Sasi The Don Drops ‘Santhosham’ Video from Upcoming Album

Malaysian Tamil artist Sasi The Don reflects on joy and peace of mind on his latest song “Santhosham,” part of his upcoming album My Perfect Yard releasing via Sony Music Malaysia in May.

The reggae and hip-hop artist parties up in a high-rise hotel in Kuala Lumpur as part of the video, with the song featuring English and Tamil lyrics. Sasi The Don tells Rolling Stone India that the song was inspired by a holiday he took with his daughter in Phuket, Thailand in July last year. “During that time, I was really touched by the amount of time I had with my daughter and how happy we were just chilling and doing what every other father and daughter does on holiday, just having a relaxing time,” he says.

The break came at a time when he was also reflecting on the “very challenging year” that he felt was not just personally but globally resonant. He says, “I think it was a very scary year, and one of the ways I learned to overcome it was by discovering happiness in every small thing I could be grateful for. I believe in showing the universe that we are grateful and happy for everything we have because we can’t have everything, and we can’t be entirely happy all the time. I also believe that happiness has to be shared.”

The buoyant and joyful song “Santhosham” thus took shape, focusing on happiness, but specifically from how the word is used in South India. “Every time people greet others, they ask, ‘Are you santhosham? Are you good?’ in Tamil. It’s a beautiful thing when people say the word ‘santhosham.’ So that’s how it came about. I captured it, grasped onto it, and started exploring the possibilities behind it,” he adds

Sasi The Don tapped producer Navin Navigator for co-production and arranging the song, with the lyrics co-written with Masta K and mastered by Sweden’s Bjorn Engelmann. “He’s a legend in his field, and we’ve known each other for years. I wanted the song to have the best possible sound, and he truly delivered on that,” Sasi says of Engelmann. The song features vocals in the hook by Malaysian artists Marissa Sherilyn Kee and Shiila Sunita Sena. Sasi says “it’s never about collaborating with the most popular names” for him, but more about the right voices and energy for each of his projects. “That kind of connection is what makes the journey worthwhile,” he says.

There are more collaborations expected on the seven-track My Perfect Yard, which is being released song by song. He adds, “[There will be] new songs, and fun to hear — something that will lift your soul. I think that’s what I’m all about. I’m really excited about making these new songs and music. It’s a great adventure.”

Watch the video for “Santhosham” below.