Embarking on a musical journey that spans continents, Natania, the gifted Mumbai-born singer-songwriter currently based in Los Angeles, is primed to make waves in the South Asian music scene with her latest pop ballad, ‘Gulzar.’ This enchanting composition weaves together English, Hindi, and Punjabi verses, melding modern pop nuances with traditional Indian musical flavors in a seamless display of cross-cultural artistry.
Paying a heartfelt tribute to the revered Indian poet and lyricist Gulzar, the soul-stirring anthem encapsulates a narrative of universal love, unity, and camaraderie. Opening with an emotive verse and soaring towards an uplifting chorus, the song beckons audiences to partake in a melodic voyage through lush soundscapes. The infusion of traditional Indian instruments like the shehnai and esraj with contemporary pop and electro rhythms crafts a rich and immersive auditory tapestry, enriched further by the collaboration with fellow DESI TRILL artist, Subhi.
Complementing the lyrical depth of the track, the accompanying music video unfolds as a vibrant visual spectacle set against the breathtaking backdrop of Rajasthan. Through its vivid portrayal of love and matrimony transcending linguistic confines, the video acts as a perfect visual counterpart to the melodic tale spun by ‘Gulzar,’ inviting viewers into a world where music knows no bounds.
In an exclusive interview with News18 Showsha, Natania shared the inspiration behind Gulzar, collaborating with Desi Trill and Subhi, the story behind the music video and more.
Here are the excerpts:
What inspired you to write Gulzar and how did you come up with the idea to include tributes to the celebrated poet Gulzar in your song?
I wrote this song after a conversation I had with someone where I decided to be super vulnerable and spill out my emotions! He had asked me to be patient with him while he expressed his feelings and I went into the studio that night and said “He said I have to be patient!?” And Gulzar was born!!! Gulzar’s writing is so beautiful and poetic that I wanted to capture the beauty of falling in love and what better way to that than to sing about Gulzar!
Could you share more about the story or personal experience behind Gulzar? What does this song mean to you personally?
As a songwriter, I love writing about one little moment, it might have been fleeting but now it’s frozen in time. The overwhelming emotion you felt even if just for a second is now reflected upon and bottled in a 3 minute song. This song is me writing about not being able to stop writing about falling for somebody, being ridiculously impatient, overflowing with emotions, diving in heart first and wearing my heart completely on my sleeve.
How did growing up in Mumbai and relocating to Los Angeles influence your music and the creation of Gulzar?
I really wanted to learn songwriting and go to college for music. I definitely grew in so many ways in LA and Mumbai trying to pave my way! they are both such different places that I think it reflects in the music I’m making now like Gulzar because they’re both so rooted in who I am now!
Can you elaborate on how you blend English, Hindi, and Punjabi lyrics in your songwriting process? What challenges and rewards do you find in this multilingual approach?
I try not to overthink it and always create based on feeling and emotion in both worlds. I love creating pop music and incorporating Indian sections to help amplify the emotion and tell the story. After I make something that fuses cultures it always feels so exciting to me, like it’s something I haven’t heard before and that makes me really inspired!! I think some of the challenges are that the music world sometimes doesn’t know where to place the song when it comes to radio or playlisting since it’s basically a new genre, but that’s also an exciting problem to solve!
The track beautifully combines traditional Indian instruments with contemporary pop and electro beats. How did you come up with this fusion, and what was the production process like?
Thank you! I made Gulzar with my best friends Subhi, Aman and Zaiyd last July in LA. It was actually only our second time working together but it was so effortless and one of the most fun sessions I’ve ever had. We even played the guitar with spoons! We stayed up all night working on the music and the song was done by the morning!
Tell us more about the choice of instruments for Gulzar. Why did you choose to include the Shehnai and Esraj?
Aman, who I wrote and co-produced Gulzar with played the esraj and it was the most beautiful instrument I had ever heard, i knew it had to be on the song to capture the essence of falling in love. We also added the Shehnai which really boosted the energy and celebratory feeling of the track.
How was your collaboration with Subhi on this track? What did she bring to the song that made it special?
