What started as one man, one laptop, and one wild dream in a lockdown living room has become one of the most vibrant global indie music movements in the world.
Meet Lazie Indie Magazine — the publication that didn’t just cover independent music; it amplified it.
Founded in 2020 by musician Jay Pillai, Lazie Indie was born out of empathy and passion at a time when stages were silent and artists were struggling to stay seen.
Five and a half years later, it’s read in over 100 countries, has featured artists from 50+ nations, and proudly holds the title of “Media Company of the Year (Magazines/Blogs/Reviews)” at the 2024 Josie Music Awards in Nashville, USA.
No investors. No algorithms. Just pure heart.
And here’s the kicker — in all this time, Lazie Indie Magazine has never missed an issue or a release date.
Not once.
🌍The Beat That Refused to Stop
It all began with one question Jay asked fellow musicians during the pandemic:
“How are you holding up?”
Those simple conversations turned into heartfelt interviews.
The interviews became stories.And the stories became the first issue of Lazie Indie Magazine, released on May 27, 2020.
That rhythm — steady, honest, and beautifully human — never broke.
“We’ve kept the beat alive when everything else slowed down,” Jay says. “Because the artist deserves to be seen — on time, every time.”
And that’s what sets Lazie Indie apart — its unshakable commitment to community over clicks.
🎸The Movement That Broke the Mold
Lazie Indie isn’t journalism — it’s a jam session.
It’s a place where artists don’t compete — they collaborate.
Here, the artist you read about last month might be writing an article this month.
Musicians promote one another’s work, share stories, and celebrate each other’s milestones — proving that indie artists truly can build each other up.
Artists from Finland, Uganda, Papua New Guinea, Armenia, Egypt, Georgia, Zambia, and Siberia share digital space with acts from the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, and India.
In the Lazie Indie world, there are no borders. No bias. Just music.
“Lazie Indie isn’t a journalistic ritual,” says Jay. “It’s a collaboration of souls who believe art has no passport.”
🌈The Family That Keeps Growing
The Lazie Indie family has grown into a colorful, globe-spanning tribe of musicians, writers, and believers.
Inge Zimmermann Probst (Germany), Lyia Meta (Malaysia), Ann Aria (Canada), Tomiko Dixon (Blues Hall of Fame), Grant and Barbara (Galaxy FM, New Zealand), Emma Goldberg (France), Kathryn Shipley (Nashville), Dr. Benita (USA), Jörg Klein (Germany), Sherise (Mumbai), and Emmy-winning guitarist Brian Tarquin (USA) — all joined as columnists, lending their artistry and insight to every issue.
Behind the scenes, Adithya leads the promotional drive that connects artists and readers across continents, while Manoj, Jay’s lifelong friend and bandmate, remains his creative anchor — a friendship that started in school and has powered every Lazie Indie milestone.
And through it all, the beat never faltered.
Every issue has landed right on time. Every cover reveal has been perfectly on cue.
That kind of rhythm isn’t routine — it’s religion.
🎤 When the Pages Became a Stage — The IIMF Story
Then came the moment when Lazie Indie’s stories leapt off the screen and onto the stage.
The International Indie Music Festival (IIMF) — created in collaboration with the Kerala Arts and Crafts Village, a Government of Kerala Tourism Department initiative — turned the Lazie Indie vision into a full-blown global celebration.
From its very first edition, IIMF became a phenomenon.
It brought together artists from 20+ countries, including remote regions like Uganda, Lithuania, Papua New Guinea, and Georgia, alongside star performers from the USA, UK, and some of India’s most popular indie bands.
For many, it was their first-ever performance in India — a historic and emotional moment that blended cultures through sound.
Each year, IIMF has grown larger, louder, and more loved — a stage where borders blur and music wins.
“It’s not just a festival,” says Jay. “It’s what Lazie Indie stands for — the sound of connection.”
Adding to this spirit of discovery was the John Anthony Guitar Contest, a Lazie Indie initiative celebrating guitar mastery and honoring the legacy of one of India’s finest musicians. The contest unearthed incredible new talent while bringing together guitarists from across genres and generations — proving that excellence and passion still have a home in indie music.
🏆 Three Nominations and a Win — The Nashville Moment
Lazie Indie’s global impact didn’t go unnoticed.
The magazine has been nominated three consecutive times for the Josie Music Awards, the world’s largest celebration of independent music — a rare streak that few global media brands can claim.
In 2024, that journey reached its crescendo when Lazie Indie was named “Media Company of the Year (Magazines/Blogs/Reviews)” in Nashville, USA.
For Jay and his worldwide team, it wasn’t just an award — it was a standing ovation.
Proof that passion can outperform marketing, and community can outlast competition.
🚀The Next Chapter
Lazie Indie Magazine isn’t slowing down — not now, not ever.
The team is gearing up to launch French, Spanish, and Asia-Pacific editions, expanding Lazie Indie’s voice across continents.
But that’s not all.
Because there’s something brewing — something big, bold, and beautifully Lazie.
You’ll come to know very soon. 😉
Whatever it is, you can bet it’ll carry the same heartbeat that’s powered Lazie Indie since day one — music without borders, and stories without limits.
❤️ The Heart of It All
From a humble living room dream to a global cultural movement, Lazie Indie Magazine has proven that passion can build empires — and that music will always find its way to the hearts that need it.
It’s not the biggest platform. It’s not the richest.
But it just might be the most real.
“We started with one story during a lockdown,” Jay smiles.
“Today, we’re telling the world’s stories — one song at a time.”
Lazie Indie Magazine — five and a half years, three Josie nominations, a thousand stories, and one beat that never missed.
Check out the lazieindiemagazine.com read all the editions.
