In this exclusive interview with Loudest.in, Shruti Pathak shares insights into her singing process, collaborations, views on AI in music , and her upcoming project Guzzler, where she reinvents ghazals with a contemporary touch.
Shruti Pathak is an acclaimed Indian playback singer and lyricist best known for her soulful, emotive voice. She shot to fame with “Mar Jawa” from Fashion (2008), which earned her Filmfare and Screen Award nominations. A versatile artist who effortlessly bridges contemporary and classical styles, Pathak has also penned and sung the beautiful “Payaliya” from Dev. Over the years, she has lent her voice to numerous memorable tracks including “Rasiya”, “Main Tum Ho Gayi”, and “Tu Behja”, carving a niche for herself as one of Bollywood’s most expressive and evolving vocal talents.
In this exclusive interview with Loudest.in, Shruti Pathak shares insights into her singing process, collaborations, views on AI in Music , and her upcoming project Guzzler, where she reinvents ghazals with a contemporary touch.
Here are edited excerpts:
You’ve lent your voice to some iconic Bollywood tracks , how do you approach a song to ensure it carries your own identity while fitting the and the film’s narrative?
Every composition comes with its own unique demand. As a singer, it’s part of the craft to become the song , to shape your voice and emotions to fit its essence. You can be technically flawless, but if your singing doesn’t move someone emotionally, it loses its purpose. The lyrics, the context, and the situation within the film all play a crucial role in guiding how you choose to express that emotion.
Playback singing often requires interpreting emotions written by someone else. How do you internalize and personalize a song to make it authentically yours?
I feel every single word, and that emotion naturally flows into the song. When I’m recording, I’m completely immersed ,almost lost in the moment. The tone always depends on what the song demands , sometimes it’s husky, sometimes powerful, soft, or even playful. And often, the song stays with me long after the recording, with my mind replaying it, thinking of new variations or alternate ways I could’ve sung it. But in my experience, nothing quite matches the magic of that first, instinctive take.
Your repertoire spans upbeat tracks, soulful melodies, and devotional pieces. Which type of song challenges you the most creatively and vocally, and why?
I believe every song is a challenge in its own way. You step into the studio, learn the melody, get familiar with the lyrics, and then bring it all to life with emotion , often within just an hour or two. It’s such a beautiful, immersive process. Music is endlessly vast, and there’s always something new to learn and evolve with at every stage of your journey.
If given the opportunity to compose and perform a song entirely your way for a major film or album, what would your creative process look like?
I had the chance to do that last year for the film Dhak Dhak, and it was such an exciting experience. Usually, as singers, we come in toward the end of the song’s creation process , but composing it to perform it is a whole different feeling. You get to live with the song much longer, and that naturally sparks new, creative ideas. I truly believe that creating is essential ,not just for artists, but for everyone. It’s a form of self-expression and self-reflection.
Collaborating with directors is a key part of your work. Can you share an instance where a collaboration completely transformed the way you approached singing?
The first one will always be the most special. Recording Mar Jaawaan for Fashion was a huge learning experience for me. Salim Merchant was incredibly kind and generous, he helped me discover my voice, refine my tone and technique, and even introduced me to so much great music I hadn’t heard before. Similarly, working with Vishal–Shekhar has helped me grow immensely as an artist ,from exploring different genres to evolving as a live performer. I owe a lot of my artistic growth to them.
Whats your take on AI in Music?
I think it’s just a passing trend ,nothing can ever replace a true artist. The emotion, depth, and dynamics that a real performer brings to a song are simply incomparable.
What are the upcoming projects and shows lined up?
There’s some truly exciting coming up, in films, in the independent space, and of course, with Guzzler. Guzzler – The Spirit of Ghazals is my passion project, where I reimagine timeless ghazals with a contemporary touch while preserving their soul and lyrical essence.