The pioneer of Indipop music in India who ushered in a new era with his songs – Raghav Mathur has recently returned with guns blazing and that too with the hot single Desperado, a melodious cocktail of peppy tunes that was woven together in a foot-pounding composition. But that’s not all, the popular singer collaborated with viral sensation Tesher who is known for delivering one blast after another.
The music video of the song, which released earlier this month, has garnered over 6 million views on YouTube so far. Apart from being a certified hit on the popular video sharing platform, the song managed to find its way into everyone’s hearts through Instagram reels. As Desperado is gaining momentum, Raghav and Tesher exclusively interacted with News18 Showsha, where they talked about the song and their collaboration.
Here are excerpts from the interview:
What’s the best thing you’ve heard from your fans about this song? or from the internet?
Raghav: The overwhelming sense of love for me, and the place I hold in people’s hearts, that they have expressed in the comments section or in my DMs has been truly overwhelming, and one of the most heartwarming experiences of my life.
Tesher: The best part of the fan response has been people sharing their memories of listening to Raghav’s music at important moments in their lives. I can’t imagine how incredible it must be for Raghav to see how much people love and appreciate him after 20+ years in the game.
I ask you about this cooperation. How did you guys know each other? What inspired the two of you to come together, apart from these two common factors that you are in Canada and you both make music?
Raghav: I had discovered Tesher’s music through young Sharukh, and when I heard Jalebi Baby, and found out it was not signed yet, I tried to get him a record deal for my own imprint had everything to offer.. alas within weeks the single was well above my paygrade and could not have made me any happier.
The fact that he said yes to Desperado is a huge blessing for me. He is a super talent and more importantly I see him as a younger brother.
I think a lot of people are really surprised at the collaboration, but if you take a step back, there are a lot of reasons why we get along really well creatively.
Tesher: A few years ago, when my music started playing, Raghav was very gracious in showing his support. About a year later he presented me some new tracks he was working on and asked me if I would like to work on any of them. I chose Desperado because it had the old-fashioned atmosphere we know and love Raghav for, and it also has a strong Latin influence which I also like.
So Tesher, would it be safe to say that Raghav has been one of your influences growing up? Since I can see the melody of his work in your approach to music as well? Young Shahrukh is the best example of this.
Tesher: It is interesting that you see this in young SRK! I don’t think we’ve ever heard Raghav rap but I think this will sound super dope!!
Talking about Desperado, it is a certified banger. It is very tasty and savory and encompasses all the aspects and trademarks of Raghav’s music and Tesher’s music. It has that old school vibe but at the same time it transitions into this Gen-Z sound and then oscillates into a different tangent. So I’m curious about the making of the song, how long did it take, and what kind of churning was there in the studio?
Raghav: Mushtaq (producer) and I wanted to emit a sense of danger à la Smooth Criminal (Michael Jackson) and musically it had to fit our early work as well as a future joint. What makes me happy the most is when people say that within seconds they knew it was Raghav’s song. How lucky am I that they feel that way!
Tesher: The worst thing is when there’s a random rap verse in the middle of a song that has nothing to do with the rest of the record, so I really wanted to make sure my verse felt connected to Raghav’s parts. . We actually did this by layering my voice over Raghav’s to transition from Raghav’s part to my poem! I mirrored his parts by making sure I included some Hindi sections and tried to continue the love letter-esque theme in the songs he wrote. I’m really just doing my part except from a rap perspective.
I noticed something about the song when I first heard it, it felt like a cocktail of tunes similar to some songs I may have heard at some point in my life but I can’t remember, so did you Did people consciously bring that influence into Desperado or did it happen organically?
Raghav: No, but I’m glad to hear that, being unintentionally familiar is a sign to me that it triggers recognizable emotions without actually doing so consciously. Don’t forget Mushtaq, Tesher and I are fans too…
Tesher: I guess all commercially successful music is a cocktail of influences. Diversity makes music more exciting, engaging and most importantly, more accessible to more people around the world. A lot of the credit for such a varied sounding record goes to the great Mushtaq who produced the song. He composed music for Raghav’s Storyteller album and so it is only fitting that he is back with Raghav!
