Ask a young person where they find the music they listen to, and chances are many will name Instagram Reels as a primary source. The music that does well on this platform, attracting millions of downloads, is usually short and peppy in nature. Fortunately, singer-songwriter Neeraj Rajawat achieves this mandate for success with his latest release and third independent song titled “Zaroori Saman”. The song is fun and romantic as it explores the themes of love, longing, and the feelings one experiences when forced to separate from their loved ones.
When asked about the song, Rajawat says, “’Zaroori Saman’ tells the story of a lover who is about to depart for another country, possibly forever, leaving behind a trail of emotions and cherished memories. The song’s lyrics paint a vivid picture of the emotions associated with such a farewell, where one’s personal belongings, letters, and diaries remain as the only signs of the connection that once was.”
“The song seeks to explore the theme of the possessions that can’t be contained within a suitcase. These include a heartbeat and one’s emotions at the point when someone you deeply care for is embarking on a journey far away. It captures the essence of bidding farewell to a beloved person moving to another country, possibly for an indefinite period. The realization that the chances of reuniting with this person are slim, if not impossible, make the lament in the song stronger. It conveys the emotional weight of knowing that you may never have the opportunity to meet that person again,” he shares.
However, Rajawat didn’t start out as a singer-songwriter. His professional journey began in the field of advertising, where he spent a decade creating noteworthy jingles and advertisements. The expertise he gained in this sphere helped him in his chosen profession of singing as it endowed him with the ability to craft beautiful and memorable songs. During this time, he was a copywriter for industry giants like Lowe Lintas, McCann Erickson, and Ogilvy. His recent jingle for Cadbury’s chocolate was a particularly popular one.
Through his work, Rajawat has made a name for himself as a songwriter with soulful expression, yet with this number, he also introduces us to his vocal skills. He has previously written music for industry stalwarts that include Raghu Dixit (for whom he has written popular numbers like ‘Ambar’, ‘Khidki’, ‘Jag Changa’, ‘Rain Song’, and several tracks from Dixit’s forthcoming album), Papon (tracks like ‘Choti Choti Baatein’ and ‘O Baavle Jharne’), and Jasleen Royal (songs like ‘Din Shagna Da’ and ‘Sang Rahiyo’), among others. His song writing prowess transcends pre-defined genres. Hence, Rajawat has collaborated with renowned artists such as Abha Hanjura, Ujjwal Kashyap, Pankaj Awasthi, Amit Trivedi, and Anurag Kaushal, Samira Koppikar among others.
He has also written for Bollywood, and his most notable songs have appeared in movies like ‘NH10’, ‘Phillauri’, ‘Hitchki’, and ‘Dear Dad’. For his work on ‘NH10’, he earned a nomination in the Radio Mirchi Awards 2015 for the category of the ‘Best Upcoming Lyricist of the Year’ and a GIMA (Global Indian Music Academy) Award as the ‘Best Upcoming Artist of the Year’ for the song ‘Maati Ka Palang’, which was sung and composed by Samira Koppikar. The range of movies he has written songs for is a testament to his versatile talent.
The video for ‘Zaroori Saman’ plays off the poignant lyrics of the song. Rajawat explains, “To work within budget constraints, my director Hansraj Arya and I decided to use physical elements that were mentioned in the song’s lyrics to create a visual narrative. I believe this approach adds depth and meaning to the video, allowing it to perfectly complement the music.”
Now that this song is out in public and has been received quite well, Rajawat has begun to work on a number of new and contemporary songs which he plans to release in the next few months. “At the moment, I’m actively seeking a record label to help accelerate my musical journey. I’m also gearing up for a number of live performances. With a talented team of young and passionate musicians by my side, I believe I’m on the cusp of an exciting new chapter in my musical career.”
‘Zaroori Saman’, with its meaningful lyrics and sung in Rajawat’s soulful voice is sure to resonate with many people. It is available for download on all major music streaming platforms.
Noor Anand Chawla writes on lifestyle for many publications and her blog www.nooranandchawla.com