Premiere: Komorebi Traverses Virtual Backgrounds in New Video For ‘I Grew Up’

The last time we spoke to New Delhi singer-producer Tarana Marwah aka Komorebi was when she released the four-track Birds And Bees EP with fellow artist Abhishek Bhatia aka Curtain Blue (from experimental rockers The Circus). Since then, Marwah has been busy scoring films, performing in the U.K. and even did a listening session with radio presenter Bobby Friction as part of the BBC Asian Network in London.

In the midst of all this, Marwah has also been putting together her multimedia concept album The Fall. The record follows 2017’s full-length debut Soliloquy. Marwah says, “[The new album] includes two music videos and an exclusive Komorebi comic book with the same name, that goes hand in hand with the music.”

One of the music videos is the record’s lead single, the enchanting “I Grew Up,” which also features Mumbai/Auckland guitarist Warren Mendonsa aka Blackstratblues. In this interview with Rolling Stone India, Marwah talks to us about The Fall, how she created the clip for “I Grew Up,” what she has planned next and more. Read below.

When we talked in 2021 (for “Chanda”) you mentioned The Fall, how long has this project been in the works and what can you tell me about how you came up with the concept for not only the music but also all the visuals attached to it? 

This project has been in the pipeline for over five years. I’ve worked with close to 100 people on it – visual artists, graphic designers, 3D designers, virtual production, post-production, stylists (Glorious Luna and Shaurya H.) and fashion designer (Rajesh Pratap Singh). Within the music space, I’ve collaborated with Easy Wanderlings, Dhruv Visvanath, James Gair, Ritwik De, Mavron Quartet, Gaurav Raina, Blackstratblues, Sahil Vasudeva, and many others. The comic book was designed by Neelav Ghosh and the album concept art by Improper Studio.

The music is emotional, powerful and falls under the category of electronica/trip-hop. The comic book is a coming-of-age story about one Kiane, who traverses through the cosmos in search of meaning, and as a means of escape from her home planet. There are many other interesting characters, namely Owlie (her pet) and Luna (the antagonist). 

I’ve always been a big advocate for collaboration, and this is the ultimate, final form of that vision. I’ve been wanting to create an IP that’s unique and rarely attempted before in our nascent country. The ultimate goal is to create a Komorebi video game, however, for this release, I want to keep the focus on the new and improved musical expression. The latency in writing and release was a tough one to conquer, I was waiting for the right label and sponsorship to back me up. Good things take time and I believe it has all been worth it.

What can you tell me about the album’s first single “I Grew Up?”

“I Grew Up” is a poignant song that reflects on the journey of personal growth and the choices we make in life. The lyrics acknowledge the half-truths of the world but focus on the path of love chosen by myself. The song explores the challenges of facing unmovable mountains and the significance of the things we can’t lose. It recognizes the diverse nature of individuals but emphasizes the weight of shared emotions. “I Grew Up” serves as a reminder that growth is a natural part of life, and despite the changes, one will always cherish their bond with loved ones.

In the context of Komorebi’s comic, “I Grew Up” is about the challenges Kiane faces as she sets off on her journey through the cosmos, and the sacrifices she has to make in order to truly own her right as a space traveler.

What was it like putting together the music video for “I Grew Up?”

When I was watching a video explaining how [sci-fi/Western T.V. series] The Mandalorian uses a video game software in place of a green screen to create virtual backgrounds, I had no idea I’d be doing the same for my next music video! By using Unreal Engine, we could create a photorealistic 3D background that moves strictly with the camera’s real view. The whole process is finalized on set, versus having to blend seamlessly through compositing. It’s a perfect combination of real and ‘unreal.’

Coming back to the album, what can folks expect from the rest of the record and when is it due to be released?

The seven-track album is full of surprises and releases on September 8th, roughly the same time as the comic. So much time has passed; I’ve grown into who I am as a woman and an artist, which is strongly conveyed through the meaningful lyrics and songwriting. I passively watch myself singing as my inner child, a rebellious teenager, a lost 20-something-year-old, and finally a wise adult. It was interesting to superimpose those experiences onto my fictional character Kiane and tell my story through her. 

We are also cutting vinyls and USB cassettes for the same. The comic book will release around the same time in collaboration with The Comic Book Store.

Any gigs planned around this release?

I am expanding Komorebi into a full-band setup. We will be putting together a tour shortly after the September release. I’ll also be hitting the Ziro Festival on September 29th.

Watch the music video for “I Grew Up” below and pre-order Komorebi’s comic book here.