‘Chasing light… In the night time I’m passing by… There’s a tunnel in the back of my mind… To a long-forgotten time…”
These nostalgic lines open Sahana Naresh’s brand new single ‘Chasin Light’, which released on May 14. This indie-pop number in English has been written and sung by Naresh and produced by Papercup Records. Keshav Purushotham, the producer of the number, also contributed to writing its poignant lyrics. It’s been mixed by Niklas Schneider and mastered by Steddy.
“Have you ever stood in your room, phone in hand, mid-scroll and suddenly asked yourself what you are even doing here? If so, ‘Chasin Light’ is what you need to listen to,” explains the talented singer.
She describes her new single ‘Chasin Light’ as a “melodic meditation on modern-day drifting – the kind that pairs beautifully with moody sunsets, rainy car rides or those late-night conversations with your most introspective friend (even if that friend is just your own overthinking brain).” Naresh’s deep vocals play well to the haunting lilt of this indie-pop song, which stays with you long after you have heard it.
In her words, “The track balances introspection with hope – a feeling best described as ‘emotional GPS calibration’.” She further says, “Add this song to your playlist if you have ever had a main character moment while looking out a bus window, wondered if you are chasing dreams or just chasing your tail, and wanted to cry, then dance, then cry again.
‘Chasin Light’ is a flashlight for anyone fumbling through life’s in-betweens.”
Born and raised in Chennai, Naresh employs a multilingual and genre-fluid expression for her music. She has been trained in Carnatic and Hindustani classical and proudly attests to being able to sing at the drop of a hat. This has allowed her to carve out a unique space for herself in the indie music scene. Some of her best-known earlier works include numbers like ‘Vaari Vaari’ and ‘Only Constant is Change’, where her prowess of blending storytelling with sonics was firmly established. ‘Chasin Light’ elevates this talent further.
Though she sings in multiple languages, she jokingly tells us that her true talent is to forget lyrics right before hitting record on a new piece! She says she grew up surrounded by music that “made no sense together but somehow worked.” There was music by A.R. Rahman and Ilaiyaraaja as well as The Strokes and Regina Spektor. The result? “A sound that refuses to stay in one lane, much like my train of thought,” she smiles.
“I grew up listening to an eclectic array of music genres thanks to my parents. This included Carnatic music, Kollywood and Bollywood intertwined with 70s rock and roll influences like The Beatles. I’m currently embracing the wide spectrum of these varied musical influences and composing music in English, Hindi and Tamil. I believe my music is like a long conversation one has with their closest friend. At the heart of my music are the stories we all share; the fight against societal norms; the late-night existential overthinking and the courage that it takes to a live a life that is truly our own,” she says with conviction.
Naresh recently began composing Tamil music as well. Her first Tamil song was the hit ‘Naalu Peru’ for Warner Music India’s Maati and it crossed 2.2M+ views on YouTube. She also holds the distinction of over 500,000 streams of her music on Spotify, having released 11 singles and an EP along with seven music videos. “Shore Out Of Reach”, her debut EP, was an ode to the artist’s fascination and love for the mysteries of the sea and the deep metaphors they inspire. “Through music I hope to pay tribute to the dreams I have and the relationships that nourish me as well as the truths I have uncovered in life,” she shares.
Among her many achievements, Naresh has opened for Emmy Award-winning comedian Vir Das at two of his shows in Bengaluru. Her single ‘Raat Kate’ was sync-licensed for the Canadian TV show ‘Potluck Ladies’. She also performed at the All About Music Conference in 2022, after being shortlisted from 200 applicants to perform at the All About Music Conference Indie Showcase in Mumbai that year.
Naresh also performed at Covelong Surf Festival at Kovalam in 2023 and was shortlisted for the Deccan Alternative Music Conference as Bengaluru’s top 8 indie music acts of 2024. Her debut Tamil track ‘Naalu Peru’ challenges patriarchy with a punch.
Ask her what’s next and she says she’s taking some time off while she promotes this new single. “When I’m not making music, you can usually find me overthinking lyrics, dreaming about food or hanging out with my daughter Tara.”
Sahana Naresh’s new single ‘Chasin Light’ can be streamed across platforms.
Noor Anand Chawla pens lifestyle articles for various publications and her blog www.nooranandchawla.com.
