Kamakshi Khanna | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
In an interview in 2021, Grammy-winning English singer-songwriter Adele said the best advice she ever received was: “Keep your heart safe and your music dangerous.” These words became the guiding mantra for another young musician thousands of miles away. For Kamakshi Khanna in Mumbai, 2020 was stormy; it was a crisis from which her songwriting emerged, raw and powerful. During this time, through her lockdown music series, Green Room Sessions, she began to untangle the complexities of love, loss and the tumultuous journey of her twenties. Adele’s words struck something inside her.
Her lockdown series gave birth to her second EP, heartbreak 2020Which, in his words, “dives deep into the chaos of modern loneliness.”
He says each song is a raw, real-life account of the different situations and relationships he encountered in his 20s. “From awkward dates and mind games to short-term affairs and unrequited love to a ray of hope, there’s something for everyone.”
Kamakshi Khanna | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
After the EP is released this June, Kamakshi is preparing to take it on a multi-city live tour, beginning from Bengaluru on August 23.
“I’m excited to go on my own tour after performing for so long. What I’m looking forward to most is connecting with the audience. Performing live is a powerful way to connect with people in a personal way. Sharing the stage with my incredibly talented band is another special thing.”
With a background in both Hindustani and Western classical music, Kamakshi blends pop, R&B and folk influences in her music. Her first Hindi single in 2020, ‘Kaarib’, received nearly two million views on YouTube and over one million audio streams across platforms. Her performances at major music festivals and growing fan base have solidified her status as a rising star in the indie music scene.
with heartbreak 2020Kamakshi falls head over heels into the realm of raw emotions. “Every song on that EP is undoubtedly sad,” she admits. Yet, she is quick to point out that this project is about more than just wallowing in despair. “I wanted to present heartbreak in a different light… so I could have fun with it,” she says.
This duality is evident in the music video and arrangements, which are upbeat and lively, which contrasts with the sombre lyrics. Take ‘Love Is Not A…’ for example. The lyrics depict heartbreak: “Broke down your walls, like you put up mine, gave you my trust and my precious time when you wanted to, but only when you wanted to.”
However, this music video is a playful presentation, featuring Kamakshi in quirky costumes inspired by iconic video games like Super Mario and Tomb Raider.
Though Kamakshi finds the creative process therapeutic, she is also clear about its limitations. “It cannot be a substitute for real therapy. While making songs, you embellish your feelings and experiences to make them look appealing. It helps me understand my emotions and make sense of things, but the real work happens in therapy.”
Kamakshi’s songwriting process is as varied as the emotions she explores. “Sometimes I’ll be in the throes of an emotion and write about it immediately,” she says. ‘Love Is Not A…’ is an example of this raw immediacy. However, not every song is born in such a fiery moment. “Other times, I write as a way to process past experiences. Some songs are even born from completely imaginary scenarios.”
Once a song is complete, it changes. “It’s no longer about the specific person who inspired it,” she says. The focus shifts from the personal narrative to the universal emotion. “I don’t want people to focus on the specific person behind the song; I want them to connect with the emotion itself. It’s about turning personal pain into a shared experience.”
Kamakshi Khanna will be performing at Fandom at Gillies Redefined, Koramangala on August 23. Tickets on Insider.
