Darshan Raval: I want my music to make a difference to those who feel lonely

A voice often associated with soulful melodies and heartfelt lyrics Darshan Raval has established a strong foothold among Indian music fans with several Bollywood hits like lsquoChogada Tararsquo and lsquoEk Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga Reprise and popular singles like lsquoTera Zikrrsquo and lsquoHawa BankersquoThe singercomposer who started his career with a reality show has come a long way since then And so when the opportunity to document his journey and share details of his life that remain relatively hidden from fans arose he took itSpotify India recently released a short documentary where the music artiste introduces viewers to his origin place and shares anecdotes from his decadelong journeyRevealing his thoughts on the same Raval tells middaycom ldquoIrsquove completed 10 years of being a part of peoplersquos lives from when they first saw me on a reality show to today This decade has been very important to me and to my genuine listeners They are a part of my life and I am a part of theirs This film offers a sneak peek into my life and how I feel about itrdquoDarshan Ravalrsquos music journeyBorn in Ahmedabad Raval realised his love for music at an early age ldquoWhen I was in Gurukul and heard saints and students practising music I felt something incredible At that moment I knew that I wanted to pursue something similarrdquo he recallsWhile the 30yearold achieved several milestones as he made a name for himself creating his first album is a special highlight for him ldquoFor an artist creating an album is very important as it reflects who they are and I am fortunate to be working on my third onerdquo he sharesReflecting further on moments that stood out for him in his career he states ldquoMy entire journey has been a highlight but two moments that stand out are performing at the Narendra Modi Stadium Ahmedabad in front of 120000 people which was incredible and my concert in Bangladesh which was my first performance there The audience there had eagerly waited for me for nine yearsrdquoRaval has opened up several times about how important his fans are for him a connection that shines through when he refers to them as his lsquoBlue familyrsquo Sharing how Spotify has helped deepen this connection he says ldquoI believe it is an amazing platform for both artists and fans My Blue family is actively listening to my music there and when I see the Wrapped feature at the end of the year its incredible to see so many people enjoying my music across the globerdquoManaging stardom at a young ageThe singerrsquos growing fanbase is a reflection of his stardom However he has not let that affect him negatively ldquoAs we grow up we quickly learn to adapt but also tend to get distracted easily We change significantly over time and sometimes too much attention on other things can divert us from our passion for music However thanks to Gods grace and the wonderful people around me I never lost sight of my past I remain focused on my goal of creating good songsrdquo he commentsIndiarsquos independent music sceneRaval has lent his voice to several Bollywood songs and is also one of the most loved indie artistes in the country Sharing how the process of creating music in both these avenues differ he says ldquoWhen creating an independent song I express my personal feelings thoughts likes and experiences In contrast when I sing for Bollywood music I am doing so for a specific actor music composer film and situationrdquoThe lsquoKinni Sonirsquo singer feels that the dynamics of music are changing in India with independent songs gaining more prominence ldquoMany people are exploring different genres and independent music has seen significant growth Even the songs that are popular on social media are often not from films instead they come from independent artists This is a great sign and indicates a remarkable expansion in the realm of independent musicrdquo he expressesDarshan Ravalrsquos legacyAs the artistersquos music journey continues to create waves his goal for his music is clear ldquoI always feel like my music has had a larger purpose in peoples lives I want my music to make a difference to those who feel lonely I hope it brings them happiness and motivation I want my songs to resonate with all the emotions people experience acting as a companion during those moments My goal is for my music to feel like a friend to everyone listeningrdquo Raval concludesAlso ReadThe highly stimulating experience of living life is my only muse Prateek Kuhad