Nikita Gandhi Photo Credit: Special Arrangements
Nikita Gandhi, who will be a part of Seagram’s Royal Stag’s experiential music festival, Seagram’s Royal Stag Boombox (RSB) Season 3 (January 25), is excited about the collaboration’s lineup. In its third edition, RSB continues its tradition of bringing together diverse genres of music – Bollywood and hip-hop – and creating new tunes and an original soundscape. It is this innovative approach that makes Nikita ready for this.
“Not many people know that I am also a musician,” says Nikita. “This is an opportunity for me to experiment with new subjects and create music the way I want. As a singer, I just do what I am given, but composing has always been my first love. When I get this opportunity, there is no way I will let it go.”
This year’s RSB line-up includes artistes like Armaan Malik, Amit Trivedi, Neeti Mohan, Nikhita Gandhi, Raftaar, Ikka and DJ Yogi. The festival will visit four major cities – Hyderabad, Navi Mumbai, Gurugram and Guwahati. Complementing the live event, RSB will also produce a series of in-studio collaborations, creating original tracks that blend hip-hop elements. These singles, along with music videos, will be released on digital platforms.
Nikita, who grew up in Bengal, has lent her voice to films in many Indian languages. He has sung songs in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Marathi, Bengali and of course Hindi. She says that she feels most comfortable singing in Bengali. “Apart from Bengali, I am comfortable singing in Hindi and Punjabi. I have also sung in South Indian languages, but among them I feel most comfortable in Telugu. This is probably because I have sung for many Telugu films.
Nikita has sung More than 14 Telugu movies, some are popular Yevade Subramaniam (beautiful life), Arjun Reddy (Duram), and Majili (Na Gundelo).
Seagram’s Royal Stag Boombox focuses on the musical preferences of youth, providing a platform for artists to collaborate and explore new forms of music. Nikita says, “Contemporary genres like hip-hop are gaining immense popularity, while Bollywood tunes will always retain their charm. Such experimentation allows artists and composers to ignite the imagination of the younger generation by mixing and presenting music in a new avatar.
Trained in Hindustani classical music, Nikita says she still composes songs using the harmonium. “It’s the only instrument I’ve learned, and I feel most comfortable composing with it. Growing up, I was fond of listening to music, R&B and pop. I’m also a big fan of jazz and Indian folk. Currently, I’m working on projects that blend hip-hop and folk influences, which are two genres I love immensely.
On the subject of recreating classics, Nikita says, “When I am asked to recreate a classic song, my focus is on delivering what is expected of me. I take care not to sound like the original singer because it’s not meant to be entertainment. Personally, I enjoy reworking the classics because it provides a new perspective on the music. My first remix, Ittefaq Se (Raat Baaki), was an important milestone for me, especially because it was originally sung by Ashaji.
Talking about her current work schedule, Nikita says, “It is from studio to studio. Honestly, it would be a surprise to me if there was a day without recording,” she concludes with a smile.
This event will be organized on 25th January, 12 noon at Trident, Hyderabad, Hitech City.
published – January 23, 2025 03:18 PM IST
