There’s a particular kind of power in music sung in a language you don’t speak. The meaning arrives differently, through melody and intensity rather than literal comprehension. But when Los Angeles trio Rusty Rickshaw drops the Hindi word “dahaad” into their latest single, you don’t need a translation to feel what it means. The word translates to “roar,” and that’s exactly what the track delivers.
Released on January 23, Rusty Rickshaw’s new single captures something that’s tough to put into words but easy to recognize: that moment when you’ve been pushed so far into a corner that the only option left is to push back. The band describes it simply: “They tried to silence you. But I heard a roar.”
The group, made up of Sandeep Kulkarni, Gaurav Sharma, and Jimmy Lakhia, brings decades of experience to the project, with each member having started in music over 25 years ago. Their sound sits at an interesting crossroads, blending their roots from the Indian subcontinent with what they call their indie Californian spirit. It’s not fusion in the forced sense, where elements feel grafted together. Instead, it comes across as organic, the natural result of musicians who absorbed everything from 70s rock to traditional Indian music to world music and beyond.
‘Dahaad‘ runs just under four minutes, but it covers significant emotional ground in that time. The track was built around meditative guitar riffs fused with a primal drum pulse, aiming to capture the raw, kinetic energy of a breakthrough moment. That ‘live band’ feel comes through, especially as the vocals carry controlled intensity through verses heavy with psychological pressure before breaking into the release of the chorus. The music video uses AI-generated images to visualize the journey, and watching with closed captions on reveals lyrics that paint vivid pictures of psychological siege.
The imagery throughout is striking. Lines reference “thirsty vultures” with their gaze fixed on prey, a grip tightening around the collar, attacks that strike directly at the soul. It’s the language of being cornered, surrounded, overwhelmed. But what makes the song work isn’t the darkness of those verses. It’s the transformation that happens when the roar finally breaks through the silence.
There’s a moment in the lyrics where the perspective shifts. “Am I ready?” becomes “Yes, I’m ready.” The consciousness says “Go on and roar.” It’s the kind of internal dialogue that feels universal even when delivered in Hindi, that conversation everyone has with themselves when deciding whether to fight back or fold.
Sharma composed and produced the track, handling the animation and editing alongside Kulkarni. The mixing and mastering came from Roman at ER Mixing, giving the final product punch without sacrificing the organic quality the band was after.
Rusty Rickshaw wants listeners to feel connected. They describe their music simply as ‘music that connects with you.’ Not a complicated pitch, but it says a lot about their approach. They want people to relate to the stories they’re telling, even when those stories are told in a language many listeners won’t understand word for word.
The band has plans to release more singles throughout 2026, with the possibility of an EP on the horizon. They’re also looking at playing live shows featuring all original material. For a group where each member has been at this for decades, they seem energized rather than tired, treating each release as another opportunity to find the people their music was meant for.
The band talks about wanting to ‘unlock another dimension, right at that intersection of familiar and new.’ Lofty goal, but ‘Dahaad’ makes a convincing case they’re onto something. The track feels both ancient and current, drawing on tradition while sounding contemporary.
When so many artists are chasing novelty or shock to stand out, there’s something refreshing about a band that’s simply trying to make something real. Rusty Rickshaw isn’t reinventing anything. They’re just combining what they know and who they are into songs that hit harder for their honesty.
Sometimes a roar is exactly what’s needed. And sometimes you need to hear someone else roar before you remember you can do it yourself.
For more from Rusty Rickshaw, visit their website, follow them on Instagram and Facebook, or find all their links at Linktree.
