Hear Sanjna Banik’s Piano-Aided New Single ‘Here I Go’

Puducherry-bred singer-songwriter Sanjna Banik recently released her latest track, the emotional “Here I Go.” In this interview with Rolling Stone India, the artist talks to us about her journey as a musician, the new song, what she has in the works and more. Read excerpts:

When did you begin writing songs?

I started writing songs when I was about 14 years old. Initially, it was just writing poetry, and then slowly that turned into writing songs. It quickly became the best way I could express things I would otherwise never be able to say. 

What can you tell me us your previously released material?

‘If I Could Fly’ and ‘Perfect Day’ were both written while I was still a student. I wrote ‘Perfect Day’ in the year I was graduating when all of a sudden everyone became very nostalgic about their childhood and how they would run on the beach and build sandcastles without a worry in the world. The song speaks of reminiscence and of longing. ‘22 Again’ was a song I wrote for a gig that I did in Bangalore on Mother’s Day back in 2019. This one’s about my mom who is the strongest woman I know. 

What can you tell us about your new song “Here I Go”?

‘Here I Go’ was inspired by someone I lost back in 2018. I’d speak to this person every day and it would amaze me how, in spite of being so ill and in pain, they always had a smile on their face. 

 The theme of the song is, essentially, accepting that life is fickle and things sometimes don’t go as planned, and that’s okay. People come and go, as does love, and nothing is certain or promised. It hurts to watch someone fall out of love with you and sometimes moving on can be painful. But what’s important is to make the best of what we have in the present and be grateful and happy that it’s ours for however long or short the duration of its stay and then let go when the time comes. Ultimately all we will ever be in the lives of those we love and those that love us are memories. Good or bad memories, that’s for us to decide. 

 I wanted this song to tell a story through not only the lyrics but also the instrumental parts of it, to capture emotions through the swells and pauses as well as the words, where the piano and the strings are wound together beautifully yet whisper their individual stories if you listen close enough.  

What was the recording process for “Here I Go” like?

This song was so interesting and so much fun to work on. I collaborated with different people on this track and it wouldn’t have been the same without them. It was mixed and mastered by Ishit Kuberkar at SoundPotion Studio, and was arranged and produced by Jerry Silvester Vincent. The piano for the track was composed by Mrityunjay Sathyanarayanan and was performed by Jerry Silvester Vincent.  

What’s next for you?

As a singer-songwriter, I am constantly trying to connect with people through my music. I am soon moving to Melbourne for work and I am hoping to get back into performing. I have a few songs in store that I look forward to releasing in the coming years. Maybe even make an album. We’ll see how it goes. 

Hear “Here I Go” below: