The "Naaqis" Mindset: Antariksh on Staying Human in a World of Progressive Rock

Navigating the high-stakes worlds of engineering and management consulting takes a certain kind of mental grit, but for Varun Rajput, the real challenge wasn’t a corporate spreadsheet—it was the brain-bending world of progressive rock. As the founder and frontman of Antariksh, Varun has spent years honing a style that is as sharp as a blueprint but as raw as a live wire.

Living in the middle of Delhi’s chaos, Varun’s path has been all about sticking with it. While he first started playing in bands back in 2006, he’s the first to admit that "becoming" a musician isn't something you just finish; it’s a messy, lifelong, and beautiful process. This ego-free approach is exactly why Antariksh has become one of the most respected names in the Indian indie scene. They aren't just playing notes; they’re bridging the gap between technical wizardry and actual storytelling.

The band’s latest drop, “Naaqis” (released February 25, 2026), is a massive anthem that feels like a fever dream in the best way possible. Featuring the incredible guitar work of international pro Jakub Zytecki and the soulful touch of Momin Khan, the track serves as the grand entrance to their upcoming concept album, Rehguzar. The wildest part? The ambitious scale of this entire project didn’t start in a fancy studio with a corporate strategy. It started on a living room couch. Varun recalls the exact moment the framework for the entire album finally "clicked" right in the middle of a quiet coffee break. From that caffeine-fueled spark, it took a solid year of composing, arranging, and late-night sessions at Antariksh Studios and Synergy Studios to bring the vision to life. The result is a track that flips the script on genre boundaries, blending the heavy-hitting energy of Dream Theater and Pain of Salvation with a fresh, modern identity that is uniquely theirs.

For Varun, songwriting is a bit like a subconscious chemistry experiment. You might catch glimpses of the polish of Toto, the theatricality of Queen, or even the deep classical roots of Shankar Mahadevan creeping into his tracks. “Naaqis” shows off this kind of layering; it’s music that feels big enough for a stadium but personal enough for your headphones. Whether he’s thinking about Alan Watts’ ideas on the "gooey prickles" of life or obsessing over a tricky mix in the studio, Varun is a creator who finds the magic in the tiny details. As Antariksh gets ready to reveal the full story of Rehguzar, they’re inviting us to step out of the boring everyday and into a world where music is made with both a sharp mind and a wide-open heart. Get your ears ready—Antariksh isn't just playing; they're building something that lasts.