Bengaluru musician Rishab Narain on his debut single ‘Loops’

Singer-songwriter Rishab Narain talks about his debut single ‘Loops’

When was the last time you felt like that hamster on a wheel, glassy eyed and tiny paws scrambling, frantically wishing your oft-repeated the motions will somehow break the monotony of life? Truth is, most of us have experienced that angst and have either doggedly plodded on or finally jumped off that wheel even if it left us reeling.

Well, Rishab Narain wrote a song. His debut single ‘Loops’ is about breaking free from the routine that cripples humanity into settling for a mere existence. “One day in Mumbai, I was travelling on the local train, and was suddenly aware of the sheer number of people. Everyone was doing something or the other — local tradespeople, students, corporate-types — it was extremely busy and the hustle was terrific. I looked at it all and realised I was also part of that universal rat race,” says Rishab.

The Bengaluru-based musician continues, “Somewhere deep down, I felt I should take a step back to enjoy simple things and appreciate smaller things, rather than just getting caught in the grind. That is when I wrote the lyrics to ‘Loops,’ sitting in that train in about 25 minutes flat. It has the simplest of lyrics as I wanted the song to be minimalistic. Once I got back home, I finished the song in its entirety.”

Rishab, who sings and plays the guitar, says ‘Loops’ was the first time he had created something entirely on his own, for himself. “I have worked with other artistes and bands, and it has always been a collaborative effort. But with ‘Loops’ I worked on the composition and its lyrics, and then got it recorded.” The video was released in September this year.

Currently playing with Bengaluru-bands Long Island Iced Tea and G5, Rishab remembers that pivotal moment when he was “moved” by the music. “I was listening to ‘Tears in Heaven’ by Eric Clapton and it truly inspired me — it made me pick up my sister’s guitar, but after I broke a couple of strings, I decided to get get a guitar on my own,” laughs the self-taught musician.

This was in 2010, and in the next two years, after getting a boost at a popular talent show, he began participating regularly in music fests and collaborating with different artistes and musicians.

Now after notching up more than 250 shows, Rishab has three more original numbers in the pipeline which he intends to release eventually. “My next song is a bit more upbeat and energetic, and though it will come under the genre of alternative music, it also has a few elements from pop and other styles. I wanted it to be thought-provoking though — it should make people sit and think, and not just listen to it a couple of times. It is more of a ballad and involves visualising lyrically.”