I love working with Subhi, she has one of the best voices I’ve ever heard and her writing is truly beautiful! She thinks in such a non-generic way with her Punjabi lyrics and I think that really made the song shine!
From writing to recording, can you walk us through the journey of creating Gulzar?
We basically did it all in one night! We actually also kept the vocals from that night and didn’t re-record anything – it was pure magic!
The music video for Gulzar is shot in stunning locales across Rajasthan, especially Alsisar Mahal, which is also a destination for one of the most renowned annual music festivals Magnetic Fields. Why did you choose these locations and how do they enhance the storytelling of the song?
Yes! I had that vision from the day I wrote Gulzar,the song feels so celebratory that I really wanted to capture that in the visuals too with the Rajasthan architecture and vibrant colors to really capture the emotion of the story!
What was the concept behind the music video, and how does it compliment the themes of longing love and unity in the song?
It’s about a girl waiting for her partner to propose, and she’s a little impatient so she’s dropping hints haha, by the end she realizes he’s not picking them up and decides to propose Herself! I wanted to capture that feeling of a woman being so empowered to follow her heart and make a grand gesture! And with all the fields and dancers it really felt grand and epic! Which I think every love story is!
Do you have any memorable moments or challenges you faced during the shooting of the music video?
I actually had a 104 fever shooting the video, And it was freezing! But the people on the crew, cast and team were so amazing that I only remember having such a blast with everyone! You could feel the passion for art from every person on set, it was such a beautiful experience!
Gulzar deals with themes of love, unity, and togetherness. What message do you hope listeners take away from this song?
I hope listeners are reminded to take the risk and wear their hearts on their sleeves! Only beautiful things come out of doing that, and life is too short to act otherwise!
How does your former experience writing for other artists influence your own music and songwriting when creating something deeply personal like Gulzar?
When it comes to my own music it’s all about my own feelings and emotions but when it’s for other artists you kinda take the role of a best friend/therapist and you help dig deep with them to tell their stories, it’s such a privilege! To have witnessed them be so open and vulnerable when I’m writing with them only reminds me to do that when I’m in the artist seat as well!
How does working with DESI TRILL and being part of their vision help you in pushing musical boundaries and embracing your cultural heritage?
Working with Desi Trill has been one of the most exciting moments in my career. When I first met Shabz, we were on a train for 3 hours which felt like 5 minutes because we had the most inspiring
conversation about culture and music, and I had never met anyone that had the same vision as me! Ty Ty and Shabz have been such champions and always let me run free with my artistic direction which is so empowering trying to break barriers! They always push me to color outside the lines and embracing all my roots. I’m so grateful to have a team of such incredible people supporting me and helping me bring my music to life.
What are your future aspirations with your music and how do you see your sound evolving in the years to come?
I want to do anything and everything! My main goal as an artist is that I want to connect with people through my music and share my story with my heart completely on my sleeve, find ways to make global culture moments happen through music with India while doing that. I’m extremely excited about doing different international collaborations as well. Oh, and I want to win a Grammy ????
One of your quotes mentions your excitement about wearing your heart on your sleeve. How important is vulnerability and authenticity in your music?
Extremely! I think we make music to connect and the only way to connect is to be authentic. Songwriting is my first love, it gets under your skin and doesn’t let you hide. It’s my way of processing everything I’m feeling even when I don’t know I’m feeling it. it makes you completely naked as an artist and I think that’s what truly being an artist is, to expose yourself in a beautiful way.
Can you share some of your major musical influences and how they have shaped your style and approach to making music?
I’m a huge Taylor swift fan, from her songwriting to her mind and the way she has created an empire! I’ve learned so much about a clever but emotional lyric from her and that definitely is something I keep in mind while making music. I also love Coldplay, Joni Mitchell, Ed Sheeran!
As a singer-songwriter with a diverse cultural background, what advice would you give to aspiring musicians who want to blend different musical traditions in their works?
Don’t be afraid to take a risk and try something new! (Even if people don’t get it at first) That’s where the magic happens!
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