At only age 17, Kiara Chettri has accomplished much. Her debut album — 4AM — has been quite a hit and Chettri’s latest single, Why (not part of her album), has taken a similar trajectory. To help produce this mellow-mood track, Chettri had Rohan Solomon on board. Here’s more from the Class XII student from Gurgaon.

Why is such a sombre song. How did you come up with it?

I wanted to write a song that was universally relatable. Everyone has gone through some loss or grief in their lives (more so, in recent times) and I wanted everyone to be able to connect with the sentiment in Why. The title itself conveys the message of the song. When we feel lonely or sad, we question ‘why’ we are feeling this way even if we don't get any answers. I remember sitting down to write some lyrics down and suddenly had an idea to write about a subject that everyone can relate to. Whether it’s a small or a big loss in their lives, everyone has gone through loss and grief.

It seems that Sam Smith’s music has been the muse for the single.

I was heavily inspired by Sam Smith’s music for Why because all of his songs have a touch of grandness, which is exactly what I wanted for Why. From the instruments used, like the violins and the cello, to the composition, Sam Smith was my inspiration.

The orchestral mood of the song and the pace do identify with loneliness. Why is it important to highlight such a theme?

I wanted Why to be a song that really expresses the emotions we feel when we are alone. The cello and violins are the best instruments to convey such a message and make listeners really feel the song. I think it was important for me to highlight such a theme because it not only compliments the lyrics but also expresses all the emotions we feel when we are sad, like anger, grief and loneliness.

Musically, would you say it came out the way you wanted it to?

It did come out exactly the way I wanted it to. I am so happy with the song and wouldn’t go back to change anything at all. My producer, Rohan Solomon, and I really put in our all and made sure to make a song that connected with everyone.

The music video came out a few days ago. Can you describe the video?

We had a mood board made to decide on the colours and the basic vibe of the video. All of this was super exciting for me as this is my first big video. I really hope everyone enjoys the video as much as they enjoy the song. I want to give people a visual to the emotions and thoughts when they listen to the song.

The reaction to the debut album, 4AM, was good. What else are you working on?

I learned a lot from my debut album. I matured as a songwriter; I have a better sense of music now and, overall, I have learned how to make sure each and every song conveys a message. I also learned a lot about creating a good and healthy balance between my school work and my music. Education is very important to me, so I never compromise on that front. It has been hard to balance the two since I am in Class XII but every day I learn a little more about how to manage time. I have been writing a lot lately and have been working on a few other exciting songs. I have put in a lot of honesty and thought into the songs that I will be releasing hereon. They are very different from everything I have done till now, whether it’s in the way of music or lyrics. I just want to make sure that each and every single connects with listeners and their deepest emotions. I really hope to inspire listeners with my lyrics and I hope it helps them out in some way or the other.

Know the artiste

Artiste: Kiara Chettri, 17

Genre: Pop

Stack next to: Taylor Swift, Lorde, Tori Kelly

Stream now: A Reason, Kinara tu, 4AM