Indian prog-rock act Antariksh return with “Iltija”, featuring Jack Gardiner

The track continues the emotional arc of the band’s upcoming concept album Rehguzar, which follows the highs and lows of an artist’s journey. Within that story, “Iltija” marks a point of stillness after chaos and doubt. The song turns inward, focusing on surrender, discipline, self-belief and the need to keep working through uncertainty.

For frontman and producer Varun Rajput, the song is rooted in the idea of surrendering without giving up. “Iltija is about surrendering to the process without losing belief in yourself. It’s that moment where you tell yourself to stop overthinking, bow your head down, and just keep doing the work. There’s frustration, there’s restlessness, but there’s also a deep-rooted confidence that you’ve made it through tough times before, and you will again. It’s a very personal reminder that no matter how difficult it gets, I have never learnt to give up.”

Musically, “Iltija” balances restraint and intensity through a progressive rock sound shaped by Antariksh’s mix of rock, Indian classical influences, modern pop and electronic textures. Jack Gardiner’s guitar solo adds a distinct voice to the final stretch of the track, bringing technical precision and expressive phrasing into the song’s emotional build.

Founded in 2012 by composer-producer Varun Rajput, Antariksh have become one of India’s most active modern rock acts, with over 1,200 shows across India and abroad. The band have appeared on SoundChk Season 1 and 2 by Salim-Sulaiman, collaborated with artists including Marty Friedman, Jakub Zytecki and Jack Gardiner, and have been featured by BBC Asian Network, MTV, Metal Injection, The Guardian and The Hindu. They have also won Best Rock Act at The Artist Aloud and The Indian Music Diaries Awards.

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvtWafVrYzg