Hear Glasgow/New Delhi Artist Urvi Invoke Nightmares with Prog Single ‘Pantomime’

Singer, keyboardist and guitarist Urvi Bhattacharya (who goes by her first name as an artist) turns to theatrical prog rock and metal on her second single “Pantomime.” The song features New Delhi guitarist Aaditya Goswami and ace drummer Nishant Hagjer (from Guwahati metallers Rectified Spirit and previously part of Undying Inc).

The spooky six-minute track ties together Urvi’s vocal and songwriting influences, which range from Evanescence’s Amy Lee to prog acts such as Haken and metallers Lamb Of God. Over foreboding prog that occasionally bursts to life with riffs and growls, Urvi also adds to the eeriness with lyrics drawn from a nightmare she once had and noted down after waking up. “I was quite shaken for a few nights and figured, what better way to cope than to turn my fears into a song?”

Shuttling between Glasgow (where she’s currently studying music and philosophy) and New Delhi, “Pantomime” marks Urvi’s second single, following the 2019 release “Awake.” Although she’s worked with Goswami ever since they were in school, Urvi picked Hagjer for drums, considering him to a “perfect fit,” while prog band Skyharbor’s guitarist and ace engineer Dhar has worked on the mix for “Awake” and “Pantomime.”

Urvi points out that oddly enough, studying music at an university level has left her with little time to devote time to her own projects. In addition to guesting on Goswami’s single “Voyager” in 2020, there’s also songwriting and composing gigs she’s taking on for other artists, which is new territory for her. With her own music, Urvi says there are nine unfinished songs and at least one additional single slated this year. “There are plenty more diary entries and scarring nightmares for me to write songs about,” she says with a laugh.

Listen to “Pantomime” below. Stream on more platforms here.