Aadat is very close to my heart: Antara Nandy

The voice behind the Balcony Concert series and the Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L’il Champs finalist weaves a tribute to love in her latest single

Team L&M

Singer-songwriter Antara Nandy has released her harmonious new single, Aadat featuring classical guitarist Amritanshu Dutta. Aadat is a song that symbolises the power of strength in love. Qyuki artiste Nandy, who shot to fame during last year’s lockdown with the Balcony Concert series on social media, is best known for being among the top 10 of AR Rahman’s YouTube Original show ARRived and a finalist in Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L’il Champs (2009). With Aadat, Nandy pushes the musical ante, weaving in mellifluous flute interludes and acoustic guitar parts in the composition, as she and Dutta reimagine Indian classical rhythms for the present generation. Aadat marks their second collaboration after 2019’s Aayi Re Badraa.

In the accompanying music video for Aadat, Nandy is seen wading through the lush verdure of a forest. A falling leaf catches her eye and she pursues the offering of nature while reminiscing about her love. She is lost and found in the rays of sunlight that filter through the foliage. Clips of rustic discovery and fireworks weave in as Nandy’s rich vocals lead the listener on an evocative audio-visual escapade. The music video culminates in a celebration of colour as Nandy steps onto the seashore and paints a vibrant love in all its luminous hues. Always an aficionado of nature, Nandy welcomes the Earth into Aadat too, making humanity’s everlasting home a part of her new romance.

“Aadat is a song that very close to my heart. It explores the bitterness nuances of being in love, the strength that it gives you and fear of being separated from your loved one. Amritanshu Dutta and I have worked on this together in an attempt to keep the essence of Indian Classical Music alive through our origin. I really hope and pray that the chords of this tune strike right with the audience and they like our work. I also want to thank Qyuki for supporting me and constantly pushing me to do better,” says Nandy.

The vocalist, composer and songwriter, who has previously collaborated with Oscar and Grammy Award-winning musician AR Rahman (Ganga, Nis Din, Mission Paani Anthem), as well as performed alongside Indian music legends Udit Narayan and Ranjit Barot, is all set to release 5 more original songs this year.

As an independent musician, Nandy has put out five singles in 2021 so far (as part of the duo Nandy Sisters), including the Indo-pop bangers Ishq Wale Mail and Takayaka Makajhum. Being the first person in her family to pursue the arts, it’s Nandy’s vision to offer listeners a limitless music experience. Fans can expect Nandy to explore different genres and bring forth never-before-seen facets of her artistry in upcoming releases.