India’s music scene is evolving this decade with more independent musicians emerging in the industry without collaborating with large music banners. Social media has opened doors for singers and musicians to highlight their creativity with independent releases and non-film collaborations.
Recently, Sonu Nigan and Vishal Dadlani collaborated on a song, ‘Jaan Le Gayi,’ which garnered a positive reaction from the audience. The song video garnered almost 2 million views, produced independently by both singers, especially as the first non-film collab.
These two celebrated singers of Bollywood are arguably some of the best singers in Bollywood and are known for their film songs. However, this is the first collaboration of the duo on a non-film song, and the fans are not complaining.
Unique collaboration in the indie space has been thriving in recent years, and fans want a revival of indie pop music. The singers shared more about the collaboration on ‘Jaan Le Gayi,’ which is the first recorded song of the album Bhoomi 2024, the brainchild of Salim-Sulaiman and written by Shraddha Pandit.
Sonu Nigam shared his experience of recording the song with Vishal Dadlani as ‘a treat.’ He said, “Jaan Le Gayi was the first song that we recorded for Bhoomi. But everyone loved it so much that it was decided to end the Bhoomi season with the track. I’m a sound person, and I get very touched by voices. Vishal ki awaaz mujhe bahut touch karti hai. Despite his rock background, he has a soul for Indian melodies, which is so rare. I was so happy we collaborated on our first non-film song together. Vishal is a malang kind of a person, and I love his vibe.”
While Dadlani’s experience was more on the nervous side, “I was on a paragliding trip in France when Salim (Merchant; composer) called me and said he wanted to do the song and that I’d have to sing along with Sonu Nigam. My brain broke a little because it’s not easy to sing with Sonu. It was something I had never done before. So, I knew it would be very challenging as a singer to even go behind the mic. I don’t consider myself a singer, although Sonu and Salim always say kind things about my vocal performances.”
He further adds, “It was a concert-like setting. Both Sonu and I are very energetic performers on stage, and we are also seen dancing in this one. Projects like these become a way of reinventing yourself, especially when you have people like Salim and Sulaiman at the helm of it. This song has me singing sargams that I’m really not fluent in, but these guys encouraged me to do it. I would love to work with Sonu again.”
So, more songs are yet to be released under the Bhoomi album. Are you ready for more such non-film collaborations?
