Hear Singer-Songwriter Sanjeeta Bhattacharya’s Wistful New Single ‘Watercolour’

New Delhi singer-songwriter Sanjeeta Bhattacharya’s latest offering, the poignant “Watercolour,” was born out of a friendship formed with fellow musician Dhruv Visvanath. The pair first crossed paths in 2018 at Ooty’s GoMAD Festival and later reconnected this past March at the Jaipur Jazz and Blues festival. “I watched him [Visvanath] play and loved the intensity and energy and the honesty he reflected,” says Bhattacharya.

As soon as she penned “Watercolour” earlier this year, Bhattacharya immediately knew that it had to be a collaboration with an artist she related as well as looked up to. Visvanath was a no brainer for her. “I texted him saying I have an idea and he invited me over to his place,” she says. According to the singer-songwriter, it was the first time the two musicians “hung out” and also recorded a scratch vocal take that day which made it to the final record. Visvanath on his part worked out chord arrangements as well as added synth parts and vocal harmonies to the song. “’Watercolour’ was produced entirely in Dhruv’s bedroom, by him,” says Bhattacharya.

The song features staccato strumming on an acoustic guitar which adds a percussive flair to it while Bhattacharya’s vocal melodies blend across the chords and create a sort of dreaminess. As the synths come in we also hear whispers of Visvanath’s vocals as the two voices make for a pleasant listen. Bhattacharya says, “The song is an ode to an unfinished form of love which is troublesome yet addictive and beautiful while it lasts.” She adds, “Nostalgia runs through you but doesn’t let you run from it. The lingering hope is sometimes more powerful than stability.”

An interpretation of the song created by artist Ritika Govindan.

On working with Visvanath – who recently released his single “Dear Madeline” – Bhattacharya tells us that he was generous with ideas and inputs. We learn that the song took just over a week to complete and that Visvanath had a clear idea from the start on what he wanted the track to sound like. “He works hard. He is supportive as a peer and fellow musician, I’m lucky to have found a friend in him,” says Bhattacharya. Leading up to the release of the song Bhattacharya got some of her favorite poets, illustrators and flow artists to get involved to help promote the single. The singer-songwriter instructed the artists to interpret the song and create a piece of art inspired by it.

While in lockdown the singer-songwriter has been collaborating with fellow musicians on Instagram. Bhattacharya has also been caring for her plants, cooking for herself and going on walks. The artist plans to follow up “Watercolour” with a ballad titled “Everything’s Fine?” Bhattacharya tells us that the song is about mankind’s invasive relationship with nature. The singer-songwriter also hopes to continue work on her forthcoming debut EP once the lockdown has been lifted. “I am looking forward to sharing that sound in the next few singles I put out,” she says.

Watch the lyric video for “Watercolour” below: