The Best Contemporary Music Artists From North-East India You Need To Know

Northeast India is finally receiving wider attention and this time, for the right reasons.

For years, artists from the region have operated largely outside the mainstream, building their musical crafts and organically. This distance had shaped a distinct creative ethic, one that is rooted in lived experience. For decades, people from the Northeast have spoken about the absence of authentic representation. Music has increasingly become a way to correct that imbalance. Today, artistes and musicians from the region are widely recognised as technically accomplished and grounded. These are artists who speak directly from their realities. For instance indie rock, rap and hip-hop emerging from Meghalaya, Nagaland, Assam and Manipur, in particular, stands shoulder-to-shoulder with robust international scenes, both in sound and intent.

Northeast India’s independent music ecosystem is quietly building its own sonic universe. We see music that blends folk memory with modern angst and regional languages with global rhythms. Though there are hundreds of other incredible talents across Northeast India, here is a few handpicked list of artists and musicians whose work deserves far more love : 

Yelhomie 

Born Thiyam James Luwang in Imphal, Manipur, Yelhomie is a rapper and creative force whose work pushes Northeast hip-hop into uncharted territory. His stage name comes from “Yelhoumee,” meaning indigenous people and that identity is at the core of his music. Across releases like “Run It Up” and protest anthems like “We Outside,” he uses English and local influences to voice the concerns and aspirations of his generation in Manipur and the broader Northeast. Yelhomie’s songs are hard hitting, from politically charged tracks like “Is India My Home?” that confront systemic oppression to collaborations such as “2 Sons of the East” that celebrate cultural pride. 

Reble 

Daiaphi Lamare, better known as Reble, is a rising rapper from West Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya, whose raw energy and sharp lyricism have made her a viral sensation. She first stepped into hip‑hop at just ten years old and over time, her style evolved from local cyphers to commanding stages like Spotify’s Rap 91 showcase and Rolling Loud India. Tracks like “New Riot” and “Terror” have captured attention for their technical precision and fearless voice. She gained national attention through her powerful contributions to the Dhurandhar (2025) soundtrack, particularly on tracks like “Run Down the City – Monica” and “Naal Nachna”.

Taba Chake

Taba Chake is a singer‑songwriter and finger‑style guitarist from Arunachal Pradesh whose music has quietly become one of the most cherished voices in India’s indie scene. He blends folk, indie, and contemporary sounds with heartfelt lyricism in multiple languages, including his native Nyishi, Hindi, Assamese, and English. His 2019 album Bombay Dreams resonated deeply with listeners for its emotional honesty and simplicity. Taba often speaks about songwriting as a way to share positive ideas which is inspired by the landscapes and memories of his home. Beyond albums, Taba has expanded his impact into film. He’s also been appointed Honorary Brand Ambassador for Art & Culture by the Government of Arunachal Pradesh.

Alobo Naga

Alobo Achümi, professionally known as Alobo Naga, is a singer, songwriter, and composer from Dimapur, Nagaland, whose music has become a defining voice in Northeast India’s independent scene. Alobo Naga & The Band (ANTB) 2011 single “Painted Dreams” reached #4 on VH1’s International Top 10 and won Best Indian Act at the 2012 MTV Europe Music Awards. Alobo’s music spans energetic pop-rock and deeply expressive solo work. Tracks like “Chasing Ghosts”, “Wolo” and his solo single “Think NE, Think NEW” showcase his emotional range and creative evolution beyond genre boundaries.

Imphal Talkies and the Howlers

Imphal Talkies and The Howlers is a folk-rock outfit from Imphal, Manipur. The band was formed in 2008 by frontman Akhu (Ronid) Chingangbam and guitarist Sachidananda Angom. The band also includes percussionist Irom Singthoi, pena player Chaoba Thiyam and bassist Karnajit Laishram. They work with folk and traditional instrumentation and incorporate contemporary rock sensibilities. More than just a band, they have become a voice of lived history and resistance, using music to chronicle the realities of Manipur. Rolling Stone India once described them as the “voice of the North East” for their ability to fuse folk traditions with sharp social commentary and rock energy.

Moko Koza

Mvüko Koza, popularly known as Moko Koza, is a dynamic rapper and songwriter from Kohima, Nagaland. Moko is recognised for bringing folk-fusion and Nagamese rap into the regional scene, seamlessly weaving English, Nagamese and traditional influences into his music. His 2017 song “One Day (Khunhie Puo)” and later tracks like “Puisa” and “Tribally Savage” reflect both cultural pride and commentary on society’s realities. In 2025, his music slipped into The Family Man on Amazon Prime Video. Hearing Nagamese hip-hop threaded through a globally streamed series through songs like “Naga Manu”, “Tribally Savage” and “Made in Nagaland” was a rare but long overdue moment.

