the leading names in that space, building a body of work that has strengthened the presence of progressive instrumental music in India.

Raised in Solan, Himachal Pradesh, Singh is a self-taught musician whose writing draws from progressive rock, orchestral arrangements and Indian musical traditions. His debut album, The Emerging (2018), reached No. 1 on the Apple Music India Rock Charts and featured collaborations with Raymond Hearne of Haken, Scott Higham, Peter Henningsson, Kylan Amos and Gina Luciani. The record introduced an ambitious compositional voice while reflecting the collaborative nature of progressive music.

Singh’s compositions are guided by melody, layered arrangements and a sense of structure. Tracks such as Kaadambari introduce Indian classical phrasing into his progressive rock vocabulary. His work has steadily found an audience, recording over 3 million views on Instagram and more than 1 million views on YouTube. 

His second album, Restless | Relentless, expanded his musical vocabulary through compositions that explored a wider sonic palette while retaining a clear sense of structure. Singh has since performed at Ziro Festival of Music, Bandland and Mahindra Independence Rock, and opened for Steve Vai during the guitarist’s India tour in 2023. In 2025, he was selected from more than 360 artists as the recipient of the TuneCore India Grant, recognising the quality of his work and the strength of his independent career.

Over two studio albums, Singh has established a catalogue defined by thoughtful composition, evolving arrangements and a clear musical identity. As India’s independent music ecosystem continues to broaden, his work offers a compelling example of instrumental music finding new audiences through patience, consistency and strong songwriting.