Where his previous work often felt like a brilliant student's thesis on the mechanics of psychedelic grandeur, this new offering suggests an artist finally comfortable with vulnerability. The press notes speak of a "passionate tribute to his beloved wife," and whilst such pronouncements usually herald mawkish sentimentality of the highest order, Vyas appears to have crafted work rather more nuanced.
The track reportedly weaves together "beautiful melodies, soaring harmonies, intricate instrumentation and a soulful rhythm"—descriptors that could apply to half the indie-psych catalog emerging from the subcontinent these days. Yet if his previous work is any indication, Vyas possesses that rarest of qualities: the ability to make the familiar feel freshly minted. His guitar work has always been his calling card—that distinctive tone that splits the difference between David Gilmour's liquid sustain and elements altogether more earthbound and immediate.
What proves particularly intriguing about this release is its positioning as deeply personal material from an artist who has previously dealt in broader, more conceptual themes. Witnessing a musician pivot from war narratives to love songs demands courage, particularly when the latter requires a different sort of honesty entirely. The challenge, of course, lies in translating genuine emotion into art that transcends the merely autobiographical.
If "Lost in This Feeling" succeeds—and the early signs suggest it might—it will be because Vyas has learned to trust his instincts rather than his influences. The Rajasthani folk traditions of his youth, filtered through years of session work in Pune's thriving music scene, have clearly informed his approach to storytelling through song. This isn't the widescreen psychedelia of his debut album, but rather a whispered confidence made audible.
The real test, naturally, will be whether this newfound intimacy can sustain a full listening experience without tipping into saccharine territory that has claimed so many promising artists. Based on the evidence of his previous work—that remarkable guitar tone, those carefully constructed arrangements—one suspects Vyas has the chops to pull it off.
"Lost in This Feeling" suggests an artist in transition, shedding his more obvious influences in favor of work genuinely his own. It's a promising development, and one that positions Maluscomas as an artist worth watching closely. The question now is whether he'll have the courage to follow this new path wherever it leads.
Available on all major streaming platforms. Recommended for fans of intimate psychedelia and anyone curious about the evolution of Indian indie music.