Nayan Bhula is a DC rock lifer who turned 50 and decided to get louder. A veteran of post-punk outfit GIST and orchestrated indie ensemble The NRIs, Bhula has spent decades carving space for South Asian artists in rock ’n’ roll—DIY, defiant, and relentless.

His current band, NAYAN, blends DC post-punk urgency with classic rock swagger and ’80s new-wave hooks, delivering high-octane live shows that surprise anyone expecting dad rock (yes, they’re dads—no, it doesn’t slow them down). Recorded with J. Robbins at Magpie Cage, new tracks arrive in early 2026.