Some places follow trends. Kerala? It listens to its own beat. Always has. But if you’ve been around lately—on a bus ride, in a college canteen, even walking past a chai stall—you might’ve noticed something new in the air. Something pulsing. A bit louder. A bit bolder. The music scene here isn't just changing; it's blooming all over the place.
This month, especially, folks across the state are tuning in to sounds that feel closer to the skin—raw, local, emotional, and sometimes just straight-up surprising. Let’s take a peek into what people across “God’s Own Country” are actually listening to. Not what’s trending on apps. What’s coming through headphones, radios, street corners, and stories.
Kochi’s Soundtrack: Where Trap Meets Tuk-Tuk
In Kochi, July didn’t just bring rain — it brought noise. And not the annoying kind. We’re talking beat drops over bus horns, rap verses booming from Bluetooth speakers tied to tea stalls. One morning, near Kaloor metro, a group of kids were practicing dance moves to a Malayalam-English track looping off a phone. The lyrics?
Rough around the edges. The production? Minimal. But the vibe? Unmissable. Turns out it was a new artist called Jaison Jude, whose self-produced song “Nada Nada Kochi” picked up traction after a cab driver played it 15 times a day. No big budget. Just vibes.
Read also: Melody & Movement: Keralas Hottest Musical Moments This Month
Thrissur’s Rap Revival: Not Just For Reels
In Thrissur, the buzz is real — literally. Rap shows are no longer niche. They’re community events. This month, a pop-up gig behind a vegetable market saw five independent rappers trade verses about politics, power cuts, and exam stress.
No stage, no spotlights — just some hanging bulbs and lots of verse. One rapper, who goes by “Karikku Boy”, dropped a verse about not getting hired because of his skin tone.
The crowd went silent for a second. Then the claps started. These kids aren’t chasing clout. They’re speaking truths they grew up swallowing. And people are finally listening.
Wayanad Whispers: Folk Gets a Fresh Coat
Folk music in Kerala has always been around — quiet, soulful, and tied to festivals or rituals. But this month in Wayanad, something different happened.
Two cousins from a tribal hamlet recorded a love song using bamboo flutes, old wedding tunes, and the chirping of insects outside their home. They named it “Nilaavinte Thennal.” It got picked up by a Malayalam travel vlogger and, without warning, became a viral track in local cafes. Now city folk are sipping cappuccinos to a tune written in the hills, by folks who don’t even have a Spotify account.
Community Radio Rises Again
Somewhere in Malappuram, an old transistor crackles to life at 6:30 AM. On the other end? A retired teacher sharing stories behind vintage Malayalam lullabies. Welcome to Radio Mizhiyil, a community-run station that’s making an unexpected comeback.
Their July playlist is a mix of devotional songs, old poetry readings, and fresh tunes submitted via WhatsApp. A caller last week said he hadn’t heard one of the songs since his school picnic in 1983. It made him cry. Streaming’s cool, sure. But this? This is soul.
Indie Everywhere: Homes Are the New Studios
Forget fancy recording booths. In 2025, Kerala’s most-loved tracks are being made in bedrooms, bathrooms, balconies. Literally. Take Anuja K., a college student in Kottayam, who uploaded a song about hostel loneliness recorded with a broken mic and her roommate’s keyboard.
Her song “Ormakalude Mugham” sounds rough at first—but it hits hard. The vocals crack. There’s background noise. But that rawness? It feels like something.
Her YouTube comments are filled with students from Kozhikode to Kollam saying, “This is exactly what I’m going through.” That’s music, right? Not always clean, but true.
Read also: How Keralas Wedding Music Found Its Groove Again
Lo-Fi Malayalam: Chill Beats With Rain and Remorse
Type “lofi Malayalam” into YouTube, and you're dropped into a rabbit hole of melancholic beats, rain sounds, and dialogue from 80s movies. This month, one mix called “Mazha Mazha Memories” has been showing up in everyone’s late-night playlists. It features slowed-down clips of Mohanlal saying something deep over a soft beat and thunder. It's sad. It's beautiful. It’s weirdly addictive. You won't hear it on the radio. But it’s the soundtrack to every 2 AM study session or heartbreak scroll session.
Fusion Experiments That Don’t Feel Forced
Sometimes, fusion music can feel like someone’s just stacking sounds to seem cool. But not this time. In Palakkad, a group of music teachers started a jam session called “Raag & Roll.” They mix Carnatic vocals with electric guitars, add jazz trumpet solos to bhajans, and throw in folk percussion just to confuse everyone.
This month, their live show at a college fest had kids sitting cross-legged and head-banging at the same time. And they didn’t record it. No stream. No post. Just those who were there, in the moment. Old meets new — and neither has to let go.
Playback's New Players
Of course, you can't talk Kerala music without touching film tracks. But what’s cool is how playback singers are shifting lanes. Asha Sudhakaran, who usually does devotional tracks, sang an R&B-style lullaby in a new Malayalam film this month. Critics were confused. Fans? Obsessed.
And a small-budget movie titled “Cheru Vandi” dropped a song that had a saxophone riff looping under a monologue about coconut oil and heartbreak. Don’t ask why — just listen. People aren’t just listening to lyrics anymore. They’re listening to textures, spaces, emotion between the words.
Music on the Move: What’s Playing in Public
Want to know what people are really listening to? Check the KSRTC buses.
This month’s bus beats include:
- One heartbreak track from a film no one watched
- A remix of a 90s song featuring thunder and dog barks (don’t ask)
- And at least three protest rap verses blasting during lunch breaks
Tea stalls too. One guy played the same Mappila techno-folk remix for four hours straight. No one complained.
Read also: Music And Dance Festivals In Kerala
This Month, Music Feels Ours
So what is Kerala listening to right now? Everything. Anything. Stuff with perfect pitch and stuff recorded on dusty phones. Songs that soothe and songs that shout. Tunes that remind you of your mother’s kitchen and ones that sound like your 3 AM thoughts. This isn’t about what’s polished. It’s about what’s personal. Because this month, music in Kerala isn’t trying to impress. It’s trying to connect. And for once, we’re not just hearing the beat — we’re feeling it.
