At 54, this Indian has released her debut song and is raring to make more music

Mohita Gulati

When you hear about a singer's debut song, you wouldn't be wrong to visualise a 20-something. Except in the case of Mohita Gulati, you would be wrong. Gulati, a successful independent client servicing consultant, released her debut single last week - at the age of 54. That, she explains, is when she got the space she had not had before.

"I have been part of the corporate world for over 30 years. It's been a long, fulfilling career, but somewhere along the way, my creative side got quietly tucked away," she tells us by email from Singapore, even as she exults over the response to her single, That One Emotion, which was released on April 25 on music platforms including YouTube and Instagram.

Describing the song, Gulati says, "In a world of transient relationships, the song explores fear of commitment, hesitation, and the longing for something real, honest, raw, and relatable."

Music has always been her first love, says Gulati. "I was an avid listener, tried learning the guitar, and often wrote poetry to channel my emotions. But growing up in an army household meant constant moves, and continuity was hard. Life soon took over - college, work, marriage, children - and music became a quiet companion rather than an active pursuit," says Gulati, adding that her husband is group chief information officer at a multinational, and her two sons are grown up.

"Years later, when the boys moved out and the house grew quiet, I found myself with space I hadn't had before," she says. "Then something deeply personal happened - my brother handed me a ribbon-tied folder that my late father had saved for me. Inside were certificates and clippings from school competitions I'd won for singing and poetry. It brought everything rushing back. He always believed in me, always said, ‘Don't stop writing'. That moment became my turning point," recalls Gulati.

She began vocal training online in November 2024, and continued it even while travelling for work (she is heading next to the Philippines). The result was That One Emotion, for which Gulati worked with Mumbai-based vocal coach Minshul Jain - who also co-composes with her - and producer, mastering and mixing engineer Pathik Maniyar.

Gulati has, she says, "tried to blend both meaningful lyrics with a contemporary sound that resonates across ages". "Broadly speaking, I believe older generations lean into lyrics and melody - the storytelling. The younger generation is more driven by the groove and energy of a track," she remarks.

That One Emotion is technically Gulati's second song - the first, Distant Yet So Close, is what she calls a "learning", although it is an enjoyable listen in its own right and is available on Gulati's channel. Meanwhile, she is already gearing up for her next release, "a Hindi Sufi pop single called Ek Khwaab Ek Kahaani, inspired by my deep love for Sufi music". Asked whether an album is in the works, Gulati says, "I hadn't planned on it yet… but your question has planted a seed!"

If an album happens, it won't be around a theme as such, she adds. "Music is deeply personal, and people connect to different songs depending on their emotional state. If I do create an album, I don't want to confine it to one theme. It should be like life - diverse, evolving, and resonant with every mood and moment."