We check out Zehen today with their latest single, Pankhudiyaan. The band tells about their multi-genre approach, how they wrote this song and their journey being a band in these times. We also get cool insights on their composition skills, band dynamics and future plans! Check out the interview here below!:
1) Tell us about this composition. How come you have chosen such a unique set of melodies to open and play on this song?
It started off with Tanushree having something to say (she was quite disgruntled about society having the first and last say in – as she says – literally everything) and Ashley who is always up for a good laugh, had a fun melody in mind that he thought would be the perfect balance to her frustrations. When it became clear that they had a song on their hands, Ashley got to work in structuring out the varying emotions that are present in the different sections of the song. As he said in the early days of writing, “Let’s keep it simple, straight, and a happy vibe – something that anybody and everybody can vibe too. Less is more guys!”
2) These is an ebb and flow of growth in this song. Did this come from experimentation, or did you had a loose idea already?
That’s such a great question! When we look back, it’s quite interesting to think that this song came from such opposing emotions – at the time, Tanushree was generally annoyed and Ashley was cracking jokes to alleviate her stress. You know once you start accepting that you can’t change the world in a day, you can’t help but find the funny? And all you can do then is laugh? That’s what defined the initial stages of the song – satire – but the fun kind.
If you are comfortable with Hindi, you will pick up on how the first line speaks sarcastically to the powers that be. If at every milestone, society changes the goalpost asking “What’s next? When’s next?” – then we are well within our rights to question society right back – “Ye koi sawal hai poochne ka?”
This brings us back to the ebb and flow of the song which can also be seen in the music video that was so creatively made by the brilliant folks at The Happy Slate. It opens with a happy and energetic vibe. The verses set the scene: the quiet exhaustion of dealing with society’s demands are real. The pre-chorus expresses an alternative way of approaching this problem – which is – throw caution to the wind and take.your.time. The chorus tells you one word over and over again: pankhudiyaan or petals. What it signifies is – if you are never still, you will never be in a place long enough to plant your roots and grow. And if you never plant your roots – how will you bloom? You will never know what colour your petals are. And that is no way to live.
And lastly, the bridge (which is one of our favourite parts) is giving the same message to the listener but in a sterner way as if to say – yes you’ve listened to a song till this point but this part of said song is shaking you by your shoulders and asking you to wake up…now!
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Moving around with genres
3) How have you managed to switch around genres in Pankhudiyaan?
We experiment with genres on a weekly basis at every jam session. As Ashley says, it comes with the musicality of the band members and starts with how each musician pitches multiple ideas for a simple hook. So we narrow down to what we feel would be the best fit and then run with it. Tanushree believes that every song is representative of the people that helped create it. Considering each member of Zehen comes from different parts of the country with different musical influences, a mixing of genres in our originals is bound to happen.
4) From O Raahi to Pankhudiyaan, are there themes you aim to explore or does it come more organically with the band’s real life experiences?
It definitely has more to do with our life experiences. Tanushree has written the lyrics for each song at different points in her life in moments that overwhelmed her to the point of picking up a pen and writing everything she was feeling down on a sheet of paper, a napkin, whatever was handy. When building the song in the jam room, each member is expressing solidarity with her emotions through their instruments. Now that the song is ready, the more we think about the creation process, the more it seems like magic on the other side.
Ashley claims that as you let the songs grow on you, you can tell each one has a great backstory line and it’s somehow weirdly connected to each of us in many ways. At the end of the day, we’re just happy to write music that fee;s great to us – and if it can put a smile on your face – we’re happy to pat our backs saying – phew! job well done. It’s that simple.
Travel and performing music
5) Performing all around India, what is something you have learnt from crowds about music?
James would like to answer that one: Music unites people. We all know this to be true but to experience it as a band – watching it move past barriers of language, culture, race, colour, creed is really awesome.
Denvin believes that good live music, regardless of style, genre or language, connects with people in a special way. He has seen it help people forget their concerns and anxieties and enjoy the present, even if it’s just for a couple of hours. He enjoys witnessing this as we play gig after gig and is forever grateful that he gets to ‘provide this service’ along with his amazing bandmates – his words not ours, haha!
Over the years, Ashley has been amazed, time and again, to see people connecting to any of our songs or the arrangements we have done with our covers. We love playing different languages across the country and it’s a push-over-the-edge kind of feeling standing on stage seeing people have SUCH a great time! Guess that’s the power of music . It can move mountains… and people.
The vision for the song
6) The lyrical video for this song is incredible. Is there an untold story with the efforts that go into this direction?
Once the song is mixed and mastered, the vision for the video is all Tanushree. While it’s a collective effort overall, we trust and go with what she feels would be the best depiction of the song. Pankhudiyaan’s music video was a long, long time coming. We had started work on it in 2024. Tanushree had laid out very clear plans for the video – frame by frame. We were faced with a couple of hurdles and the music video kept getting stalled until she found Rakesh Nanda from The Happy Slate on Instagram. Ashley and Tanu connected with him over a Google Meets call and it became evident from the get-go that he understood the assignment.
After a few detailed calls with Tanushree on what her vision was, Rakesh and his team not only fulfilled her ideas but also made it their own. They added on to the story and built a universe for Pankhudiyaan beyond what she could have imagined. We swear by the skill and artistry of the team at The Happy Slate – do check out their other projects. They are nostalgic, vibrant, fun, and Indian in their very bones… just like us!
7) Pankhudiyaan is made for the dreamers. Is there an underrated piece of advice you’d like to give someone who is passionate about music?
Absolutely! Pankhudiyaan IS for the dreamers.
It was created as a message of reassurance to ourselves and now that it’s out in the world we hope that everyone who listens to it feels a lessening of anxiety in their chests and a bit of warmth that they can carry into the rest of their day! We’ve got some advice, sure. We’re going to let everybody give their own separate answers on this one…
Ashley: Follow your heart but make sure you take your brain with you. Chin up, gin down, and don’t look back. It’s not gonna be easy but it’s gonna be fun.
James: This one’s very underrated but every big thing out there was once just a dream in someone’s mind.
Denvin: Engage with it with intentionality and gratitude right where you are in whatever setting or stage you’re at. Remember to enjoy the music that you make at every step as you work towards progress.
Tanushree: Be true to you. Whether you’re writing a song or working on a riff – make sure that what is coming through is authentically, 100% you. Don’t make something just because you think others might like it. Make something that makes YOU happy. And I promise you, you will find your tribe.
Listen to Pankhudiyaan here!:
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