Now presenting Desperado as a comeback song for you, Raghav, saying that, there must have been a lot of nervousness and anxiety before releasing the song for the whole world to hear, so what was your state of mind one day Or two before the release of the song? Do you have any intrusive thoughts like what if people don’t vibe, what if people don’t accept it?
Raghav: Yes, to be honest I am still nervous. What I’m trying to do here may or may not have been possible during my 30s but it was possible to do in my 40s but I tell my 7 year old daughter Rhea that she can do whatever she wants . How hypocritical I would be if I didn’t live by the fearlessness I’m trying to teach her.. so much panic be damned! I’m either gonna do it, or I’ll die trying.
As much as I loved the song, the music video also did a flawless job of enhancing its aura, how did you guys do it? Visual story for a song like this? And I also notice that Raghav has a cigar in his hand but he never lights it? Why didn’t you burn it?
Raghav: Haha, cigar is simple, we filmed the video in a heritage house protected by the Canadian government. If I’d lit that cigar I’d be conducting this interview from jail right now.. The video was ambitious and hard to pull off with an independent budget, but what we lacked in major label funding we made up for in Love, Passion Did. Team. Tesher’s manager Divya put her whole heart into it, as did Tesher himself; The crew was fantastic and everyone was on the same page for the most part. It was not easy but we tried to do something special and not just bottles and models as Tesher says. I hope time will prove that we did it right!
Tesher: I believe Raghav did not light a cigar to ensure that the censor board in India would allow the video to be aired on TV without the “Smoking is injurious to health” warning throughout the video.
The age of social media has been a boon and a curse for indie artists. It is a boon as your music reaches out to all and has the potential to become a viral sensation, it is also a curse as I know many artistes whose songs may be good but they do not gain traction. Similarly a poorly made song or an average song can become a hit. So considering all the factors of social media and the unpredictable scenario, have you guys ever felt the pressure of creating viral songs? And does that pressure to go viral determine what your music is going to sound like?
Raghav: Time…time allows real art to win. No winner is decided in the short term. That hasn’t changed. My heart dictates my voice. full stop.
Tesher: I cannot allow that kind of thinking to enter my creative process because it will inevitably lead to disappointment. Every song made by me that went viral was not conceived by me to go viral nor was it made with the intention of going viral. I just go in and make music that I think is dope – that’s all I can really control so no point worrying about anything else!
What are your thoughts on artists belonging to South Asian communities and their representation in the American music industry? Are they given proper recognition and platform?
Raghav: I think recent times show us more clearly how different the opportunities are for people of color in the entertainment business than for others. I’m still processing what I’m going through while being grateful for what I’ve achieved. It’s subtle..but look how much the world has changed. If Arijit Singh woke up to the streaming of numbers of most western artistes.. he would be crushed… it is more of a meritocracy in some ways.. there is work to be done.. and all things we in the arts have to maintain Working your way towards progress.
Tesher: It’s going great. I can personally tell you that Jalebi Baby turned the heads of many a label executive and sparked a renewed interest in the potential of our community in mainstream America. Now it’s up to our artists to step up to the plate and make music that captures the whole world, not just other brown people.
So Tesher, you recently met Shah Rukh Khan, how was that meeting? What did you guys talk about and what did they have to say about your song Young Shahrukh?
Tesher: Shahrukh sir is one of the nicest and most thoughtful people I have met so far. No other king has ever deserved this title more than King Khan. We’ve talked many times over the years but finally had the opportunity to visit in person in Dubai which was great. And yes, she loves to sing!
So Raghav, now that you have finally made a comeback and the song has become a hit, how do you plan to take it forward with the momentum you have gained? Would you be open to more collaborations? Will we see you and Tesher again in a different song? What’s the plan now?
Raghav: I would love to work with Tesh again. It’s up to him. As far as coming, it’s weeks away, not months. This time I didn’t turn back to walk away!
What about you Tesher? What exciting things would we like to hear from you? What are the chances of Raghav featuring in any of your future songs?
Tesher: My next big solo single is coming out on 2nd June. From Young Shah Rukh to Jalebi Baby now making this new third song has been a wild journey. It’s very experimental but I think people will love it! And yes, there will definitely be another Raghav x Tesher collab. Canadians stick together!