Exclusive Premiere: Rock Artist Pranab Rath’s Radiant New Song ‘Lafzon Mein Gum’

In the mind of Bhubaneswar/Bengaluru singer-composer Pranab Rath, rock music is yet to integrate with India’s mainstream music culture in a sustained manner. He says about the genre, “We have amazing talent in the country but we do not have a culture associated with it.” 

With an eye on writing rock-informed Hindi music that would connect with a mass audience, Rath has been working on songs for the last five years. Since 2018, the songs have been steadily recorded at AudioKraft Studios in Bengaluru with his solo single “Shor” releasing in September. The second single, “Lafzon Mein Gum” is out now, supplied with a tug-at-your-heartstrings music video shot in Bengaluru by filmmaker Anuj Shukla.

Previously part of metal bands such as Eneth Dementia and Legacy Shall Fall, Rath began working in ad and film music to make a living, assisting the likes of hip-hop artist All OK. After his graduation and gaining a degree in engineering in 2016, Rath focused on writing songs in Hindi. Originally intending to release a four-track EP, he’s now sitting on eight tracks that will be released as singles. Speaking about his influences, he says, “This set of tracks has been my attempt at making simple catchy music and I would definitely love to incorporate more from the heavier genres, but this set of tracks is primarily rock. I wouldn’t be making heavy music per se but would love to incorporate the technical prowess of progressive metal/rock with tight guitars and groovy polyrhythms in my upcoming compositions.” 

Rightly so, “Lafzon Mein Gum” is a stirring love song that deals with longing and unrequitedness. In the music video, two childhood friends grow apart as regrets come to the fore, with Rath’s orchestral rock providing an apt sonic mirror. He says the rest of the tracks off the album cover love as well as mental health and hope. Sonically, he says that some songs are “purely acoustic whereas some have electronic sound designs.” He adds, “All the songs are written on guitar and I have tried to keep melodies as simple as possible with hummable choruses.” 

Watch the video for “Lafzon Mein Gum” below. Stream on more platforms here.