Dushtan - Press Reviews
Rahul Mukerji – Dushtan
Post-hardcore meets the bliss of traditional Indian classical as Rahul Mukerji merges entirely different worlds with “Dushtan.” The music soars, and the air is full of notes galore. You get a virtual sensory overload, which is something I wish I experienced more often. Rahul pays close attention to the arrangement, and the way it darts through gives it this complete and utter inability to be predictable. Honestly, about half the time on the track, I had no idea what was going to happen next, and I’ve probably listened to hundreds of thousands of songs at this point in my life, so that’s no easy feat. Plus, there is an inherent catchiness to the execution.
Everything about Rahul’s fevered pitch feels visceral. You get the post-rock ethos of Slint’s Tweezer-era output, right down to the sudden stop/start dynamics. Some of the higher-pitched scree has that feedback/amplifier worship that comes from truly understanding what the guitar is capable of. Further on that post-rock kick, the Indian tunings, alongside the rock framing, recall Polvo’s 90s albums, as they share the same range and unexpected tonal twists. Yunis is a neat blend of the traditional and the futuristic, with a glimmering sheen. By bringing these many aspects together and virtually blowing out the amps, there’s a physicality that feels outright intoxicating as Rahul plays in a sonic language of his own.
The first few moments of the track start with the sounds gradually coming into focus. He takes his time, letting the guitar work its way into a hearty brew. When the beats enter the procession, things kick it up into high gear. I grew up surrounded by Indian music; my dad grew up there, and I became fond of the caustic, feedback-laden work of shoegaze and Louisville-based post-rock. So, hearing two of my favorite things combined into this singular whole, while remaining respectful of both of their origins, well, that’s a hard thing to pull off. The fact that Rahul does it so effortlessly makes it seem like anyone could do it, but the mastery of the instrument and the respect it requires are not typically seen. With each reiteration of the theme, the song becomes ever more expansive, until it transforms into a heady brew. By the time it reaches that final stretch, the sound makes the listener feel as if they are in peril, lending the track that additional narrative arc.
Done with the greatest amount of grace and respect, Rahul Mukerji delves into an energetic, life-affirming performance with “Dushtan.”
Rahul Mukerji’s “Dushtan” Highlights Music’s Power to Unite Across Distance and Genre.
Rahul Mukerji believes music is a universal language, and “Dushtan” makes a strong case for it.
His new Indo-Metal-ProgRock-fusion instrumental track showcases both technical command and emotional intention, channeling the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic into something communal. Mukerji has spoken about how deeply the separation from peers affected him during that period, and rather than leaving those feelings unspoken, he translates them into a track that feels urgent, expansive, and human. This is a feeling that many relate to, wether that sense of lonliness was from the pandemic or elsewhere. Even more importantly, Mukerji brings others into the story, collaborating with musicians across the globe in a way that reinforces the song’s central theme: connection.
Part of what makes “Dushtan” so compelling is how it was built. Instead of relying on strict written notation, Mukerji shaped the composition through flexible structures, giving the players room to respond, interpret, and move inside the music. The ensemble includes instrumentalists trained in both Western and non Western traditions, and rather than forcing everyone into fixed parts, the recording makes space for each musician’s musical language. The result is a rare kind of fusion that does not feel like a collage. It feels like a conversation.
That intention extends to the collaborators involved. One of the featured musicians comes directly from Mukerji’s list of top inspirations: Leo Margarit, the drummer of progressive metal band Pain of Salvation. His presence adds weight to the track’s progressive metal foundation while still leaving room for the song’s Indo influences to lead.
The most immediate highlight is Mukerji’s electric guitar work. The riffs arrive with a smooth confidence, drenched in distortion grit and cutting through the mix with clarity. His sweeping lines are precise and fluid, and the phrasing never feels like technique for technique’s sake. Instead, the guitar becomes a voice inside the track, driving momentum while shaping mood.
Throughout “Dushtan,” Indo musical elements remain present and unmistakable, giving the song its identity even as it moves through progressive rock and metal territory. The genre blending is handled with taste and discipline, and it never feels forced. For listeners unfamiliar with Indo music, or those who have not yet ventured into progressive rock and metal, “Dushtan” works as an accessible entry point. It offers complexity without losing the listener, and it invites curiosity rather than demanding expertise.
