Photographs by Mohammad Sagar and Alok Singh
Kerala’s Dabzee and New Delhi’s Rishi Roy are coming together for the first time to release their brand new single “NISHANI”.
Being released via Mass Appeal India on June 14, the song is “a tapestry woven with threads of love, loss, and lingering affection.”
The press release explains that Dabzee and Roy were inspired by “the enigmatic tale of a girl who clings to the remnants of a past love, even as she embarks on a new romance. ‘NISHANI’ serves as an anthem of her silent resistance, showcasing the enduring power of cherished moments and heartfelt gestures.”
Roy told Rolling Stone India how he was introduced to Dabzee through Ranbir Kapoor, the Senior A&R & Label Co-Ord of Mass Appeal India. “This track wouldn’t have been possible without Ranbir introducing me to Dabzee’s music and more from The South Culture,” he said. He praised Dabzee as a “gem of a person and a beguiling artist,” recounting their first meeting and expressing how much he learned from him. Roy believes the song will resonate with those who know what it means to love selflessly and hinted at future collaborations.
Dabzee added, “The first time I met Rishi was at KARAM launch, KSHMR’s album and that’s where our friendship solidified. We exchanged nothing but good vibes and conversations about creating art together. That was a solid meeting. After that I went to Delhi and met Rishi for just a day and a half and it was a magical experience. I did not expect us to gel together that well. I felt like we were sides on the same coin. He can write, he can compose, he can produce, he’s just such an all rounder. He’s truly one of my favorite artists.”
Kapoor tells Rolling Stone India that this release “is a perfect blend of ear-catching melodies, whether that’s from the music or from the vocals but more importantly, how beautifully we’ve blended two languages together.
“The emotions of the song and the way it’s displayed on this track is very meticulously done and the transitions are as smooth as it can get. In my pursuit of breaking this so called ‘language barrier’ in India, this is something I couldn’t be more proud to be a part of and will continue to do it with many others. Creating moments through music is necessary, no matter the language.”