Tetseo Sisters

Mütsevelü (Mercy), Azine (Azi), Kuvelü (Kuku), and Alüne (Lulu) are a vocal quartet from Nagaland, rooted in the Li folk tradition of the Chakhesang Naga people. Performing together since the 1990s, they are revered for preserving and innovating traditional oral storytelling. The sisters have become one of the region’s most respected cultural voices with a huge international following as well.

Anoushka Maskey

Anoushka Maskey is a singer‑songwriter based in Sikkim and one of the voices gaining traction for her intimate, atmospheric music that blurs the lines between indie folk and alternative pop. Her writing is deeply personal and often introspective. Across releases like “Slow Motion” and “Loose Ground”, Maskey’s vocal delivery carries a warm conversational rather than performative vibe.

Sono Lem 

Sono Lem is an emerging rapper and hip-hop artist from Arunachal Pradesh. He is a part of a new generation of Northeast voices bringing a strong regional flavour into the country’s rap landscape.Lem’s sound blends contemporary hip-hop with introspective storytelling and a sense of place. Songs like “790001” and “LOST” have caught attention for catchy hooks and local references that resonate with the audience.

Rahul Rajkhowa

Rahul Rajkhowa is a multi-faceted singer-songwriter from Assam whose work defies easy categorisation, spanning hip-hop, R&B, folk-pop and more with a distinctly Assamese pulse. In 2025, he collaborated with Korean R&B artist Jimmy Brown on the EP Six Mile to Seoul, a project that reflects his ease with cross-cultural exchange without losing his regional voice. What makes him a great artist is his insistence on context. His music doesn’t float free of place or moment and it is anchored in social memory, a consistent impulse to incorporate Assamese lived experience.

FENGa

FENGa is an independent hip-hop artist and producer from Mizoram, whose work reflects both personal storytelling and creative autonomy. His 2025 full-length project WTF! showcases his range across rap, R&B, funk and local influences, making him one of Mizoram’s most adventurous solo creators this year. What’s notable about FENGa is that he writes, produces, and mixes his own work, giving his sound a cohesive, singular voice.

Trance Effect 

Trance Effect is an independent pop‑rock band from Dimapur, Nagaland, formed in 2017, consisting of Luli Yeptho (vocals), Sosang Lkr (drums), Tako Chang and Temsujungba Jamir (guitars), and Imnamaong Imchen (bass). Luli Yeptho’s vocals lift the band’s music beyond simple melodic hooks, carrying the weight of their cinematic sound. Her voice is both haunting and accessible, anchoring the band’s layered arrangements while giving each song an emotional depth. Trance Effect’s music is meant to be experienced, not just heard.

Meba Ofilia 

Hailing from Shillong, Meba Ofilia has quietly but decisively carved her place in India’s independent R&B and hip-hop ecosystem. Her wider breakthrough arrived with “Done Talking”, a collaboration with Khasi Bloodz that went on to win Best Indian Act at the 2018 MTV Europe Music Awards, a rare global nod for an artist from the region. Rooted in a deep musical lineage, Meba grew up in a family of musicians, with early grounding in gospel music and a sonic education shaped by ’90s pop and African-American soul traditions.

NOVO Band

NOVO Band is a rock band from Haflong, Assam that has rapidly emerged as one of the most exciting young acts in India’s independent rock scene. Their high-energy performances and cohesive sound recently earned them the top prize at “Ticket to Hornbill – India’s Biggest Band Battle 2025”. The band’s lineup includes Thanghoulien Lienthang (vocals), Jason Zote (drums), Rothienghlim Zote (guitar), Deepjyoti Das (guitar), and Winsome Tariang (bass).

Temsu Clover

Temsu Clover (born Temsukala Lemtur) is a singer-songwriter and indie artist from Nagaland, known for her honest lyricism and rich vocals. With influences drawn from blues, R&B, pop and jazz, her discography exhibits a wide spectrum of musical calibre across diverse genres. She first gained attention with her 2019 single “Confessions of a Bipolar Mind”, which won Best Upcoming Artist at the Music Awards of Nagaland and helped establish her voice in the regional scene.

Takar Nabam

Takar Nabam is a singer‑songwriter and guitarist from Arunachal Pradesh. His music bridges alt‑rock, jazz and Himalayan folk influences. He is known for his sound that moves effortlessly between dreamy vocals and rich instrumental textures, often singing in both English and his native Nyishi dialect. Takar also plays with traditional themes: his 2025 release Nyokum Sode Hayi Ku blends the folk spirit of the Nyokum festival with modern production.

Ereimang

Ereimang is a contemporary Manipuri folk‑experimental band, founded as a project by Bengaluru‑based Kamal Singh. Nganthoibi Ningthouja lends her vocals for the band. In 2024, the band released “Heirangkhoi,” a track featuring powerful vocals and heavy riffs that reflect on life, loss and continuity, continuing their drive to reinterpret folk narratives. Ereimang’s performances have been noted for their immersive atmosphere, combining music with ritualistic movement and visual storytelling.