With “Dushtan,” Rahul Mukerji delivers more than an impressive instrumental. He delivers a statement about what music can do when it is created with intention. In a moment shaped by isolation, he builds something that reaches outward, proving that connection is still possible, even across distance, genre, and tradition.
“Music is the universal language. This kind of asynchronous collaboration was a great way to pull people together during a time of separation.” – Rahul Mukerji
Rahul Mukerji is from Maryland, but is currently based in Panama. His highly anticipated LP Mridingit is expected to drop this spring. Listen to the song on Spotify now.
Rahul Mukerji’s Fusion Style of Musical and Visual Storytelling Reflects through ‘Dushtan’
Find out a new taste of fusion rock music with Rahul Mukerji’s latest musical creation, ‘Dushtan’. He has collaborated with drummer Leo Margarit from ‘Pain of Salvation’ for this project.
Maryland-based music artist with the roots of India, Rahul Mukerji , brings a new taste in progressive rock music with his fusion styles of rock, jazz, and atmospheric musical creations. He has recently come up with ‘Dushtan’, a highly intriguing progressive track that can captivate all kinds of music lovers. This neat piece of the work would not have been possible without the contributions of Leo Margarit from the Prog-Metal band ‘Pain of Salvation’, who offered his dynamic drumming and percussion skills. Other than Leo, there was also Ruben Rubio at the bass, Chaplin at the Piano and keyboards, and lastly, Thisara Bandara at the ‘Violin’, who all put their united effort to build this masterful project. The track offers a cinematic sonic experience that is both impactful and enjoyable, along with a lingering effect that stays for a long time.
Rahul Mukerji is best known for bringing a new creative wave in the music industry that is inspiring and intriguing at the same time. Rahul has been building this foundation in India for two decades, and later on, he moved to the USA in order to create narrative-driven musical creations that can paint a picture. He made his debut album release in 2017, and since then, he has been making some significant progress through his music journey, which is highly artistic and energetic at the same time. He performed at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in 2020 and also received attention from Vintage Guitar Magazine. The artist also received a nomination at the Washington Area Music Awards in 2022 for his creative works.
The latest release of ‘Dushtan’ also marks the upcoming album release of ‘Mridhangit’, which is scheduled to take place on March 23rd. Stay tuned and follow Rahul on YouTube, Bandcamp, Spotify, and Apple Music to find out more..
Rahul Mukerji Releases New Single “Dushtan”
An Indo-Fusion Instrumental Exploring Restlessness, Resistance, and Unity Through Collaboration
Previously based in Germantown, Maryland, and now based in Boquete, Panama, guitarist Rahul Mukerji releases his new single, “Dushtan,” which means “the rogue,” a track from his upcoming album, Mridingit, slated for release on March 23, 2026.
The project originated during the pandemic. While quarantined, Mukerji felt as if he were locked in a cage, isolated and cut off from life. He channeled his emotions through music, collaborating with other artists worldwide. Together, they blended Indo-rock music with elements of progressive metal, rock, and jazz into outstanding Indo-fusion.
Mukerji explains, “Music is the universal language. This kind of asynchronous collaboration was a great way to pull people together during a time of separation.”
Drawing inspiration from progressive acts such as Pain of Salvation and Symphony X, Mukerji collaborated with musicians rooted in both Western and non‑Western musical disciplines. Instead of assigning rigid, prewritten parts, he gave each contributor the freedom to shape their own interpretations, fostering fluidity and expression within loose structural boundaries rather than relying on traditional notation.
Built around a Phrygian mode to evoke a darker tonal character, the track pulses with urgency through potent percussion, a propulsive bass groove, and a powerful drum performance from Leo Margarit of the renowned progressive metal band Pain of Salvation. Defying convention, Mukerji introduces a violin solo, injecting an unexpected sense of roguishness into the song’s otherwise dynamic atmosphere.
Produced by Bruce Ng and Rahul Mukerji, the forthcoming album was mixed and mastered by Brett Caldas-Lima. Musicians on the album include Mukerji (guitars, programming), Leo Margarit (drums), Ruben Rubio (bass), Chaplin (piano, keyboards), and Thisara Bandara (violin).
Born in India, Mukerji released his debut album, Ma De Re Sha, in 2017, followed by a performance at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in 2020. He’s also performed at venues including the Baltimore Soundstage, Rams Head Live, and the State Theater. In 2021, he was featured in Vintage Guitar Magazine, as well as in Guitar Player, Songlines, and Pipeline.
