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What motivated you to work on this cover of Helwa Ya Baladi?
I was suggested this iconic song by two of my Arab friends, one of whom is Emirati. I had a deja vu moment when I heard it. Belonging to secular parents I would hear music from around the world even while growing up, and this brought back memories of my home town Dehradun in India, where I spent a fraction of my childhood.
What can you tell us about the track?
For Helwa Ya Baladi, I collaborated with Jonathan Ramgopal on keyboard and Fredy George Antony, who edited the video. We recorded the song at our respective music pads, in complete isolation and responsibly. So this is pure in many ways to me since it was done at home without any access to the typically "produced" sound environment. Hence, it retains this raw feel and appeal to those who love something 'unplugged' and real. It is a simple song and can be interpreted in a few ways. I found it an emotionally enriching experience.
How did you manage to record it during this time? Do you believe that people being home will ensure your song reaches a wider audience since many have turned to digital platforms for entertainment?
While there was the option to record at a professional studio, I wanted to stay responsibly socially distant, plus this was completely a personal take without any commercial inclination. I just aim to entertain people for free online, especially at this time when a lot of people are staying home and tuning into digital entertainment.
What's the biggest lesson the pandemic has taught you as a UAE resident and as a singer?
The lesson is of gratitude, despite the losses we all may have experienced at different levels during this pandemic. For me - gratitude for being gifted musically by the almighty and staying in one of the safest countries in the world, UAE. Hence I dedicate Helwa Ya Baladi to UAE. Though times are indeed tougher than ever, we all have our own coping mechanisms and for me my music has become even a bigger respite than before. It is a great anti-depressant as we all know, regardless if you have it as a profession or not.
How do you keep yourself motivated as a creative person?
Losing and failing have been the foundation of my creative journey. I am an eternally optimistic soul even if I feel low at times. Not having a godfather in the music industry and too many challenges and barriers made me push harder through tough times. I push boundaries. It is an ever changing world. It is not easy to find the sweet spot but we have to take some risks as creatives.
What's next for you, career wise?
A few more independent songs are what I have been looking forward to. A lot of projects are on hold due to Covid-19, but we will be back with a bang pretty soon!"
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