MUMBAI: Singer-songwriter Nikitaa has come up with her new single ‘Universe’ (Acoustic) and spoke exclusively to The Daily Guardian about her new song.
Q. Which type of music you enjoy being a part of?
I enjoy doing stripped down/acoustic versions of my songs as it lets me explore and share a different side of the same music that listeners have already heard. It’s so much fun and at times even more emotionally powerful to record (vocally) than the original rendition. And I think it’s in keeping with my brand – showcasing both sides of the feminine. The more upbeat, fully produced, and more polished side as well as the more raw and bare side of both my music and me.
Q. What was the best thing about ‘Universe’ (Acoustic) for you?
For the acoustic version of ‘Universe’ I wanted to pick apart the actual in-studio production from the track. There are these beautiful emotional strings and pads on the original track that shine specifically on the bridge. So I took those and shone a spotlight on them and built the entire track around them. Both versions of the song are powerful and joyful declarations of falling in love but this one feels more reflective and gentle. It has more stillness to it. Even the vocals are that much more relaxed, vulnerable and shimmery – especially at the end, which was my favourite part of recording this rendition.
Q. What was the idea behind the music video?
For the video, I wanted to do something that tapped into my sense of spirituality and also told a story not just of lovers/partners but also of the world. The video is a looped 3D visualizer created by the ever-talented Akshat Agarwal. Each scene represents a card from the practice of Tarot which is something I’ve been partaking in for a few years now and draw so much inspiration from. Even though its popularly believed to have originated in the 1400s, Tarot draws deeply on ancient Egyptian and Greek values and archetypes; and even if you do not practice, the very themes and symbols of each card in the deck carry so much wisdom that we can learn from.
Q. What does each scene in the music video represents?
The first scene represents The Tower card which depicts crumbling of old ideas, beliefs, even relationships. The second scene represents The World card which depicts the waiting or resting period we all need when something ends but something new is yet to emerge. The third scene represents The Fool card which depicts faith, hope, and a new beginning; The Fool believes in possibilities others may not even be able to see. The fourth scene represents The Lovers card which depicts love, unity, joy, compassion, and understanding.
Q. Any particular message you want to share with your audience keeping the song in mind?
The idea was to show that even though – both in the world and in our personal lives – things may be changing, or crumbling when we keep the faith alive and put in the work we can come together to build something new. Something that builds a better understanding, more love, and greater compassion amongst ourselves.