Dubai-based singer Neha Pandey shoots underwater for new track

After giving us the engaging Mashgool (the Arabic version of her 2018 hit Busy, Busy) last year, and Helwa Ya Baladi in 2020, Dubai-based singer Neha Pandey is back with a new track, Yaad Aayi, whose video is sure to set your heart racing.

Revealing details of the new song in a chat, Neha told City Times, “It was an honour to be a part of creating this song from a beautiful poem by lyricist Syed Gulrez. The poem touched my heart and I decided to produce it in Dubai. Syed was convinced of its suitability to my voice and personality.”

Yaad Ayi has an ‘Oriental Lounge’ feel to it, and Neha says she altered the original ghazal style of the poetry to suit musical tastes in the Middle East.

She calls the video - which features underwater shooting - a ‘labour of love’.

She adds, “The video is shot in some beautiful locations in the UAE - Fujairah and Al Qudra Dubai. A special aspect of the video is the underwater shots using Nikon z6 series cameras by an ace art director Shady Samy who specializes in shooting underwater. I feel I’m the only Indian female singer to have performed underwater in my own song and it was my most challenging yet favourite experience. It took a lot of effort to shoot the underwater sequence, but was a fun adventure ride for me. Where there’s a will there’s a way, even if you are not an expert swimmer!”

Neha, who was a winner of Zee TV’s national contest in the indie pop category in 2001 and was a finalist on Channel V’s Popstars, admits she always strives for new challenges and spreading her wings as far as musical collaborations are concerned. “I prefer working with a team from different parts of the world and here too it was the same. This song was not  planned. Sometimes the best things happen when you don’t expect them to.”

Neha made her Bollywood singing debut with Humdard in the 2017 film Dobaara and has lived in Dubai for the past 15 years. She is appreciative of the opportunities that have come her way in the UAE. “My journey as a singer has been progressive. I have been evolving over the years in UAE as an artist. This is a wonderful place for an artist to feel inspired. I love this country as it loved me back. The hard work I put in has been rewarded here, and it motivates me to carry on.

“When I started I was clueless and as a woman had many barriers to cross. Nothing comes easy in life and we carry on with trust, hoping to inspire others like us who have talent without resources.”

Produced by Neha Music Beats and Nikon MEA, Yaad Aayi will release on December 10 on various music platforms including 9xm, 9x Tashan, 9x jalwa, spotlampE and YouTube. Follow Neha on @realnehapandey