Tis the season of love and the king of romantic songs, Darshan Raval, is here with his Valentine’s Day special song, Piya re. His eighth song for the occasion, which was the result of his time spent with his family in Ahmedabad, the romantic number and its hook line gets onto you from the very start. The video too has a soothing effect like the melody of the song and it soon makes a place in your special playlist. We spoke to the affable singer who believes in making songs for people to hold on to. Excerpts:
Piya re is your eighth Valentine’s Day song. How has the journey been so far?
I don’t know how it happens, I guess there’s too much love in me that it’s coming out with all the songs. I started writing this song, Piya re, in February of last year and we have worked really hard on the lyrics and music. Also, we shot the music video with all our heart and soul in Himachal Pradesh. And, I am very happy with the reaction that I am getting and how people are feeling connected with the song. It feels like our result is out and all the hard work that we did for the last one year has paid off; we have scored well.
As a musician, I try to make different types of songs, but it’s people who want me to sing romantic numbers more, hence I have more romantic songs in my repertoire. It may be that my soul is more in romantic songs. Now how much I have improved, it’s the audience or the experts who can tell me. When I started, I was very young and without any proper vocal training. However, after a few years, I realised that I need to learn to get better because there are so many people who are looking up to me. I strongly believe I have just started and my quest is to only get better and better with each song. I don’t know how I make songs but it comes to me from some spiritual journey. I have to wait for months and be at the best of my mindset to make a good song.
What are the general stimuli that help you create songs?
If I am under too much stress to make a song, it will never happen. It has to be very organic; I have to experience things to make things.
What was it for Piya re?
I was too stressed out so I took a break in January last year and spent good 20-25 days with my family and friends in Ahmedabad. And I came back all rejuvenated with their love and affection and that’s when I made Piya re. We have bettered it in the last 12 months and you will experience the peace and calm in the song that I experienced while back home.
I am just lucky to have the best people working with me. It will be wrong to say that it’s my song. It’s everyone’s song who has worked on it, and now it’s people’s song who are hearing it. Also, talking about music, it’s by Lijo George, he is a great composer and music producer. I work a lot with him because he understands my melody. He knows that my melody needs a certain kind of sound. He is a genius and I don’t know how he does it as he is always right. Then comes Gurpreet Saini and Gautam G Sharma who have written many other songs for me and they give the right direction to my songs. Songs make an impact on people’s lives so we make songs so that when people are in need, they have my songs to fall back to for some sort of comfort. The song might seem sad but it’s an out-and-out romantic track.
What is your all-time favourite romantic song?
That’s a very difficult question because there are so many. As a musician, I keep making new songs and listening to different songs, so it’s tough to select one. If I can pick up from a recent one then that would be Kesariya. I have listened to it many times.
What is your definition of love?
Love is there in the simplest things in our lives. We see love in big things but I have found love in simple things from people around me like talking to somebody with all your heart out.
How are you going to celebrate Valentine’s Day?
Eating a lot of food and watching people fall in love with my songs.
Your idea of an ideal date would be?
Sitting on the top of a mountain, enjoying the view with some Maggi and chips to munch on. Yes, that’s going to be the setting.