Exclusive| “Shakkar Album Was Developed When I Was In A Dark Phase Of My Life”, Says Raghu Dixit

In an interview with HerZindagi, Raghu Dixit talked about how music is a universal language. An Indian singer, music composer, and the man behind the Rahul Dixit Project, Raghu Dixit is not just a singer but someone who has the zeal to keep traditional music alive in the era of reels and social media with his compositions. His music blends traditional Indian poetry in Kannada and Hindi. A special style that makes him stand out of others on stage is his iconic lungi and ghungroo (ankle bells) while playing guitar. The moment his hands reach the guitar strings, you can feel yourself in a world that does not exist. In exclusive conversations with Raghu Dixit, Her Zindagi had the opportunity to live inside and out of how music is composed, what the life of a musician is, and why the lowest point in life can sometimes bring back the hope of better or the golden days. 

 

 

 

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Life Journey Talks With Raghu Dixit

For someone who doesn’t understand Kannada, they know exactly what you’re singing about. What do you think makes music a universal language?

To a certain extent, I would say yes, music is a universal language. But I also understand how there are people who want to understand the meaning of the music. As an artist, I take time to explain to them the meaning of the song. I may not be able to translate the whole song, but I surely try to give them the gist. 

Your songs often have a wonderful mix of humour, vulnerability and philosophy. When you sit down to write, what are the thoughts that you go through?

I don’t really wonder what it should be about. Usually, I compose an idea, melody, and that itself moves me to what exactly it should be about. Lately, the whole album ‘Shakkar ’ was written in a very dark phase of my life. It is for people who are going through something, but the songs become a thread that they can hold onto. 

‘Shakkar’ album feels less like a song and more like a rush of collective joy. How did you come up with it, and did you know it would become such a crowd favourite?

Shakkar was written at the time when I was contemplating life. I had somehow lost the zest to live, I had nothing to look forward to and that’s exactly when an Instagram hounding musician, John stepped in and he mentioned how he wanted to work with me. We started jamming together, and within 15 days we had composed 45 different ideas, out of which 8 became the songs in the album ‘Shakkar’. Little did he know that he saved my life by doing this. 

If you had to introduce The Raghu Dixit Project to someone who had never heard your music using just three songs, which three would you pick—and what would each song reveal about you?

That’s a great question. I would start with Parasiva, Ambar, and Lokada Kalaji. Parasiva is about how people enter your life, when you have no idea what to do. They will come as an angel in your life and listen to you without judgement. They simply make you feel that there is someone, which is one of the most beautiful traits about humans. It is my attempt to remind people that we all are there for each other. 

Ultimately, through the album ‘Shakkar’, Raghu Dixit has shared far more than just a new collection of melodies; he has offered a deeply personal chronicle of his own journey toward healing. His music, defined by a unique blend of vulnerability and collective joy, stands as a powerful testament to the strength of human connection. 

(Image Credits: Instagram)

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