The Indian Guitar Archives
← Browse other issues
Volume 9 - Final Issue 2025, December 2025

A Year of Stories, Sound, and Craft.

Voices from across India - the guitarists, bands, builders, and believers who defined TIGA's first year.

Explore 2025 Download PDF
TIGA Vol. 9 cover - Final Issue 2025
From the Founder

Listening to the Stories Behind the Strings

When we began publishing The Indian Guitar Archives in 2025, the intention was never to simply document musicians. It was to listen. To slow down. To recognise that every guitarist carries a story shaped by place, struggle, discipline, faith, rebellion, and hope.

From July onwards, each issue became a quiet but powerful reminder that the Indian guitar movement is not defined by one genre, one city, or one generation. It lives in officers who balance duty and distortion, in teenagers practicing through loss and power cuts, in artists blending ragas with riffs, and in worship leaders turning simple chords into moments of collective healing. This year introduced us to voices from Manipur, Nagaland, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, West Bengal, and beyond.

Some stories were rooted in classical discipline, others in metal, fusion, rock, or worship. Yet all of them shared one truth. The guitar was not chosen for fame.

It was chosen because it became a voice when words were not enough. Alongside these artists, we celebrated builders, technicians, teachers, bands, stores, and gear that quietly shape the ecosystem behind every performance. Luthiers crafting instruments by hand.

Music schools nurturing the next generation. Pedals, amps, and utilities that empower creativity rather than distract from it. As a neuroscientist and a guitarist, I remain deeply moved by how music shapes identity, resilience, and emotional intelligence.

These stories reaffirm that belief. They remind us that music is not a luxury. It is a necessity for expression, connection, and growth. This final issue of 2025 is not a conclusion.

Dr. B. Sai Kiran Kumar
Founder, TIGA
Guitarists of 2025

Voices That Defined the Year

Eight guitarists, eight journeys

Vol. 1
Uttam Kumar
The Officer Guitarist

Uttam Kumar’s story stands at the intersection of discipline and defiance. An officer by profession and a guitarist by calling, his journey reflects the quiet rebellion of choosing passion alongside responsibility. In a society that often demands singular identities, Uttam proves that music does not require permission to coexist with duty.

View Full Profile →
Vol. 2
Subhrajyoti De

Subhrajyoti De’s journey is a testament to resilience forged early. Growing up amid financial hardship and personal loss, music became both refuge and resistance. Guided by his mother, a classically trained vocalist, his understanding of music was shaped not just by technique but by devotion.

View Full Profile →
Vol. 3
Kabung Gondaimei
The Metalhead of Manipur

From a small village in Manipur to the world of heavy metal, Kabung Gondaimei’s journey is defined by determination against distance. With no early access to instruments or mentorship, his passion developed through imagination, persistence, and unshakable belief. Metal became his language of release and identity.

View Full Profile →
Vol. 4
Abhishekh Prabhu
The Raag Rockstar

Abhishek Prabhu’s journey reflects courage shaped by discipline. Beginning guitar lessons at the age of six, his early years were marked by resistance, monotony, and doubt. Yet persistence led him toward discovery rather than abandonment.

View Full Profile →
Vol. 5
Vamsi Nath
The Tone Alchemist from Thiruvananthapuram

Vamsi Nath’s musical identity was shaped by contrast. Indian classical melodies on one side, rock and metal on the other. Instead of choosing between them, he learned to blend both worlds.

View Full Profile →
Vol. 6
Stephen G Emmanuel
The Melodic Craftsman

Stephen G Emmanuel’s relationship with the guitar began quietly, nurtured at home and strengthened through limitation. Without formal training or consistent access, his growth relied on discipline, observation, and persistence. Influenced by rock legends yet guided by melody over speed, Stephen’s playing reflects restraint and emotional clarity.

View Full Profile →
Vol. 7
Sreeram Vijay
The Carnatic Riffweaver

Sreeram Vijay’s journey bridges classical discipline and modern aggression. Trained in Carnatic vocals, his transition to guitar was guided by necessity, curiosity, and rebellion in equal measure. Drawn to complex riffs and progressive structures, he found freedom in challenging genres that demanded precision and endurance.

View Full Profile →
Vol. 8
Temjen Longkumer
The Heartfelt Harmonist from Nagaland

Temjen Longkumer’s story is rooted in sincerity. Drawn to the guitar for its intimacy and emotional range, his journey unfolded through worship, community, and faith. Learning largely without formal instruction, his growth was shaped by service rather than performance.

View Full Profile →
Bands of 2025

The Sound of Collective Identity

Bands featured in 2025

Vol. 3
The Levites

The Levites represent a worship movement rooted in sincerity rather than spectacle. Their music is built on simple progressions, thoughtful arrangements, and a deep understanding of collective worship rather than performance driven expression. What sets The Levites apart is restraint.

View Full Profile →
Vol. 4
GODNDOG

GODNDOG’s sound is unapologetically raw, energetic, and grounded in lived experience. Blending heavy rock elements with spiritual conviction, their music refuses to sit comfortably within one genre or expectation. The band’s guitar work balances grit with clarity, creating an aggressive yet purposeful sonic identity.

View Full Profile →
Luthiers & Builders

The Ecosystem Behind the Music

Luthiers and builders of 2025

Vol. 2
David's Guitar Clinic

David’s Guitar Clinic represents the quiet backbone of the guitarist community. More than a repair space, it is a place where instruments are restored with respect for the player’s relationship with their guitar. Attention to detail, patience, and understanding define the work here.

