In a world driven by uncertainties and chaos, Jaimin Rajani's latest single Can’t Get Away offers a poignant take on how the vicissitudes of life stretch beyond one’s control.

A beautiful arpeggio on guitars assisted by a compelling bassline and a host of string instruments form a rich tapestry of acoustic harmony, pulling the listener away into a state of introspection.

Recorded amidst the tranquillity of rural Bengal on a cold winter day, Can’t Get Away builds a fertile ground for imagination and relatability in the listener’s mind, aided by the dynamic sound of The Bluegrass Journeymen woven with the captivating charm of Jaimin’s lyrics.

Navigating uncertain circumstances

Much like the lyrical theme, Jaimin remarks that the process of making the track was mired in struggle and uncertainty. “This is a song I had written back in January 2022; for some reason, I had the bluegrass instrumentation in mind.”

It was a matter of coincidence that Mandolin player Patrick Fitzsimons, leader of the Journeymen, was in Bengal for a month, meeting friends and jamming with local musicians. “Patrick invited me to come down to Santiniketan to record a new track. Hence, it wasn’t hard as I knew I had just the song for them,” Jaimin says.

The whole song was recorded as a single track featuring almost a dozen instruments, which made mixing and mastering the raw file impossible. “I had a hope that the band would reunite but given that it is a vast collective where members keep changing, the reunion seems a far cry," the songwriter adds.

Not wanting to give up, Jaimin turned to Artificial Intelligence to isolate the instruments and go to a studio and rerecord the vocals for proper editing. “The single-track recording we did in Santiniketan was not suitable to put on streaming platforms. It was my dream to feature such a talented group of musicians. So, I decided I would do whatever possible to formally put out this song,” he adds.

Jaimin Rajani

Honesty and relatability a mark of sentimental songwriter

Jaimin recalls a quote by a prolific musician that the era of the sentimental songwriter is over. “The sentiment in today’s pop music or the trending reels has completely reversed. Somewhere the sensitivity has been completely tossed and the dominant lyrical recourse has taken a narcissistic shift. The focus is on making music suitable for social media reels,” he explains.

Jaimin relies on honesty and relatability in his lyrics as he calls himself an “open book”, a confessional songwriter with all of his songs based on real events in his life. “It takes courage to be vulnerable in your work. I don’t release songs just for the sake of it. Although the market works on quantity over quality, I believe the basic process of making music should be respected,” he adds.

Creative spirits run high in rural Bengal

The genre of American bluegrass embodies a sense of nostalgia and spiritual sentiments, perfectly matching the rustic allure of Santiniketan. “We were surrounded by beautiful scenery and our whole time was spent jamming with Bengali musicians,” Patrick says.

The multi-instrumental collective has been a repeat visitor in Tagore’s hometown to immerse itself in a secluded world of nature and music. The notes of strings conjure a bridge to augment Jaimin’s vocals, transforming bare words into a wholesome experience of folksy acoustic extravaganza. Despite the heavy lyrical theme, the track progresses with multiple melody lines keeping a spontaneous and upbeat tune throughout, creating a dichotomy of sorts.

“Jaimin is such a warm, friendly guy. Working with him on the song was a truly magical experience. We’re excited to return to this winter for more music,” says Patrick. For Jaimin, the nostalgia of recording in Santiniketan, covered in woollens and jamming with the Journeymen while singing Can’t Get Away, is a cherished memory he eagerly looks forward to revisiting.

‘Can’t Get Away’ released on streaming services on August 16.