October 2024: Long gone are the days when you were just a playback singer: Aastha Gill

What started from ‘Dhup Chik’ in Fugly, became enormously popular with ‘Abhi To Party Shuru Hui Hai’ & ‘DJ Waale Babu’, has become one of the most trusted and famous voices of Indian music industry. Aastha Gill is ethereal, and one can feel that in her latest song ‘Nazar’. We got a chance to have a candid chat with her recently for our October digital cover and without much ado, here is what she said:

Tell us about ‘Nazar’ from the perspective of Aastha Gill

The song stems from that intense feeling you get when you see someone you can’t stop admiring. In that moment, you just hope “isko kisi ki nazar na lag jaaye”. The music has a 2000s vibe, and the song was written by Hiten, Dilbar, and me, with Hiten also handling composition and production.

‘Nazar’ has a very catchy video, tell us more about it

Since the music has a strong 2000s vibe, we wanted the video to contrast with that. We went with a contemporary club setup where I’m searching for the guy while being my usual clumsy self (LOL). We explored a masquerade party theme, which I found pretty interesting. If you think about it, the masks tie in perfectly with the title “Nazar”. That’s how the concept came about, and the rest is there for everyone to see. ☺️

How has been your experience of collaborating with Hiten?

Hiten and I have been working together for quite some time now. He’s amazing—he understands my vocal texture and knows what kind of songs suit my voice. As for music production, he’s a genius. I’ve learned a lot from him. We’ve worked together on songs like “Paani Paani,” “Saawariya,” “Like A Snake,” and now “Nazar.” Beyond work, we’re also good friends, and we can talk for hours.

Watch ‘Nazar’ here:

How has been the association with Warner Music India?

It’s been great. The team at Warner Music India is incredibly motivated, and their energy rubs off on you. When you’re at their office, you feel driven to work even harder. More importantly, I can sit down with them and discuss my vision, and they’re willing to put in the effort to bring that vision to life. I feel privileged to be working with such an amazing team.

How much of your personality, do you think, gets integrated into your work?

Yes, I think my personality definitely influences my music. This comes through not just in the music videos but also in the songwriting process. I’m always engaged with the lyricists, ensuring that the lyrics resonate with me. While working on “Nazar,” I kept suggesting changes to Hiten, and because he understands me well, it was an easy process. I believe this personal connection adds a new dimension to the song.

How important is the overall look and appearance for an artist in today’s time of high value productions on videos for songs? How do you inspire yourself to be fit and camera-ready?

I love being fit. It’s something that’s personally important to me, so staying in shape feels natural. Gone are the days when singers were just behind-the-scenes playback artists. Today, we are in front of the camera, presenting our own songs, so being presentable is key. I enjoy the process of making my music come to life visually and creatively in my music videos. It gives my work a 360-degree, multi-dimensional quality.

How do you view competition and evolution?

There’s always competition, and it’s healthy. But for me, the challenge is to outdo myself with every song. My focus is on evolving, breaking my own barriers, and constantly improving. Even when other artists release great music, I enjoy listening to it. If I claim to love music, I have to appreciate all good music, whether it’s mine or not. For me, evolution is about becoming better with each passing day.

Earlier this year, I took some time off to reflect on the direction I wanted my music to take. I spent a lot of time in the studio, writing and composing my own songs. In the past five to six months, I’ve moved away from worrying about what works and what doesn’t, and I’ve started focusing on experimentation and growth.

What is your take on the gender gap in the music industry?

I do feel there’s a gender gap, and it can be more challenging for women to make it big. This is partly due to societal norms—it’s more accepted for men to project a larger-than-life image and position themselves as stars. In our country, women are still finding their footing as leaders, but this is evolving. It’s a gradual process, but we’re working towards creating an industry that offers equal opportunities and is more inclusive.

What are the projects you are working on for the rest of the year?

I’m working on a couple of new songs, and another single will likely be released in October. As I mentioned, I’ve spent the last few months focused on creating music, so there’s a lot more to come.

How has been your experience working with Bluprint?

Working with Bluprint, especially with Dhruv Wadhwa, has been fantastic. We’ve been hustling together for years, and at this point, we’re like family. We’re all working toward the same vision, trying to make it a reality.

Vision is a word that may have just six alphabets but has the enormity to span over your lifetime. A strong belief in vision can make wonders happen from sources never expected. One can sense a judicious mix of calmness along with excitement, gravity along with dreams to fly high, sincerity along with the charm of a harmless mischief with Aastha Gill.

Last 5-6 years have seen a trajectory that has made Aastha a known name. We would love to sit back with her again in a year’s time to talk about how life has shaped with the vision and the hard work that is being put by her to make that vision come true. Till then, its time to keep streaming ‘Nazar’!

Article by Vishwa Deepak Dikshit

Cover Designer: Raj Abhishek

HMU: Robin aka Cash Makeup Artistry

Styling: Aastha Gill

Artist Management: BluPrint Inc

Publicist: Dream N Hustle Media