The Artist
Kolkata-based music producer and multi-instrumentalist Subhagata Singha, aka Rivu, has spent over a decade building a distinct identity in India’s independent music scene. Rooted in progressive rock, ambient electronica, and cinematic storytelling, his work spans both personal themes and conceptual frameworks. His instrumental albums The Incredible Journey of Light and The Incident 2019 earned critical acclaim, with the former featured in The Hindu’s list of top indie releases of 2017.
Rivu is also known for having been a co-writer and producer for the experimental electro-pop band Preying Mantis. Whose debut album I Eat You Eat Me was named one of OKListen.com’s best releases of 2016. Beyond that he composes and designs for theatre groups, as well as crafting ad jingles for various brands.
Additionally, he has worked as a session musician and live performer with acts like Parekh & Singh and Lakkhichhara, and also served as music director and choir conductor for sometime. His technical interests led him to develop interactive sound installations using Arduino and sensor-based technologies for children’s experiences with ThinkArts.
In 2022, Rivu was selected for the UK’s FAMLAB IV residency, where his archival film scoring work was showcased at the Deliaphonic Festival in Coventry.
Also Read : East of West Crafts Musical Poetry in Their Jazz Fusion Piece – “Pastorale”
The Album
Most recently, Rivu released Dinosaurs, a five-track concept EP that interprets the five stages of grief through genre-bending compositions. Blending progressive rock, alt-pop, jazz, and electronica, the EP forms an immersive anthology on loss, memory, and emotional recovery, his most personal and genre-fluid work to date.
The opening track, You’re Not Lazy, drifts in with a dreamy-esque blurred melody. From the start, the vocals mirror the lyrics — you hear the haze in “your vision’s hazy,” like the word itself floats. Lines like “slowly collapse out of the fetal impression in your bed” feel visual and tangible. Altogether, the track captures the dazed stillness of being stuck in your room, ceiling spinning, time folding in on itself. With the repeated line, “you’re not lazy,” a quiet denial falsely softens the weight of it all.
In contrast, Ivory Towers sharpens the sound while keeping the hazy undertone intact. The lyrics hold both awe and resentment. “Cut off all the towers and replace it with your power” pushes rebellion. While “bore a hole in the ground, send the people underground to hide away” adds a sense of retreat and buried tension. Yet, by the time “I wanna be like you” lands, frustration slips into envy, maybe even bitterness. Beautifully conflicted.
Checkout the latest news : Opinion: The rise of independent ‘Desi’ Hip-Hop movement in India
Next, Time Shadow begins with gentle piano keys and Rivu’s voice, calm and steady. Midway, it transforms into a layered rock section — the pace shifts, guitar riffs cut through, and textures build. The repeated line, “should’ve known better. Could’ve done better,” anchors the chaos. Then, suddenly, you get whiplash — drums and vocals abruptly drop out, leaving only the piano behind. It captures the push and pull of back-and-forth. It’s bargaining in perfect form.
Meanwhile, Dinosaurs, though the shortest track on the EP, feels the most existential. Lines like “what will our story be?” and “do you think we’ll be there?” raise questions that suspend in time. It’s thrown into the void. At the same time, the melody pushes forward with a spacey, futuristic sound — heavy, drifting, and uneasy all at once.
Finally, Song 5v3 final opens with a punchy pace and upbeat energy. The climbing guitar riff and shifting instruments echo restless momentum, with the drums holding steady. Lines like “this is our story someone else should say” feel like release. It’s defiant, determined, and ready to move.
Each track deepens the spiral, pushing through haze, conflict, choas, and finally, release. The album doesn’t just explore grief, it lives in it and offers you a seat.
Listen to the album here :
Check out our playlists here!
Check out our YouTube channel for music reviews, playlists, podcasts, and more!
Promotional Disclaimer: The content in this post has been sponsored by the artist, label, or PR representative to help promote their work.
Figuring out my path while actively plotting ten others. Serious about my dreams with somewhat chaotic ambition. Will do anything for cats.
