Nee Ko was always treading a new plane of sound. His intention from the moment he started making music was the collaborative process and the nature of those interactions. With his first single with Aneesha and Konark Sikka, he is able to capture the essence of more than what displays at the moment in a capsule. This one is called Raat Ki Raani.
1) This is a power-packed collaboration. Can you tell us about how you all got together as musicians?
So we met at a wedding and that’s when we decided to work together because I knew Konark was a dj and producer and he knew I was writing my own music and performing regularly.
We decided we’d work on a new sound – one that brings electronic, disco and Bollywood together. We’ve released a bunch of tracks within this sonic framework, and with Nee Ko we decided to officiate our IP and release tunes under this.
Funk that disco
The funky opening itself might catch you unawares. It has a synth play with a beat that just won’t quit. No strong, demanding bass-but balanced tunes that allow each part of the rhythm to flow. Aneesha’s powerful vocals bring Nee Ko’s single to the spotlight. The bass line defines the movement-not just how the lyrics will be delivered, but how the theme is felt. It is an addictive fun groove with some catchy punch to it-apt production allowing certain highlights to pop.
2) This has a club feel, but is mellow enough to be a lo-fi treat. How did this composition come about?
Fun fact, this song was written and composed and produced totally differently by me in 2019! After I made the first draft, I felt it fit into the realm of what Konark and I were trying to do together, so I sent him my stems. He sent me back a new direction for the song and that’s where things started for Raat Ki Raani.
After that we worked back and forth on the production till 2023, and once we shot the video, we went back to the drawing board in 2024 and Konark made some changes to the production and arrangement before finalising on what we put out. But as you said, it’s a versatile song; for DJs- a little tempo increase and it can be played in the club, and it can also be listened to on a drive or in more mellow settings.
Feeling the flow
Raat Ki Raani is a song that operates on the hook. In this case, it is the bass line that becomes the defining structure. It builds to become an exciting, thrilling number with a zeal that is the reflection of the indie music scene in our country. It has a global appeal, yet keeps the cultural balance with a strength that we should be proud of.
3) As your first track NEE KO, are you content with the kind of output you have got?
Yeah, we love the song! We think it’s very unique and fresh. With the music video, it really adds to the visual and sonic direction we’re trying to take. Of course with some delays and issues with the release, we feel the future of Nee Ko will keep with the trends in terms of what is sonically relevant, so watch this space.
It has a video that depicts all this all with an aesthetic that matches these vibrations as well. It is an ode to Mumbai, and delivers the lyrics and the palette as such, a vivid thrill of a number that just continues to grow on you. A kick-ass disco electro number that brings the passion in every beat:
Tying it all together
4) How was it brainstorming with Konark Sikka and hearing Aneesha perform this song? Did you want a club track approach?
We wanted to focus more on creating a sound that we vibed to, and not focusing on where it would be played as much. We thought the BPM and the baseline was the main highlight of the feel of the song, and adding Aneesha’s powerful vocals on top felt like the right thing to do to create the kind of mood we were going for.
We’ve also wanted to create music that takes from artists that pushed boundaries back in the day like Nazia Hassan and Shair&Funk. Those that were a little ahead of their time.
We feel the track is really catchy, and our future collaborations will aim to push these boundaries of sound constantly.
5) What else is on your plate now? Are there any single releases or perhaps some live shows?
Yes we’re working on both.
6) What tips would you like to share with young musicians who are getting into the independent music scene in India?
Have fun while making music! Experiment and don’t worry about the numbers and statistics.
Write music that appeals to you, but keep your eye on the audience’s taste as that will determine where you can take your sound.
Collaborate with lots of different artists, as that is an opportunity for growth and venturing into new territories.
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Self professed metalhead, moderately well read. If the music has soul, it's whole to me. The fact that my bio could have ended on a rhyme and doesn't should tell you a lot about my personality.
