Premiere: Markio Tanaldo Pours Out Emotions in ‘Mera Koi Na’ Video

Arunachal singer-songwriter Markio Tanaldo pens a heart-rending tribute in memory of his father on his new Hindi song “Mera Koi Na,” produced by seasoned artists from the state, like Haggai Rongmei and Takar Nabam.

On the sprawling pop-rock ballad, Tanaldo – who released his debut song “Holo Holo” in 2023 – sings like he wants the whole world to listen, about grief, love and loss. He tells Rolling Stone India, “In mid-2023, I started this song and while giving my class 12 board exams, I completed this song. This song at first was actually supposed to be a love song about my father but somehow it turn out to be a sad [one] because I find it hard to write about a love that I never experienced.”

The artist does, however, clarify that the song isn’t just meant to be mournful. “It’s about celebrating the love that remains, the love that carries me even in his absence. It’s a testament to the enduring bond between a child and their father, a bond that death cannot erase,” he adds.

In the video directed and shot by filmmaker/photographer Joram Jonah, Tanaldo sits among his memories of his father, while also roaming the verdant parts of Itanagar and Dirang. He says about the making of the video, “The director, Joram Jonah, and his incredible team — Nima Geychen, Diche Mega, and Tumgo Riram — understood the song’s core: the struggle to accept the loss of a father and the desire to escape the pain of his absence.”

While there’s a feeling of isolation that Tanaldo conveys powerfully in the song, he says “Mera Koi Na” is also a tribute to his mother’s struggles after his father’s passing. He adds, “In writing this song, I wanted to honor her journey. The chorus speaks to the universal experience of longing for support during tough times, a sentiment that resonates deeply with her story. Just as I felt alone in my struggles, she too faced moments of solitude, navigating her way through grief while holding our family together.”

Before releasing music with “Holo Holo” and now “Mera Koi Na,” Tanaldo describes himself as a “shy, introverted soul.” Singing from the age of 11, the artist used the pandemic lockdown time to post covers and find an audience. “It was during this time that the seed of creating original music was sown. The thought of crafting my own songs, sharing my own stories through music, became a dream I held close,” he says.

Tanaldo teamed up with Rongmei and Nabam for the second time after “Holo Holo,” with the producers injecting rock, pop and soul elements that fit in with the accessible Hindi lyrics and melodies. The song also brings in drummer Avelenon Vaz and pianist Vatsal.