Kabra's journey into music began in 2013, not with grand ambition but from a personal place of emotional need.
Shubham Kabra
In an era where digital platforms often blur the lines between background noise and meaningful sound, it is rare to encounter music that feels deeply personal and emotionally resonant. For this writer, that moment came unexpectedly through a song titled Re Manva by Shubham Kabra, a hauntingly soulful introspection on life's purpose which lingers long after it ends.
ADVERTISEMENT
What began as a chance discovery led to a deeper exploration of the artist behind the song. Shubham Kabra, a singer-songwriter steadily building a presence in India’s independent music scene, is not just another name in the crowd. With over 70,000 monthly listeners on Spotify and a growing audience of 10,000 subscribers on YouTube, Kabra’s reach is growing steadily - not through flash or gimmick, but through the sincerity of his work.
Kabra's journey into music began in 2013, not with grand ambition but from a personal place of emotional need. “I never thought music would be something I’d do to earn my bread and butter,” he shares. Over time, what started as a private form of expression turned into rigorous hours of writing, composing, and refining his craft. For him, music became a constant companion, a friend he could confide in.
His style is a blend of indie and folk, marked by a strong sense of emotional storytelling. Influenced by personal experiences and social themes, his songwriting explores everything from love and personal loss to gender discrimination and spiritual introspection. Each track is a reflection of his lived experience and evolving worldview - one that feels both uniquely his and universally relatable.
His career so far includes performances at festivals such as Mood Indigo at IIT Bombay, the Musicathon Festival in Bir, and as opening acts for acclaimed artist Ankur Tewari, and for comedian Vir Das on his India tour. His music has also found a place in film and streaming media. His song Vaari Vaari was featured in In This Life, a short film produced by Daring Ones Films, which was selected for an Oscar-qualifying film festival. More recently, his voice appeared in Amazon Prime’s Indian adaptation of Citadel, titled Citadel: Honey Bunny.
Shubham Kabra is, without question, an artist to watch out for. Whether through a quietly reflective song like Re Manva or a lively release like Gal Gal, his music continues to offer something rare in today's soundscape - authenticity.