View Full Profile →
Vol. 4
Aqualib Guitars

Aqualib Guitars embodies modern Indian luthiery with global sensibility. Their instruments reflect clean aesthetics, thoughtful ergonomics, and a clear understanding of player comfort. Every build feels intentional.

View Full Profile →
Vol. 3
Mezraab Guitars & Pickups

Mezraab Guitars and Pickups stands at the intersection of experimentation and precision. Their approach to tone is rooted in curiosity, constantly questioning how sound can be shaped, refined, and personalised. With a focus on pickups and custom builds, Mezraab empowers guitarists to define their own sonic identity rather than conform to presets.

View Full Profile →
Stores & Schools

The Spaces Where Musicians Grow

Stores and music schools of 2025

Shruthi Musicals
Music Store

Shruthi Musicals is more than a retail space. It is often the first doorway into music for many aspiring guitarists. From beginner instruments to guidance rooted in experience, the store carries trust built over years.

View Full Profile →
Vol. 2
Caprice Music Academy
Music School

Caprice Music Academy represents structured learning grounded in mentorship. With a focus on fundamentals and long term growth, the academy emphasises discipline without discouraging creativity. By nurturing students beyond examination systems, Caprice contributes meaningfully to sustainable musicianship.

View Full Profile →
Gear & Tone

The Tools That Shaped the Year

Gear and tone of 2025

Andy Timmons AT+ Overdrive
Overdrive / Distortion

Designed with nuance in mind, the AT+ pedal delivers expressive gain without sacrificing clarity. Its responsiveness encourages dynamics rather than masking them, making it ideal for players who value touch over saturation.

View Full Profile →
Vol. 3
Yamaha Magicstomp
The Holdsworth Haven

The Magicstomp remains a cult favourite for a reason. Its depth, flexibility, and unmistakable character offer a playground for tone sculptors.

View Full Profile →
Vol. 4
1986 Charvel Model 4

The Charvel Model 4 stands as a symbol of an era when playability and performance ruled design. Fast necks, expressive pickups, and no unnecessary frills define its legacy.

View Full Profile →
Vol. 5
Ibanez Fireman
Paul Gilbert Series

The Fireman challenges convention with its reversed body design and surprising ergonomics. Beneath its unique appearance lies a versatile instrument capable of aggression and articulation.

View Full Profile →
Vol. 5
Blackstar Polar Go

The Polar Go redefined mobile recording by delivering studio-grade guitar and vocal capture in a compact, travel-ready interface. Designed for creators on the move, it enabled authentic tone without complex setups or microphones.

View Full Profile →
Vol. 6
Positive Grid Spark
Smart Amp

A 40W smart amp that rolls amp modeling, Bluetooth streaming, Smart Jam, Auto Chords, and a USB interface into one compact unit. More like a practice partner than just another piece of gear.

View Full Profile →
Vol. 6
Valeton VLP 200
Dual Looper

A dual looper with SERIAL and FREE modes, 100 built-in rhythms, 99 project slots, and 24-bit stereo recording. Ambitious and generous - a true bandmate in pedal form.

View Full Profile →
Vol. 7
BluGuitar AMP1
Iridium Edition

The AMP1 Iridium Edition offers professional tone in a remarkably compact form. Its responsiveness and clarity challenge traditional amplifier expectations.

View Full Profile →
Vol. 8
Radial BigShot I/O
The Tune Bone

Often overlooked, utilities like the BigShot I/O are essential to professional setups. Reliable, transparent, and purpose driven, it ensures signal integrity without colouring tone.

View Full Profile →
Closing 2025

Looking Ahead

As we close 2025, gratitude stands at the centre of this journey. Gratitude for artists who trusted us with their stories. For builders who continue to create with integrity. For readers who believe that Indian guitar culture deserves depth, context, and care. The Indian Guitar Archives will continue to listen, document, and celebrate. The road ahead is long, and that is precisely what makes it meaningful.

2025 marked the beginning of a deeper conversation - rooted in sound, shaped by discipline, and driven by purpose. This issue archives the voices, makers, and movements that defined the year. Not as trends, but as testimony. The journey continues.

Want the full issue?

Download the complete PDF for the full layout, photography, and design.

Download PDF

Browse other issues

Vol. 11 - Ezekiel Bernard cover
Vol. 11
Ezekiel Bernard
Vol. 10 - Elvis Mark Gabriel cover
Vol. 10
Elvis Mark Gabriel
Vol. 8 - Temjen Longkumer cover
Vol. 8
Temjen Longkumer
Vol. 7 - Sreeram Vijay cover
Vol. 7
Sreeram Vijay
Vol. 6 - Stephen G Emmanuel cover
Vol. 6
Stephen G Emmanuel
Vol. 5 - Vamsi Nath cover
Vol. 5
Vamsi Nath
Vol. 4 - Abhishekh Prabhu cover
Vol. 4
Abhishekh Prabhu
Vol. 3 - Kabung Gondamei cover
Vol. 3
Kabung Gondamei
Vol. 2 - Subhrajyoti De cover
Vol. 2
Subhrajyoti De
Vol. 1 - Uttam Kumar cover
Vol. 1
Uttam Kumar