What comes first—the beat or the drip?
Esquire India tunes into a fresh wave of homegrown musicians, dressed in pieces that hit the same notes as their personalities. From fits rooted in legacy to looks led by instinct and ease, these artists don’t just play the part—they wear it. Or as one of them puts it: “The music is an extension of the outfits. The outfits are an extension of the lyrics I write. Everything is just one big universe…”
On Sickflip: Denim shorts and oversized shirt, both by KH House of Khaddar; jewellery and sneakers, artists' own. On Ishaan Ghosh: Jacket and trousers, both by Afew; Shoes by Shutiq. On Yashraj: Shirt, jacket and trousers, all by Margn; Earcuff by Batoki; Forehead accessory (used as neckpiece) and ear stud (used as brooch), both by Roma Narsinghani; Loafers by Shutiq. On Oaff: Jacket and jeans, both by Our Own Pace; T-shirt by Creatures of Habit; Chain by Batoki; Ring by Inox Jewelry. On Adi: Jacket and pants, both by Shivan & Narresh, T-shirt by Creatures of Habit; Jewellery, Arist's own; Sneakers by Gully LabsPhoto by Dhruvin Shah
OAFF
Composer and producer
OAFF wears a shirt, coat and cargo, all by Abhichiq; Chain by Inox Jewelry; Ring by Batoki; Loafers by ShutiqPhoto by Dhruvin Shah
Where does a song begin? Is it the beat that pulls you in, the lyrics that linger, or the melody that lives rent-free in your head? For composer and producer Kabeer Kathpalia—better known as OAFF, whose sound spans atmospheric pop and Bollywood blockbusters like Doobey and Gehraiyaan—the answer depends on where he’s headed.
“There’s a zone you tap into for Bollywood—it’s the story, the script, the characters,” he says. “With my own music, I get to decide what I want to say. It’s usually melody first, then lyrics.”
His latest album, Between Flowers, a shimmering fusion of traditional sounds and electronica, is not just a musical exploration—it feels like a sonic map of where he’s been and where he’s going. It’s a journey echoed in his personal style. “I just feel like, through music, I’m trying to find my own identity,” he says. “And that means finding out what your roots are, what you're connected to. I think wearing homegrown brands allows you to connect—even in what you're wearing—in a deeper way, with your background and where you come from.”
OAFF wears a shirt, coat and cargo, all by Abhichiq; Chain by Inox Jewelry; Ring by Batoki; Loafers by ShutiqPhoto by Dhruvin Shah
Kathpalia, who goes by the moniker OAFF—as in “clumsy, silly and awkward, and that is exactly how I want to be when making music” as he explained in a previous interview—is anything but when it comes to style.
“You know, honestly, I didn’t really think much about dressing up till recently, when I realised this is another avenue to express myself and be creative,” he says. Colours matter—and today, he’s vibing with beige, browns and earthy tones. “I’m still learning,” he confesses.
SICKFLIP
Composer, producer, and performer
On Sickflip: Shirt and trousers, both by Khanijo; Jewellery, artist's own; Shoes by ShutiqPhoto by Dhruvin Shah
So, what do we know about Sickflip? He's a globetrotting beatmaker with a love for collaboration, blending organic world instrumentation with crisp electronic textures to deliver high-energy, body-moving sets. He’s already racked up global collabs.
What do we want to know? How did that name come about?
“Back when I started it, there was the slang of sick. Everything was like, ‘hey, that’s sick, that’s sick’—which meant nice—and flip stands for anything which has deep contrast. So my music has, I’d like to consider, deep contrast—from chill and atmospheric to heavy and energetic. So, the narrative for Sickflip is always to be able to flip the script and to always do different things within the formula. That allows me to keep it fresh and free. Yeah, that’s Sickflip,” says Sarvesh Shrivastava, the artist behind the name.
On Sickflip: Shirt and trousers, both by Khanijo; Jewellery, artist's own; Shoes by ShutiqPhoto by Dhruvin Shah
That fresh and free vibe extends to his personal style, which he admits is guided by his wife. “Great balance between form and function,” is how he describes it. “My lifestyle revolves around shows, festivals, travelling—and my clothing decisions are sort of governed by all of these choices,” he says, sharing that comfort, confidence and freedom to move are key.
ADI
Rapper and podcaster
On Adi: Jacket and scarf, both by KGL; T-shirt by Creatures of Habit; Pants by Our Own Pace; Jewellery, artist's own; Shoes by Gully LabsPhoto by Dhruvin Shah
Founder of his own record label, Chump Change Records, and co-host of The Having Said That Show podcast, hip-hop artist Aditya Lodha—also known as Adi and a man of many hustles—somehow still finds the time to lay down bars. “I need to be doing a lot. I think if I didn't have the other stuff that I was doing, I would lose interest in the music as well,” says the affable musician, whose last album Good Things Take Time was a collaborative project with singer-producer Dishaan Gidwani.