“Dushtan” rolls out on slightly discordant waves of sound that flow into a progressive rock melody vaguely reminiscent of Joe Walsh and James Gang. Then the melody shifts to a chugging, almost galloping rhythm as an exotically flavored guitar solo sets the song on fire with dazzling licks. Thick guitars take over, infusing the tune with gleaming, growling textures, followed by a dark violin solo that adds delicious sonic flair atop the thrumming rhythmic motion. As the violin soars higher and higher, the outro kicks in with heavy surfaces, highlighting the song’s end with a final beautiful flourish from the violin.
Rahul Mukerji strikes a balance among Indo-rock, progressive metal, and alt-rock, all tinged with elements of fusion jazz. The on-the-horizon Mridingit promises to be something special.
Maryland-based award-winning composer and visual artist Rahul Mukerji has become renowned for his unique fusion of world music, rock, jazz and cinematic sound design. The India-born creative notes over two decades of experience immersed in music, and as such, his balancing of unique artistry and skilful wisdom shines brightly.
On that note, the new single Dushtan is a mighty and beautiful testament to both his extensive body of work, and his distinct cultural and stylistic culmination.
Featuring soaring distorted guitars and an instantly compelling, fascinating fusion of Eastern and Western tones, Dushtan moves from Asian melodic fragments to something more like progressive rock, but continues to push the boundaries of expectation throughout over four minutes of composition.
It’s an exciting arrangement, a strong groove adding darkness and mood, thoughtfulness, before the free-flowing guitar solo takes us on an adventure both soulful and distinct.
To my knowledge, there aren’t many, if any, examples of such a precise and notable fusion of cultures within the rock and metal genre. The Asian melodic style and rhythm reappears during the third minute of the track, and falls away again afterwards, for that prog-metal drone of grunge to recapture the mellow intensity and haze.
It’s brilliantly creative, and seamlessly structured for impact. Even the rhythms, and the oriental string-like tones of the final third, continue to build upon this world-music, epic intention and aura. Dushtan is awesomely enthralling, and unmistakable once it’s crossed your path – a hard accomplishment to achieve with instrumental guitar music, but one that Rahul Mukerji seems naturally predisposed to.
With Leo Margarit on drums, the catchy riffs return, the knees-up Celtic vibe and strings backed by heavy distortion, bass and rhythm, for a closing section that’s addictively uplifting, dark, and stylish all at once. It’s a huge finish, somewhat colourful, unexpected, and perfectly in keeping with the creative fluidity and world music aura of Dushtan on the whole.
“The track name finds its roots in playful office banter. Dushtan, which means “Rogue” or mischievous in Malayalam is a composition that captures the energetic playful camaraderie in a high paced office environment.”
Today Jukebox Time is featuring the riveting single of artist Rahul Mukerji. Titled Dushtan, we got a special sneak peek (or shall we say sneak listen!) into the song and were amazed by the sheer dynamism ingrained in it. The intro starts with a fuzzy guitar tone that certainly captivates the listener’s attention right away. Add to that a heavy thumping rhythm section, and we have got a feet-tapping and head-banging number with sensational flow. The movement is smooth, with Rahul Mukerji’s guitar taking us on this auditory sojourn. Like a masterful player, the overtones are layered and subtle. The delicate lyrical playing through his guitar reminds us of a mesmerizing mix where modern guitar tones blend wonderfully with classical arrangement style.
As we progress further, the transitions are placid and hardly deflect from the traditional fusion musical tones. The middle section is where the real gem stems out. The wailing guitar takes us deep inside our own psyche, where inner monologue stops, and one just observes and comprehends the beauty of the music that is flowing in front! The power-packed drum performance by Leo Margarit, the drummer for the acclaimed Prog Metal band Pain of Salvation is noteworthy too. His playing adds an unfaltering, stable rhythm which somehow cohesively creates a spectacular tonality with the guitar. Whereas Ruben Rubio on bass is relentless and never unorthodox, yet conscious of the guitar arrangement and easily mingles to add depth to the music.
The outro section is where everything comes together and folds into a musical unity! And we realized fusion is the ideal genre to label it (if we choose to label it – not necessary though!). As we heard, multiple influences ranging from Middle Eastern, Indian Raaga-based structure to tinges of Rock and Metal and much more! A true amalgamation of multi-genre and multi-tonal sonic realms is what Rahul Mukerji is trying to present to listeners and music lovers.
