Singer-composer Akhil Sachdeva, who is one of the voices behind some of the most beautiful songs that are a must on our playlists and is known for tunes like Humsafar, O Sanam, and more, takes some time out and takes us through his musical journey.
Tejal Sinha
Destiny is the push of our instincts against the pull of our purpose. Don’t many of us believe in destiny, something that leads us to trust our instincts and move forward for the purpose that we are meant to bring into our lives? Well, that’s how singer-composer Akhil Sachdeva too believed, just like many of us. Today, he is one of the voices behind some of the most beautiful songs that are a must on our playlists.
The Humsafar singer, who was travelling for his Nasha Tour, takes some time out and takes us through his musical journey. “Music had to happen to me; it was in my destiny,” begins Akhil, for whom the adverse situations in his life gave him a call to get into music. “I think the purpose of my life is to spread love and change people’s emotions whenever they see or hear me. I am made for music and only music.” No doubt his music has touched the souls; it is his soothing voice that makes the composition so much more relatable.
Though initially he was clear that he wanted to do music, what to do in music was a question! After over 14 years in the industry, and with all the ups and downs and his share of tough times, he describes, “The journey so far has been beautiful, and the best part is the constant love of my fans for me. I’d started 13-14 years ago without knowing what to do in music, but just with my passion, purity, and innocence, I just sang my heart out wherever I went and performed, and that’s how I fell after the success with whatever difficulties and hard work that I’d put in.
I think I still feel the same way about music as a kid, and I always perform like it’s my last show whenever I am on stage. I make the music with the same simplicity, purity, and innocence. I keep music in my mind and heart rather than thinking of anything else. I’ve just been able to carve my own niche in music and make a world where music happens with only humbleness and purity.”
This really brings to the table the secret of his superhit tracks, be it his debut into the music industry with Humsafar (Badrinath ki Dulhania), Tera Ban Jaunga (Kabir Singh), Channa Ve (Bhoot, Part One: The Haunted Ship), or Mere Liye (Broken but Beautiful season 3), out of the many on the list.
Well, as we talk about the turning point in our lives, one would imagine their first job, film, or music. However, that’s not the same in his case. Though he had himself sung and composed Humsafar, which bought him several awards and got him recognition for other blockbuster songs later on too, his turning point was “When I made a cover version of Mai Tenu Samjhavan ki. Back then, nobody knew what to do, and the social media craze was also not there in 2012-2013. That changed a lot of things in my mind, and I took music more seriously. I was even more passionate because I felt that now I have a responsibility to give music more importance.”
His song from the Vicky Kaushal and Bhumi Pednekar starrer Bhoot, Channa Ve, has ruled millions of hearts; to be more specific, it still does! The song marked his second collaboration with Shashank Khaitan, after Humsafar. Though the film gathered rave reviews, Channa Ve, which was the only track in the film, turned out to be a blockbuster.
“I really look upon Shashank, and since we’d already worked in Humsafar, we knew this was going to be a beautiful melody. We were very confident that this would touch many hearts and stay with them forever. And now, suddenly, after one and a half years, social media got this song back, which has been in the Trends. Wherever I go, the first thing that people ask me for is Channa Ve. This song has been a blessing.” He further also points out that social media can be not just the soul-success parameter of the song but also the content that you bring in front of the audience.
One would know him either by his songs or as the Nasha Boy. It was around 2009 when he was the lead vocalist in a Delhi-based band named Nasha. “I think people know me as Nasha boy more than Akhil Sachdeva, and that has become my identity. It has become like a part of my blood and soul.” There’s no denying the fact that his music actually is Nashili.
Akhil has also been the first artist in India to start the Sufi rock culture in India. Initially, the culture that he began in North India and Delhi now covers the entire nation.
“I am proud to be one of the main guys, who sets the whole tone for whatever you guys are seeing today with the live music and band culture. I did it for a simple, pure reason: to do music. I’m glad that in my thirteen years of short-lived career, I have touched millions of souls, and I’ve maintained my place in their hearts. A constant place sets the right tone for me. I’m blessed that I could set the tone for other musicians on the path.”
Be it films or music, the type of content that we get to see in Bollywood has been changing. And the Mere Liye singer describes it as the revolution phase of the entire music industry. True that! The industry has been accepting new talents, and today we have so many budding talents who are just mind-blowing in their craft. He enthuses, “There’s a lot of scope for different musicians and different kinds of genres, and yes, Bollywood has opened its arms. However, independent music is also killing it, so it’s time for the music industry. It’s the best phase to be in.”
Not only are his albums among the film’s chartbuster hits, but also his singles and other albums. And for him, “Maintaining an overall balance is the key. When you’re doing music, you need to have a balance of a lot of things because it takes a lot from your personal life as well. You do music for the love of music. I think you put your heart and soul into everything. I don’t see the project as important; I just do it for the love of the music, its purity, its importance, and the value that it has in my life. Music is music; I don’t differentiate, and I make it with the same intensity, passion, and purity.”
Going further, when we asked him about what performing on stage means to him, he said, “My universe, my whole world, and where I belong. I’ve always said it’s fine for me to be on stage till my last breath, and I’m fortunate enough to inspire a lot of people to perform like me, and they get inspired by how I perform. I think this is where the artist gets the biggest high. The stage is set for life.”
With films like Gully Boy, the rapping industry has seen a major boom. However, there’s still a long way to go since not many have been able to understand or respect the art in its truest form. However, one thing that we can see these days is that songs have become more of a ‘rap overdose’. He couldn’t agree more on this, as he says, “All the genres of music are appreciated these days. Rap is a different genre altogether and cannot be forced into a song. As you said, ‘rap overdose’, so an overdose of anything is bad. Rap is good, but overdose is definitely bad.”
The Nasha Boy, who has recently dived into the Punjabi industry too with his soulful songs, reveals to us, “I did make my debut in the south as well, but due to some reasons the film could not be released. So, I’ll leave it to God; whenever the right kind of opportunity comes my way, I’ll do that.”