Still, all roads lead back to the music—his “extremely fun, energetic and let-me-go night” sound. “The podcast started as a means to find an English-speaking audience for the music. The record label started because I was sick of the way that companies were trying to control musicians right now, so it all kind of stems from music. And it's all like part of this universe,” he explains.
On Adi: Jacket and scarf, both by KGL; T-shirt by Creatures of Habit; Pants by Our Own Pace; Jewellery, artist's own; Shoes by Gully LabsPhoto by Dhruvin Shah
Lodha’s style, though, stays consistent across worlds. “I pretty much wear exactly what I wear off-stage on stage. I’m not trying to dress in any way that I don’t usually dress,” he says. Lately, that means leaning into quality. “I've been gravitating to pieces that will last me a lot longer, that are classic, timeless.” His current obsession? Rugby jerseys—“with the little drop shoulder, vintage looking, like in a dark green with cream accents—that's what I would do.”
ISHAAN GHOSH
Tabla Player
On Ishaan: Men's blouson and pants, both by Aarti Vijay Gupta; Ring and bracelets, all by Inox Jewelry; Shoes by ShutiPhoto by Dhruvin Shah
Whether it's drumming up beats on a tabla or dressing for a show, Ishaan Ghosh tends to go with the flow. “It's a little bit of mood and instinct both, but usually it's kind of, you know, a very chill, comfortable kind of a vibe,” he says.
Tabla in tow, he’s all serious and zen. Without it? You’d hardly peg him for a classical musician. “I'm like this happy-go-lucky, chirpy guy, moving around all the time,” says Ghosh, who goes by Gen Z Classicist on Instagram.
Given his lineage—he’s the grandson of Padma Bhushan tabla legend Nikhil Ghosh—it’s no surprise the melodies come naturally. “It’s not like a situation where you're actually sitting down and thinking of composing. It’s the sound that moves through you.”
On Ishaan: Men's blouson and pants, both by Aarti Vijay Gupta; Ring and bracelets, all by Inox Jewelry; Shoes by ShutiPhoto by Dhruvin Shah
While he’s open to layering in new influences, his foundation is firmly classical. “Tabla and techno is like my thing. And artists I’d like to collaborate with? Martin Garrix.” On stage, it’s Indian silhouettes and solid hues. “It’s more important to look good for yourself than for the stage. Once you’re comfortable in your own skin, it reflects—and connects.”
YASHRAJ
Rapper
On Yashraj: Shirt and jacket, both by Antar-Agni; Pants, From the Stylist's Vault; Rings by Inox Jewelry; Shoes by Jeetinder SandhuPhoto by Dhruvin Shah
“This is me cleaning up pretty well, you know, all in all,” says rapper Yashraj with a grin, striking a pose for Esquire India.
But don’t let the curated look fool you. The Mumbai-born rapper is as raw and real as his music. His gritty, hard-hitting track Sanatan is a case in point. “The core of hip-hop has always been authenticity and truth,” he says. “So if you haven't lived certain things that you rap about—please don't do that. The more honest you can get in your music, that's the truth. There's no front, no image, no inflating what you aren't living. So yeah, keep it a buck 50. Keep it real.”
For Yashraj, there’s no gap between the music and the man—it’s all one seamless universe. “The music is an extension of the outfits. The outfits are an extension of the lyrics I write. Everything is just one big universe… If that doesn’t speak, then that’s me not expressing myself to the fullest.”
On Yashraj: Shirt and jacket, both by Antar-Agni; Pants, From the Stylist's Vault; Rings by Inox Jewelry; Shoes by Jeetinder SandhuPhoto by Dhruvin Shah
He shot to mainstream recognition with Ishq Nachaawe—a breakout Hindi hip-hop banger for Kho Gaye Hum Kahan. Now, his mission is clear: “My vision is to take my language— Hindi—global, like Punjabi or Spanish.”
And his wardrobe? “It’s mostly comfort… instinct and message,” he says simply.
Credits
Photographs: Dhruvin Shah
Styled by Komal Shetty
Interviews: Rudra Mulmule
Grooming: Saher Gandhi
Agency: Faze Management
Agency: ALF (For Dhruvin Shah)
Bookings Editor: Varun Shah
Artist Agency: Represent Management (Yashraj & OAFF), Mint Condition (Adi), Across Artists (Sickflip)
Fashion Assistant: Ishan Sharma
Production: P Productions
To read more stories from Esquire India's May-June 2025 issue, pick up a copy of the magazine from your nearest newspaper stand or bookstore. Or click here to subscribe to the magazine.