The beauty of his music lies in the experimental zone, yet staying true to the roots of music making. The ability of music to pull the strings of heart and psyche and give a unique sonic journey for one to experience is truly breathtaking. By the time the song ends, you crave more as you never want the music to end, and thus we played it on loop mode (listeners should try it too).
And if you felt the same longing and yearning to listen to it more, then we have good news for music lovers. The single is part of his upcoming album Mridhangit. A majestic collection of wonderful songs that somehow resembles the flavor you get to taste (musically!) in Dushtan. Based on the impression this song has left on us, we cannot wait to listen to the full album, which would certainly be a dazzling and exotic musical voyage. The artist is known for his album Ma De Re Sha, which had 12 soulful instrumental tracks. Some of the notable numbers were Sita, Event Horizon, and Hope Anew. However, we sense the artist has progressed musically and technically when it comes to Dushtan. His musical fragrance is sprinkled in the same way – yet he adds a new depth, a new dimension, which is worth exploring for music lovers.
We highly recommend Dushtan, which is now streaming on Spotify and major music streaming services. Also, the new album is dropping soon. Stay tuned.
About the artist: Rahul Mukerji is an accomplished, multi-award-winning musician and composer based in Maryland, USA. Born in India, he blends influences from rock, jazz, world fusion, and ambient genres to create uniquely expressive music that resonates across cultures and formats. Over the past decade and particularly since 2018, Mukerji’s profile in the music realm has grown through featured performances, critical acclaim, nominations, and creative contributions across music and media. Beyond the stage, Mukerji is an accomplished creative director who has conceptualized, directed, and edited music videos for artists featured on platforms like New Noise Magazine and PureGrain Media. Notable work includes several videos for Never Elected, as well as projects for pianist David Bach, performance visuals for INFUSION, and content for Tvameva’s Kennedy Center appearances. He also designed branding materials for Sorrow and the Spire of Golden Robot Records.
We are excited to feature the riveting single Dushtan by artist Rahul Mukerji. From the very first note, the fuzzy guitar tone grabs your attention, backed by a heavy, thumping rhythm section that keeps your feet tapping and head banging. His guitar takes listeners on an expressive journey, blending modern tones with classical arrangements, while Leo Margarit’s powerful, precise drumming adds a solid, cohesive backbone. The wailing guitar in the middle section dives deep into your psyche, creating a mesmerizing sonic experience. Dushtan is a true fusion of multiple genres, with hints of Middle Eastern and Indian Raaga-inspired melodies, tinges of Rock and Metal, and much more. By the end, you’ll find yourself hitting repeat, craving more of this intoxicating musical ride. Stream the song now on Spotify and major music platforms, and stay tuned for his upcoming album Mridhangit—a journey you won’t want to miss.
About the artist: Rahul Mukerji is an accomplished, multi-award-winning musician and composer based in Maryland, USA. Born in India, he blends influences from rock, jazz, world fusion, and ambient genres to create uniquely expressive music that resonates across cultures and formats.
Rahul Mukerji, an innovative musician from Germantown, Maryland, now based in Boquete, Panama, released his new single, “Dushtan,” on February 13, 2026, on all major streaming platforms. The track serves as the first introduction to his forthcoming album, slated for release later this year.
A project born from the pandemic, “Dushtan,” meaning “the rogue,” channels restlessness and resistance forged through isolation. During quarantine, Mukerji found the world locked inside a cage, where the feeling of separation haunted the artist. To translate that emotion, the musician blends indo-fusion instrumental music with progressive metal, rock, and jazz, collaborating with performers from around the world. The result is a heavy yet expansive composition that signifies unity amidst isolation.
A longtime admirer of artists like Pain of Salvation, Symphony X, and more, Mukerji worked with instrumentalists trained across both Western and non-Western musical traditions. Rather than prescribing fixed parts, Mukerji allowed musicians to interpret their roles and inspirations freely, encouraging a sense of release and movement through structural frameworks, instead of sheet music.
Written around a Phrygian tonality to emphasize a dark shade, the song carries a sense of urgency through bold percussion, a driving bass line, and an explosive drum performance by Leo Margarit, the accomplished drummer for the acclaimed progressive metal band Pain of Salvation. To subvert expectation, Mukerji incorporates a violin solo, adding a playful edge to the track’s intensity.
This is single will tease Mukerji’s innovative new album, Mridingit, which will be available on March 23, 2026.