With his new project, TV Dinner, composer-lyricist Nischay Parekh talks about the future after Parekh & Singh, new parenthood, and rediscovering creativity
Jivraj Singh (left) and Nischay Parekh of Parekh & Singh at a concert
Someone just hit a car outside, didn’t they? That’s alright. It is a part of Mumbai,” comes the quick quip across the phone as this writer tries to take notes amidst chaos. Trust a musician to spot a disturbance in sonic frequencies during a conversation. Nischay Parekh exudes geniality and humour that was part of his last venture, Parekh & Singh. Now, he is set on a new project, just as quirkily named, TV Dinner, that will come out with a third song, Feel Alright, this week.
“I have always been fascinated by monikers, stories and enigmas,” shares Parekh, who admits to being a binge-watcher of everything on television. The project will release their third song since February, on April 25. “It is a song about my longstanding relationship with anxiety and the creative process,” he admits.
Moving on
This element of personal experience, easy harmonies and melodies carry resonance of his collaboration with Jivraj Singh. The news of the duo breaking up was out in February, causing some disappointment among fans. But the duo was prepared. “We knew that Lollapalooza 2024 was to be our last live performance before a long hiatus. I knew that because I was a new father, and wanted to experience that. Plus, we had created all we could. Jivraj has been performing for over 16 years, as have I, and we wanted to do something different,” he shares.
Nischay Parekh (centre) in performance from an event last week in Dubai. PICS COURTESY/NISCHAY PAREKH
Easier said than done. With parenting also taking up his time, it was never going to be easy. “It [parenting] is quite challenging, and very educational,” he laughs. It was his habit of constantly jotting down notes over a decade that helped. The notes gave birth to the first single, Guessing game — a song about his journey as a new father and an artiste finding a balance.
The songs are melodic, personal and carry a pared down simplicity that adds to its texture. “The process was very organic. I teamed up with Rohan Rajadhyaksha [co-producer], and had known Nikhil Vasudeva [drummer] on the music circuit. Rohan, in turn, knew Rhys [Sebastian D’souza], and slowly, we began to bring in artistes,” he reveals. Over five days in Khar’s Island Studios in June 2024, the project recorded eight songs. With no set plans, the artistes too, improvised. Rhys, Parekh reveals, brought in a clarinet instead of his signature saxophone.
A moment from the new video, Non Believer, from TV Dinner
There was uncertainty, but a sense of discovery too. “The big difference from it [Parekh & Singh] was that my ‘audiation’ — the process of having a sonic idea of the concept — was open-ended. As each day passed, it was like a sculpture where the shape slowly emerges.” With the second track, Non believers, releasing in March, it feels like the composer is on a speed run. “My approach is to be a little more prolific. I want to release a song every month,” he admits. It might be an interesting watch ahead.
RELEASE DATE April 25
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