In this feature, we explore the creative landscape behind YATRA, an album that resonates with the rich tapestry of Tamil romance. Tariq Hisny, renowned in the Tamil music industry, opens up about his journey in crafting this poignant collection. He discusses the driving inspirations, the intricacies of collaboration, and the challenges faced in bringing YATRA to life.
This intimate interview offers a glimpse into Hisny’s artistic process, shedding light on the depth of emotion and musical innovation that characterizes the album. As we delve into the stories and melodies of YATRA, readers are invited to experience the profound connection and narrative artistry that Hisny brings to the forefront.
What inspired you to create YATRA, and what does the title signify in relation to the album’s themes?
I have been releasing Tamil songs as singles. So, I thought to make an album with five to seven songs very similar to a typical Tamil film soundtrack. Yatra, this name was given by my lyric writer Nazeem Roomy. According to him, Yatra means Journey. He used to tell me we must make a song name Yatra one day. So, I finally ended up using this name to an album. The songs are pretty much related to romance and suspense. Therefore, we call the album is about a Romantic Journey.
YATRA features a diverse range of musical collaborations, including a rap song ‘Hey Penne.’ Could you discuss the decision to incorporate such varied genres and how these collaborations align with the album’s vision?
Listeners with Indian music tastes tend to listen to varied genres in a single album. Also, there are people only expect Hip-Hop like songs. So, I wanted to make one song as Hip Hop or a Trap to cover certain audience. I asked singer Nithin to write the lyric and sing this different track and he delivered nicely at the end. Also, I see lots of positive comments for making this album more open and varied in genre.
Can you describe your songwriting and composition process for YATRA? How do you integrate traditional Tamil music with contemporary sounds?
Traditional Tamil music with contemporary sounds is the way to go for any audience who listen to any Indian Tamil song. When I started writing the songs, I chose certain traditional classical raag to accompany my musical compositions. There are few songs I chose pure South Indian Raag (Carnatic) with some contemporary sounds and mixing techniques. I truly believe when used like this way, the songs get featured at a higher note.
How have classic artists in the Tamil music scene influenced your work on this album?
Yuvan Shankar Raja and AR Rahman sir are my inspirations. Their music influenced me a lot and I used to listen to their classical pieces and contemporary techniques too often. I believe that influence is one of the factors that I compose at this level.
Do you have a favorite track on the album? If so, could you share any creative challenges or highlights experienced during its production?
I would say “Tholaivinil Tholaivinil” sung by Abhijith Ajayan is my favorite as we had several versions recorded. There’s no musical challenge in this song. However, I had to remove some elements of the music to make the lead voice becomes more prominent. Also, this song reminds me my first Tamil song “Hey Penne” sung by Sathyaprakash in 2017. Considering the musical elements and its technique, I prefer Tholaivinil Tholaivinil over “Hey Penne.” I also feel this album is better than my debut work “Izhaar-E-Ishq”, which was released in 2016 in terms of the varied genre and production techniques.
What message or experience do you hope listeners will take away from YATRA?
The songs are not really limited to a certain genre. So, I hope the listener will listen to at least one song fully. If you still didn’t listen to the songs, have a listen to the songs and please do share it with everyone.
Through the lens of YATRA, Tariq Hisny invites us into a world where love’s multifaceted expressions are encapsulated in melody and verse. This interview peels back the layers of Hisny’s creative process, revealing the depth of passion and meticulous craftsmanship that defines his approach to Tamil romantic music. Hisny’s work stands as a testament to the enduring power of musical storytelling, weaving connections that transcend boundaries and speak directly to the heart.
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