Rishi Roy Pours His Heart Out with a Smile on His Face in ‘Azaad Hai’ Video
The singer-composer, lyricist and sound engineer, known for his song ‘Agle Janam’ from 2021, gives off an emo hip-hop and pop-rock blend on the song with guitarist Prashant Shekhar
Rishi Roy. Photo: Courtesy of the artist
Noida-based Rishi Roy looks at life and love through a wisdom-filled perspective on his new Hindi song “Azaad Hai,” made with his go-to guitarist-producer Prashant Shekhar.
Best known for songs like “Agle Janam” in 2021 and collaborations with hip-hop/pop artists like Harjas Harjaayi, Roy and Shekhar ride the wave of melodic, emo hip-hop production as well as pop-rock influences on the emphatic song that delves into the complexities of relationships and letting go. “Anyone who has experienced the bittersweet struggle of holding onto someone while understanding the importance of setting them free, will resonate with this song,” he says.
Written in March this year, Roy recounts how “Azaad Hai” was penned “with a very heavy heart and a smile on the face on a rainy day.” He adds, “The clouds were pouring ink that day, rest is history.” Roy accurately captures the sense of freedom that comes after a breakup due to different “ambitious pursuits of the modern generation,” delivered with a distinctly soulful croon.
Roy name-checks artists like V. Bozeman, Charlie Puth, Akon, Mumford & Sons and Linkin Park as being formative influences in his songwriting. He specifically hopes he can write like Linkin Park’s late frontman Chester Bennington, who has been Roy’s “prime influence” as a 14-year-old. He adds, “To write something that has a lot of definition and sounds good has always been my target. It’s that euphoric sensation that has always defined my sounds.”
He gets an able assist from Shekhar, with the pair working together since 2016 in the studio and on stage. “He runs a family, works in a company as an Admin/HR and makes music. To work with him is like a walk in the park, there’s no arpeggio, chord progression or a piece that is challenging enough for him,” Roy says.
Spurred on by the success of “Agle Janam” – Roy notes that they didn’t spend any money on its marketing – the artist says he’s driven to be “more passionate, consistent and confident” in his craft. Up next, there are more songs — including a tune called “Akhri Khwaish.” Roy adds, “[It] is all about my last wish if tomorrow would not be kind to me. It’s extremely emotionally turbulent, even for me.” There’s also an EP being executive produced by artist manager and A&R rep, Ranbir Kapoor. Roy says the EP will “comprise new-school sounds with an Influence of R&B.”
Alongside his own releases, Roy is hopping on music with some of Indian hip-hop’s top names, including Harjas Harjaayi, Agsy and MC Headshot. “There’s one artist I won’t name as that collaboration will blow out of proportion for the desi hip-hop/Indian hip-hop audience,” he adds.
Watch the video for “Azaad Hai” below.
