“I was really excited to see how two young artists' energies collide to create something very playful and youthful,” says Santanu Hazarika, while talking about his latest song 'Mehrbaan'.
Every track needs a video that captures the essence of what the song is about. Although we love visually pleasing videos, it's the thought behind them that gets us excited about it. Visual artist, Shantanu Hazarika's latest project Mehrbaan bridges cultures and genres with this dynamic collaboration with Indian pop sensation, Ritviz and Pakistani pop-R&B artist, Hasan Raheem and showcases Santanu's creative illustrations.
Known for his enigmatic artistry, Santanu has designed the artwork for Mehrbaan to beautifully capture the synergy between the two artists and the music they created together. This MV reflects a seamless blend of vibrant melodies, heart-thumping rhythms, and evocative lyricism, promising an unforgettable listening experience. His artwork encapsulates Haasan and Ritviz’s unique styles, adding visual depth to the musical innovation.
We sat down with the artist to learn more about this collaboration. And here's what he had to say!
Firstly, congratulations on the project. Can you tell us a bit about Mehrbaan and what the song means to you?
Mehrbaan is a very playful song between Ritwiz and Hasan. I feel like the sound and the music is what sets us apart. The signature Ritviz sound mixed with Hasan's voice gives a very playful feel to the song. I think that quite translates well with the delivery, music and the sound. Yeah, it's a fun song that I would listen to, to change my mood and to make me feel good. It also has a touch of nostalgia, that's a personal observation. The nostalgia factor is what sets this one apart!
What is the one thing you were excited for Ritviz and Hasan Raheem to bring into the project?
The melody. Hasan's music is very melodic, and Ritviz is Ritviz. I was really excited to see how two young artists' energies collide to create something very playful and youthful. And I was especially looking forward to the kind of melody they would play around with.
One thing that stands out in the song apart from the composition and the artists involved is its visual elements. How did you conceptualize the visuals to capture the synergy between the two artists?
Ritviz and I go all the way back. We worked with him for his first two albums, a bunch of his singles, and a lot of other things like all the visual identities and the key visuals. It worked between us right in the start and we've had a long-term relationship not just as peers working together, but also on a personal level. We're friends and we both were involved equally in discussing the concept around the artwork for the music video. This time we went with a different approach because the kind of artwork, elements, and visual style used here are very different from what I used to do before.
Were there any specific lyrics or tracks that particularly inspired certain visual elements?
Nostalgia is a very big part of what the song makes me feel so I wanted to do a traditional style of painting. Mughal miniature paintings inspired the style that I chose. This is a common lineage, a common history that all of us share. So, the whole idea around the artwork was to recreate Ritviz and Hasan as characters in an old traditional Mughal miniature-style painting.
What personal significance does this project hold for you as an artist?
Ritviz and I collaborated again after taking a little hiatus from working together. Plus the direction for the song which is very different from our past works because of the creative explorations we've had outside of our collaboration. I got involved with another style of work, he wanted to do another kind of album artwork and stuff. So I feel like the major significance is our reunion and reigniting that old jugalbandi of work, creating and making art, and doing things together.
What is the response to the song like?
The response has been really nice. I can only tell you the response through my social media, people I know around me because they have been sharing, re-sharing the artwork, and sharing the song a lot. It turned out quite well!
Check out the song here!
Have you listened to the song yet? Let us know your thoughts below.
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