Exclusive Premiere: Chennai Act Since105’s Spirited New Song ‘Qafila’

Formed in late 2019 in Chennai by singer Deep Das and keyboardist Paul Livi, pop-rock band Since105 released their track “Ho Jayega Pyar” via record label Pehchan Music in March this year, racking up over a million streams.

That electronic-tinged pop track was the first off their upcoming album Starting Over, which perhaps takes its name from how Since105 has taken shape – from Das’ solo run as a covers artist beginning in 2015 to now becoming a full-fledged band. The second single from Starting Over, a rock-leaning track called “Qafila” is out now, further cementing the band’s proclivity towards stadium-filling Hindi pop-rock.

Completed by guitarist Baidurjya Banerjee, bassist Michael Timothy and drummer/percussionist Judah Samuel, Since105 are solid and sublime on “Qafila,” drawing from modern pop and the soft-rock sound of the first decade of the 2000s. The band says in a statement about the track, “’Qafila’ is an introspective journey of a girl fighting her demons from her past and coming out on top with a fresh perspective about life.” With lyrics written by Shashank Tyagi, an additional feature to elevate the feisty track is violinist Akkarsh Kashyap, who is entrusted with an energetic lead section.  

The music video for “Qafila,” directed by lyricist Tyagi and Madan Thapa, follows a protagonist (Tanya Negi) as she roams the hills of Uttarakhand in search for peace of mind. Since105 adds, “The idea of ‘Qafila’ was formed on the band’s first trip to Yelagiri Hills [in Tamil Nadu]. The boys wanted to write something which sounded liberating as well as powerful and ‘Qafila’ fit their idea perfectly.”

In a previous iteration of the band, Since105 releaed widely streamed singles such as “Tu Bana Hai Mere Liye,” “Afsos” (featuring guitarist Moses Koul from rock band Kraken) and “November Night.”

Watch the video for “Qafila” below.