Over the last decade, Mumbai-based singer-songwriter Kamakshi Khanna has confirmed her status as a leading female voice in India’s indie music scene. Known for her soulful voice and emotive songwriting, her music cuts across styles from pop to R&B and soul to folk, crafting deeply personal songs that explore themes of love, heartbreak, self-discovery and reflection.
Kamakshi’s music shines with a rare sense of honesty that’s struck a chord with listeners around the world. Over the last ten years she’s been going from strength to strength with each move since dropping her debut EP Much Mellow in 2014. Over the years, she’s impressed with multiple well-received releases in both English and Hindi as well as linking up with artists such as Nush Lewis, OAFF, Nishu, Dropped Out and others on collaborative songs.
Her sonic output flows between Hindi and English, showcasing her talent on prestigious stages like NH7 Weekender and VH1 Supersonic and her USA tour in 2018, saw her perform live in Los Angeles, Austin, and Washington DC. Earning accolades such as Rolling Stone India’s Song of The Year for her first Hindi song “Qareeb” in 2020, Kamakshi Khanna has become a pioneer in the Indian music sphere. Racking up millions of plays on her music online, some of her other releases have secured sync deals to feature in Netflix, Lionsgate and Amazon Prime productions.
Now she brings us her latest release with her brand new single titled “Love Is Not A Fucking game,” the lead track lifted from her forthcoming sophomore EP. Taking a biting glance at love in the modern world, she pens a song about the often overlooked harsh realities of romance from feeling under-appreciated to the confusing messages and battles that occur in relationships. Unveiling the song on stage at Lollapalooza India, with her new single, Kamakshi Khanna delivers a slice of folk pop brilliance.
Produced by Pranay Parti, the song casts an enchanting spell of elegant instrumentation and beautiful vocal performance, filtered through a hazy, sepia-toned lens. Set up by the distant shimmer of tones, an intimate atmosphere takes over as the soft plucks of acoustic guitar are met by Kamakshi’s airy vocals as gentle sonic flutters dance around the arrangement.
Building with muted percussive kicks and the swell of textures and bright piano plinks, Kamakshi’s voice floats delicately above as she threads alluring melodies carrying her poignant lyricism. Backed by lush vocalisations and the rising energy of pattering rhythm from the percussion and playful flourishes of instrumentation, the song reaches a soulful crescendo as the marching roll of drums and soaring vocal leads. Floating back to a stripped scene of acoustic guitar and piano touches, Kamakshi spins the final lines to bring the dazzling song to a dreamy close.
Commenting on the single, she shares, “The first single from my forthcoming EP, ‘Love Is Not A Fucking Game’ captures the overwhelming feeling of navigating through the pain of modern dating. It is born out of a series I started in the lockdown called ‘The Green Room Sessions’ that features the most initial version of my unreleased music before the songs step into the real world.”
Listen to Love Is Not A Fucking Game below
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