Indian Askin

Nelson "Chino" Ayala, the Dutch singer, songwriter, and producer, channels his work through Indian Askin, fusing a raucous blend of psych-pop, punk, and melodic indie rock. The Amsterdam-based artist, after an extended developmental stretch, secured a Warner contract and issued Sea of Ethanol in 2016, which entered the Dutch Top Ten and earned an Edison Award for Best Newcomer. European tours and repeated Dutch festival slots then led to Another Round in 2019, followed by the arrival of the single "Possessed" in 2023.

Ayala first adopted the Indian Askin name in 2007, though the project only stabilized in the early years of the next decade. With producers Peter Kriek and Ariaan Olieroock, he honed his approach, pulling from '90s grunge and punk while incorporating the South American lineage of his Paraguayan father, a harpist and percussionist. By the mid-2010s Indian Askin functioned primarily as a standard rock band, playing prominent Netherlands festivals before landing the major-label Warner agreement. Sea of Ethanol, co-produced by Kriek and Ayala, performed strongly at home in 2016, peaking at number eight on the Dutch charts; the group backed the album with appearances at Pinkpop, Best Kept Secret, and other major festivals. Both the Deep End EP and the follow-up album Another Round surfaced in 2019.

Entering the early 2020s, Indian Askin stepped back from band activity, leaving Ayala to resume solo recording and production; the rugged "Possessed" from 2023 offered the first glimpse of his third album.