Zaeden and Anuv Jain celebrate collaboration, embracing diversity in music

Anuv Jain and Zaeden

Can contrast lead to harmony? Singers Zaeden and Anuv Jain believe so. On the surface, the two artistes couldn't be more different - Zaeden, the beatmaker, and Jain, the lyrical storyteller whose songs feel like whispers of confessions. But as the two performed together at the House of McDowell's Soda Yaari Jam in Pune on May 10, it was a celebration of contrasts and camaraderie.

Zaeden, who set foot in the world of music in 2014 as a DJ, found a deeper resonance with songwriting. "Now, I don't want people to just dance; I want them to feel," he told mid-day, days before their performance. In that pursuit, he arguably has the best collaborator in Jain, whose numbers are all about feelings. Jain added, "It's brilliant that Zaeden and I are performing because the audience gets to experience a broad spectrum of music." Expressing his enthusiasm about collaborating with the Husn hitmaker, Zaeden shared, "Anuv's music has this raw vulnerability that connects instantly. The contrast in our music styles makes this collaboration interesting."

The diversity doesn't just make for a compelling stage presence. It mirrors the growing inclusivity of the Indian music scene. "Artistes are no longer following a formula; we're creating new lanes. What's [remarkable] is that there's space for all of it: vulnerability, groove, storytelling, even experimentation," reflected Zaeden. His career has taken him beyond India's borders, as he collaborated with Yves V and Jermaine Fleur for the track, Something like. But that never meant losing touch with his roots. "Working with global names opened me up to different ways of thinking about sound and culture. But no matter where I go, I always bring a bit of home into my sound," he stated.

Meanwhile, Jain has built his career on his lived-in experiences. Often referred to as the "boy who sings feelings", does he feel boxed? "I don't feel boxed at all. Writing about feelings gives me a lot of material. The only way your experiences can limit you is when you have decided how much you would give away. There are certain things that you want to keep to yourself; you have to find the line."