Celebrated lyricist and songwriter Alok Ranjan Srivastava has captivated audiences once again with the release of two enchanting songs, Hichki 2.0 and Khaamakha, featured in the recently launched season of Bandish Bandits on Amazon Prime Video. The music was released on November 21st, with the series premiering on December 13th.
We at IWMBuzz.com got into a conversation with the songwriter Alok Ranjan Srivastava where he talked about his latest songs.
What inspired you to write these two enchanting songs “Hichki 2.0” and “Khaamakha” for Bandish Bandits Season 2?
As a lyricist, what I write is totally dependent on the music that I hear. Siddharth Pandit being such a genius, always comes up with beautiful melodies; and these melodies simply tell me what to write. Bandish Bandits was no exception. The quirky bright melody of ‘Hichki 2.0’ and the intensity of ‘Khaamakha’ just flowed through my body and I was able to write lyrics that just dissolved into the melodies.
How did you balance traditional storytelling with contemporary philosophy in “Hichki 2.0”?
This is very interesting. So, when we were asked to create this folk-pop fusion, I wanted the lyrics of the song to also fuse interestingly. If you notice, the traditional lyrics have a shy and innocent portrayal of longing (that I found to be very cute). So, I thought, what if the pop section also talks about this longing but with bolder emotions? Hence the song was created to show the two aspects of a woman; the shy traditional aspect portrayed by Swaroop Khan and the bold and modern aspect brought to life by Poorvi Koutish.
Give us an insight into the passionate love song “Khaamakha”, echoing profound emotions that promise to touch the hearts of viewers and music lovers alike.
When I heard the melody, I could clearly hear that every line ended with a small repeating phrase and I realized that I need to use a word that comes at the end of every line; that also makes sense in the overall narrative. Also, the intensity of the melody made me realize that it’s going to be about a passionate love affair. So, I came up with ‘Khaamakha’ which means ‘without any reason’; which is exactly how we feel when our bodies start making love and it feels like our minds are not in control anymore and the bodies have taken all the control.
How do you think these songs will resonate with audiences, and what emotions do you hope to evoke through your music?
Although art is born from a certain emotion, I believe that the audience has the right to perceive and interpret it as they like. I don’t expect these songs to evoke any certain emotion, I just hope it reaches and stays in people’s hearts.
Looking back on your musical journey, from your debut release Azaad Sangeet: Season 1 to your recent works, how do you think your style and approach to songwriting have evolved?
It has definitely changed a lot, which should always be the case for every artist. I think initially I was very anxious and would often think about how my work is perceived by others. However, now all I focus on is – if I am really loving what I have written.
You’ve collaborated with various artists across different projects. Can you share any memorable experiences or lessons learned from these collaborations?
I have been very lucky to have worked with so many honest, beautiful and hardworking artists. I always intend to learn something from everyone. Siddharth Pandit keeps mentoring me about composing, which has really elevated the way I perceive and understand melodies. His brainchild ‘Azaad Sangeet’ has taught me to be fearless about creation. Other than that, working with ‘Daira Band’ on a fusion album where we worked with the Tribal People of Chhattisgarh was very interesting and taught me how music transcends language and cultures.
Your dedication to storytelling through music is evident in every lyric. Can you elaborate on the importance of storytelling in your creative process?
Every art, whether it’s novels, movies, painting, poetry or songs; is basically an urge to emote and tell. I believe that if I am creating a piece of art, it has to convey something. It’s not necessary that the art has to be very literal but there should always be a reason why it was created in the first place.
It helps me to be honest with my writing, because then I am not focusing on writing phrases to impress people, I am simply emoting honestly. And believe me – when art emerges from an honest place, it always finds a place in people’s heart. Also, maybe there is someone somewhere who might need to hear that kind of expression, and if my art can help that person emotionally, I don’t think there is any kind of success in this world, that can be better than that.
How do you balance the emotional depth of your songs with the need to create catchy, memorable lyrics?
It has been the toughest thing to do in this job. I think the best way is to just focus on emoting things honestly. No one really knows what works until the song is out. So, using formulas to create catchy lines is in vain. All I do is – try to write things that I would find interesting if someone else would have written it. After all, I am also an audience.
What’s next for you? Are you working on any new projects or collaborations that you can share with us?
A few commercial projects are in the pipeline that I cannot discuss at the moment, but I am very excited about a lot of Independent songs that I am working on. My next Album as a Composer called ‘Lagbhag Tumhara’ will be out soon. I am releasing the first song of the album on 21st December. Other than that we have already started working on the next season of ‘Azaad Sangeet’.
How do you see your music evolving in the future, and what themes or stories do you hope to explore in your upcoming works?
I aspire to do everything. No matter how much I enjoy writing about love, it gives me immense peace to be able to write about society and politics in indie projects like ‘Azaad Sangeet’. I think I would love for people to see my quirky satirical side in future projects.
Any advice for aspiring musicians or songwriters looking to make their mark in the industry?
I would like to give two pieces of advice. Firstly – create as much as you can, no need to release everything. The more you create, the more you’ll be able to explore your own colour. Your unique colour is the only thing that will get you noticed. Secondly, surround yourself with friends who really want to see you grow. Being an artist is very vulnerable and your mental health keeps taking a toll. Having friends you can celebrate with, rant with and get encouraged by is much more important than you can imagine.
