Jyotica Tangri on Her Latest Song ‘Sabar’ and Learning Music

Singer-songwriter Jyotica Tangri proves she can command our attention with lush love songs as well as high-energy Punjabi numbers and more with her latest song “Sabar,” produced by Shubh Kundu.

Released via her label JT Music, “Sabar” comes after Tangri showcased her range with collaborations with singer-composer Arjuna Harjai (“Winter Ayun Waliye”), artist Anurag Nischal (“Tere Piche Pagal”) and a posthumous release with Ustad Rashid Khan, “Taskari.”

While other commissioned projects for film and mainstream Punjabi and Hindi pop continue, Tangri says her label JT Music remains a focus. “[It is] a venture supported by people who love me and support me every song here is made with immense love,” she adds. Working with Kundu – whom Tangri calls a “young talented artist” – “Sabar” springs to life with mandolin and guitar parts, with the video made by Sumit Baruah. “He nailed it! What would I do without my whole team – Ranjha Rajan taking care of all the responsibilities of running the label, and last but not the least my beloved Mumma who has again produced my music video,” Tangri adds.

According to a description provided for the video, “Sabar” aims to portray “the longing and patience of two souls yearning to be together.” It adds, “[‘Sabar’] is a reminder that love is worth waiting for, even when the distance feels insurmountable.”

While “Sabar,” as the title suggests, characterizes the value of patience, Tangri is clearly no longer waiting to make big moves. First gaining spotlight about a decade ago through T.V. music shows and a finalist on Sa Re Ga Ma Pa in 2016, Tangri went on to sing songs like “Pallo Latke” with Yasser Desai and composer duo Zain-Sam from the movie Shaadi Main Zaroor Aana and “O Mere Laila” with Atif Aslam and composer Joi Barua for Laila Majnu.

From Tanishk Bagchi to Himesh Reshammiya to Sachin-Jigar, Mithoon and Niladri Kumar, the singer has worked with a host of composers when it comes to film music, but writing her own music has been a habit she’s kept ever since she was an adolescent studying in school. She recalls writing her first song “Kamli,” which eventually released two years ago via JT Music.

Tangri credits her willingness to explore and write music on her own to her guru, Dharminder Kathak, who taught her how to use digital audio workstation Nuendo. “I was just practicing at my home, while Mumma was out at her job, when she came back I had this song [‘Kamli’] ready and I played it to her, she loved it, that encouraged me a lot, even my Guruji liked my attempt,” she says.

The singer-songwriter says her process often begins with a story that “starts evolving in my mind with different characters.” She adds, “I have no idea where they appear from, but it really helps me, I keep imagining that story ahead and that’s how a song gets done. This is how it works for me.”