New Delhi Country Artist Winston Balman Vows to ‘Fight On’ in Stirring New Song

With a deep-rooted urge to move on from a painful past relationship, New Delhi singer-songwriter Winston Balman hones country-style catharsis in the acoustic version of “Fight On,” released with his band, The Prophets of Rock.  

Taking a cue from the previously headline-grabbing defamation trial involving actors and former couple Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, “Fight On” was written two months ago as Balman was emerging out of a “dark and difficult season in my life.” Recorded with bandmate Archit Agrawal (who mixed and mastered the song), violinist Bhaskar Dutta and recording engineer Jonty Indra, the track sharpens Balman’s strengths as one of the rare country artists in Indian indie. “There was this amazing moment when I suddenly realized that through creating this song, I had finally closed the door on this season of chaos and pain. I had gotten through to the other side. Right from the start, I conceived the song as an acoustic piece. This way the emotional aspects of the song would be highlighted and central, and it would be more intimate to the listener. I wanted this piece to be stark, stripped-down, almost naked in its honesty,” Balman says.  

The first single from Winston Balman and the Prophets of Rock this year, “Fight On” follows their 2019 EP Marijuana Highway and songs like “Sense of It All” from 2020. There are plans to release a full-band rock version and a “third version” of the new track, according to Balman. “I’m hoping to collaborate with DJs and see what they cook up with the elements of this song. It might surprise many people to know that back in the day, I was a DJ myself. So, it would be fun to go back to those roots and see what comes up when I collaborate with a few good DJs,” he says.  

Nevertheless, country music remains the primary style that influences Balman and his band. He doesn’t consider it niche, name-checking the success of artists like Blake Shelton and Chris Stapleton. “[And there’s] more collaborative, experimental stuff with more pop-rock mainstays like Ed Sheeran, Bruno Mars, Justin Timberlake, and so on,” he adds. There’s “immense potential” for country music in India, perhaps because the lyrics are often centered around “sentimental stories and melodies that are nostalgic and heartwarming,” according to Balman. Not necessarily too concerned with streaming numbers, Balman says he’s happy to continue on his “amazing and humbling journey.” He adds, “My audiences are always so encouraging, patient, and supportive. I really feel the love. As for the rest of the world, I’d want them to know that Indians have great stories and songs too. As artists, we can hold our own on the world stage if given a chance.”  

To that end, there’s a lot more new material that Balman is working to release this year. “Right now I’m looking into experimenting with my songs more and collaborating with others. I’d love to work with other artists and see what twist they give my songs,” he adds. Future singles including “Outlaw On The Run” and “Girls In The City” are being readied, even as a music video for “Fight On” is in the “early conceptual stages.” Balman adds, “It’s important that this song has visuals that really reflect the lyrics and emotions properly and fully, and it’s going to be a lot of work. The good news is that a music video is definitely going to be a reality this year.” 

Listen to “Fight On (Acoustic)” below. Stream on Apple Music, JioSaavn and YouTube.