Arjuna Harjai on Being the One Minute Composer and ‘Winter Ayun Waliye’

Prolific isn’t the only word you can use to describe composer-singer and producer Arjuna Harjai – there’s also inventive. Over on his vlogs, Harjai – along with his wife Divya – jam on song ideas and put together a track in rapid time, calling the project One Minute Composer. It’s become a song series from Harjai, who’s earned virality on Spotify, Instagram and YouTube with songs like “Winter Ayun Waliye,” (with singer Jyotica Tangri and lyricist Geet Sagar) “Bharam” and “More Sajan.”

From New Delhi and now shuttling between India and the U.K., Harjai’s recent release from the series included the trip-hop-informed, atmospheric “Mangoge Na?” In his vlogs, the artist and Divya are seen sharing ideas and prompts that lead to the creation of songs. He says the song “tackles the theme of ‘benching’ in modern relationships.”

Although it’s only the vlog that’s compacted into 60 to 90 seconds to show their process – the actual writing, recording and enlisting of collaborators takes some more time – the packaging of the One Minute Composer has earned Harjai a huge audience.  

In an interview with Rolling Stone India, Harjai talks about ideating and executing songs in quick fashion, working out of the U.K. and more. Excerpts:

Are you presently spending your time between the U.K. and India? What is it like working remotely and then sometimes in person, whether it’s in the UK or India?

Yes, since my move to the UK, my life has been a blend of travel and music, constantly moving between the U.K. and India. In the U.K., I’ve set up a studio and established my own label, Aart Sense Records. This venture is where I’m developing a new sound, drawing inspiration from the diverse culture and my experiences in the Indian film and advertising industries. This transition has allowed me to maintain a unique balance between working remotely and engaging in person.

However, I also travel back to India to oversee certain projects and meet people in person. I believe that physical presence has its own importance in certain scenarios, such as strengthening professional relationships and understanding industry nuances firsthand. This blend of remote and in-person work, along with the unique collaborations I’ve encountered in the U.K., presents its own set of challenges, such as managing time zones and ensuring effective communication across different working cultures. Yet, it allows me to stay rooted in my Indian heritage while exploring and integrating the diverse musical influences I encounter in the U.K.

What has it been like navigating the music industry in that sense?

Navigating the music industry between the U.K. and India has been a deeply personal and transformative journey for me. Immersing myself in the U.K.’s diverse musical landscape while staying connected to my Indian roots has enriched my creative expression in ways I hadn’t imagined.

It’s been a learning experience in managing cross-cultural collaborations, adapting to different working styles, and navigating the digital landscape of the global music industry. It’s a continuous process of growth, adaptation, and creative exploration, driven by my passion for music and my desire to create something unique and meaningful that bridges cultures.

You had ‘Bharam’ come out recently. What did you want to do differently on that one?

‘Bharam’ is the third song from my new series, The One Minute Composer, where I challenge myself to create a song quickly based on three random words given to me by my wife.

Coming from a Bollywood background, there’s often a tendency to gatekeep our best work, saving it for the big films. However, with ‘Bharam,’ I decided to break away from that mindset and release the song independently, regardless of how grand or indie it sounds. 

This shift in mindset occurred after my move to the U.K. It has been a transformative experience, pushing me to focus 100 percent on my journey as an independent artist. I’m no longer thinking primarily about films.

Can you tell me a bit about the One Minute Composer route that you’ve taken?

The One Minute Composer series is a fresh and exciting journey for me, one that’s still evolving as we explore its potential. The core idea behind this series is to feed my filmy mindset with a situation, a practice deeply ingrained in me due to my extensive work on film briefs. This background led me to compose numerous songs, many of which were released, and even more that remained unheard.

There was a period when I stopped composing altogether for a few months because I lacked a brief, which was a significant turning point for me. It made me question why I needed to wait for an external prompt to create music. This realization sparked the idea for the series—why not create our own briefs, our own situations? Having been involved in over 3,000 projects and honored with the prestigious Abby Gold and Bronze Awards, I’ve been frequently referred to as the fastest composer by my colleagues—a title I’ve never paid much attention to.

This series, however, seemed like the perfect moment to truly test that speed. An integral part of this process is my wife, Divya Harjai. Her role is crucial because she comes from outside the industry and enjoys a wide range of music genres. I can never predict the situations or words she’ll challenge me with, making this not just a creative exercise but a fun game that keeps me on my toes. It’s about maintaining spontaneity and pushing myself to create amazing songs.

Through The One Minute Composer, I’m rediscovering the joy of music-making, one minute at a time. Moreover, this series was significantly influenced by my 1 million YouTube family, who have consistently encouraged me to innovate and present my music in a more raw and rustic manner, akin to a vlog. This feedback inspired me to adopt a very basic and realistic setting for the series, filming it in my home studio.

Did you have a One Minute Composer song that you didn’t make, which you liked a lot?

In my phone’s voice notes, I have hundreds of one-minute melodies and ideas that I’ve never developed further, mainly because I find it too daunting to sift through them all. Honestly, I’m a bit too lazy to dive into that archive. My focus is more on the present, on creating something new every single day. The only songs that actually come to life are those that I begin working on in my studio, directly on my setup.

What else is coming up in 2024?

In 2024, my focus is deeply invested in a series of ambitious independent music projects. Among the early highlights is ‘Winter Ayun Waliye,’ a track that has notably made its mark by reaching Spotify’s Viral Top 50 Charts. This achievement is just the beginning of what I have planned for the year.

Looking ahead, I’m set to release around 18-20 more songs, encompassing both singles and EPs. These works are not just about quantity but are deeply embedded in my journey and exploration of music and storytelling.

Collaboration remains a cornerstone of my 2024 roadmap, with projects involving both national and international artists like Rashmeet Kaur, Shreya Jain, Rimi Nique, Dillan, and Surabhi Dashputra and many more. I have done a song with Arijit Singh as well which will come out as a single soon and probably have versions in my voice as well as Arijit da’s voice. These collaborations are not just about merging different musical styles but also about creating a dialogue between diverse narratives, enriching the independent music scene with a variety of sounds and stories.