We all are influenced by the songs of singer and lyricist Raman Negi when he was a part of the band, The Local Train. The song ‘Khara Hoon Aaj Bhi Main’ from the album ‘Aas Ke Paar’ may have been released in 2015, but people still remember it. After a fruitful collaboration, Negi made the transition and went solo in 2022 after 14 years. With two different albums released in two years, the singer has been taking his fans and audiences on a musical journey beyond genres. He is also popular for his interesting live performances. Actually, Raman Negi will perform live Bandland 2.0as well as Lollapalooza in 2025Both programs will be produced and promoted by BookMyShow Live, the live entertainment experiential division of BookMyShow.

In an exclusive interview with India Today Digital, Raman Negi shares insights about his creative process, staying relevant and current amid the ever-evolving ‘trends’ in the music industry and living alone. Describing it as ‘bold’ and ‘challenging’, he explained how it has inspired him to take more risks. He also talked about the future of indie music in India. Part…

Your music resonates deeply with themes of life, love, and personal growth. What inspires your songwriting process, and how do you translate emotions into sound?

My songwriting process has always been based on “where I am” and “what I want to be in life.” I think when you’re a full-time artist, your creative and personal life is bound to have ups and downs. I love addressing personal struggles and how I, as a person, react to the world and vice versa in my songs.

Translating emotions into a sonic experience that my listeners can hear has been a lifelong journey and a process that will always continue. I like to use what I’m going through as fuel for my songwriting process. When you just want to express what you’re honestly feeling in the moment, it makes the creative process easier and more engaging; You don’t need to force the ideas to flow. Once you start showing up for yourself it starts to happen automatically.

You had a remarkable tour with the band, The Local Train, before going solo. How has the transition from band member to solo artist affected your approach to music?

I have always been a musician and lyricist first and a casual singer second. When I write my own music and lyrics, I can sing them too. The transition to a solo artist has made the songwriter in me more adventurous (which is why I went solo to explore my abilities and also have a little more fun while I’m at it). It’s forced me to take more risks and I feel like I’m on my way to becoming the artist I envisioned myself as a child.

Plus, it’s great to write a song and hear the entire arrangement in your head before recording it. It empowers you to do more. I have become more free with my music now and that has always been the most important part of this journey.

Being part of both a band and a solo venture, what are the unique challenges and rewards of each?

As a solo artist you have a lot of unique challenges because you’re running the show. Releasing two albums in two years has really tested me and made me realize what I can do in the future.

Being a solo artist makes me busy and it can be stressful, but as you keep at it, it also takes you to a new level. I don’t know about awards, because making the music I want to make, being free and doing the things I want to do creatively is the greatest reward of all.

In today’s music industry, where trends evolve rapidly, how do you stay true to your roots while experimenting with new sounds?

What you mean to say is that trends ‘change’ or ‘disappear’ quickly, and so do artists.

Good music will survive. It has always been alive and thriving, it just needs its time. The media circus that surrounds us in the music industry can make anyone feel inferior because everyone is talking about virility and the discussion about music is more about statistics rather than artistic growth. So, in this environment, I choose to be a musician every day, rather than follow trends.

Also, it also comes from the fact that ‘why do you want to be a musician’. If your answer is anything other than because you love making music, you’re in the wrong business. I believe in what I do and first and foremost I want to be a good musician. Trends will come and go, but good music will always be there. That’s all you have to remember.

Looking back at your career, what was the most challenging phase and how did you overcome it?

I think that’s when I decided to go solo. Starting over is hard, but it also teaches you a lot of things and that’s what happened. I had doubts about how it would happen, how I was going to do it, etc. The answer is ‘to do’. I only focused on the things that were under my control, which included writing and producing music. I turned down the noise and continued writing and releasing music. Now I look back at the last two years and see that most of the questions and doubts have gone away on their own. Like I said, the magic is in doing the work and being honest about it.

With independent music becoming more popular in India, how do you see the future of indie artists in the country?

I think the future is bright for indie artists in the country. There is so much independent music being produced and released from different parts of the country that it shows just how much untapped talent there is.

What advice would you give to musicians looking to establish their voice in the industry?

The only advice I would like to give to aspiring artists is to keep honing your craft, be fearless, take risks and speak the truth. Once you’ve committed to the process of identifying what you love and what you want to share with the world, your creations are the first step toward truly finding your own voice.