Irfana Opens Up About the Inspiration Behind ‘London Dry’ and Future Collaborations

When we last spoke to Kodaikanal-bred rapper Irfana this past June, she’d just released her scorching track “Sheila Silk.” Since then, the artist tells us that she’s been experimenting with new songs, working on demos and performing live. To kick off 2024, Irfana has released her latest offering, the bopping “London Dry,” produced by Mumbai artist Zero Chill and out via Def Jam India.

In this interview with Rolling Stone India, Irfana talks to us about “London Dry,” her plans for 2024 and more. Read below.

What can you tell us about your new song “London Dry?”

I wrote ‘London Dry’ in Himachal during the floods. I was living in Goa at the moment and the idea sparked right before the trip when I came home after a long night of partying and saw this bottle of London dry gin in my room. I was just about ready to escape the noise and go someplace quiet so I could think and write, and what better way to get out of a situation than to write about it. The original song was a lot more sensitive and sweet which I performed once or twice as a spoken word, then I found this beat and the second verse just erupted out of me and I changed the whole song. It went from sad to bad.

I figured people would relate if they really listened to the lyrics. It’s more than just a song about partying, it’s an observation of my specific human experience as an artist and a woman in the industry and what comes with being all that. I’m really starting to love my sound, the baritone and clarity that I thought wasn’t nice before is starting to grow on me and I’m learning how to capitalize on that.

 What are your plans for 2024?

I’m going to drop more songs independently this year and more frequently. I also have a line of features with some artists I really dig like Flyyboy, Sampriti, Shia and Suvi. I’d honestly like to work with some more desi rappers, I want to see how far we can push each other lyrically because I know some of these boys are regularly slaying the beat and I want to be a part of something huge and everlasting. Speaking of which, watch out for our song ‘INDOVISION’ out on January 26th, I have a one-minute verse beside some deadly male rappers and it’s my favorite verse so far! I will also be writing a little more in Tamil which I have discovered is too much fun.

What would you like to share with your listeners?

Yes, support your English artists in India! We’re here to pioneer new fields and the more you listen and support, the more we can grow as a whole. Art has never seen boundaries and for a global fusion to be allowed to happen — will only evolve the craft, the crafter and the society that incubates both.

Watch the music video for “London Dry” below: