Valentine’s Day Playlist: Latest Love Songs by Sachin-Jigar, Akanksha Bhandari and More
Indie artists including Amritha Thankachy, Takar Nabam, Green Park, ALI Sultan and Yohan Marshall have new songs to dive into the nuances of romance
Tune in to new music from (clockwise from top) Akanksha Bhandari, Green Park and Yohan Marshall. Photos: Kriti Edwankar & Ritik Mehta (Bhandari), Abhishek Singh (Green Park), Courtesy of the artist (Marshall)
Green Park – “I Met Someone”
New Delhi indie act trio Green Park’s new single and music video “I Met Someone” may not necessarily have been attached to Valentine’s Day, but the introspective song about companionship and perceptions of love offers a refreshing alternative take, going over jazz, psych-rock and pop elements. The song is the first single from Green Park’s upcoming album Newly Aged, which follows their debut EP All My Pictures Have Grown Smiles from 2022.
Sachin-Jigar, Shreya Ghoshal – “Tu Meri Hai”
There’s an earnestness and passion in singer-composer Jigar Saraiya’s new song “Tu Meri Hai,” which features music by his duo Sachin-Jigar and brings in the inimitable star voice Shreya Ghoshal, who shines from her very first note on the Hindi pop song. True to the V-Day spirit, Sachin-Jigar’s “Tu Meri Hai” is a declaration of love and intent, featuring lyrics by Priya Saraiya.
Takar Nabam – “The Lucky One”
To celebrate four years of being married and coinciding with Valentine’s Day, Arunachal singer-songwriter Takar Nabam returns to his blues and jazz roots with “The Lucky One.” The folksy side of him still prevails, penning heartfelt lyrics that send out a larger message about the power of love and cherishing the ones we hold dear.
ALI Sultan – “Muqaable Nai”
Mumbai singer and rapper ALI Sultan and producer Tom Datta dig into the prevailing ideas of love on “Muqaable Nai,” a late-night pop and hip-hop Hindi song that even references Lil Uzi Vert. Ultimately, Sultan says love isn’t easy, especially based on everything and everyone around him.
Amritha Thankachy – “Ninnaye”
Thiruvananthapuram/London artist Amirtha Thankachy interprets Tamil lyrics by Bharathiyaar for an airy new love song called “Ninnaye,” produced by Palindroma aka Nitin M. Krishna. Thankachy’s vocals aptly soar as she sings about a beloved, asking the world to “love out loud today.”
Yohan Marshall – “Jo Tu Mere Paas Hai”
Mumbai artist Yohan Marshall is the latest among artists who have got married and told the world about it by writing a song, going on to use wedding videos to celebrate their love story. “Jo Tu Mere Paas Hai” highlights his personal journey and the promise of a “lifelong friendship” with his wife in the Hindi electronic-pop and rock song, with lyrics co-written by Neeraj Patil and backing vocals by Mallika Barot.
Akanksha Bhandari – “Kehna Hai”
In a story that seems straight out of a tale, singer-songwriter Akanksha Bhandari’s new song “Kehna Hai” was originally written in 2019 to confess her love for her partner. Fast forward to today and the song is now produced by her partner Manav, with the couple now engaged. The pop ballad unfolds like a love letter, while the music video sees Bhandari dance like she’s very much living that fairytale, ending with a proposal.
