Indie-Pop Duo KhoslaRaghu On Love, Friendship And New EP: ‘Our Understanding Of Love Grows With Each Song’

Mumbai-based indie-pop duo KhoslaRaghu have captured the hearts of listeners with their genuine songwriting and soulful melodies. The duo, Sanchit Khosla and Rishabh Raghuvanshi, have recently released their five-track album 'Aarzu', with 'Bewajah' serving as the first single. The friends, who began their musical journey in a basement, have built a dedicated fanbase through songs like 'Barse More Naina', 'Dooriyan', and 'NaQabil'.

Their music also appears in ZEE5's 'Faltu Engineers', 'Duniya Jhol', and Amazon Prime's 'Do You Wanna Partner'.

KhoslaRaghu's 26-year-old members draw inspiration from Indian classical music while incorporating contemporary production techniques. Their songs explore various shades of love, from longing, heartbreak, and healing to hope. The album's opening track, 'Bewajah', delves into the difficulties of being in love with someone who is unavailable, setting an emotional tone for the entire EP.

Sanchit explained that the duo chose to start the album with 'Bewajah' to establish the desired atmosphere and set the stage for the EP's exploration of unfulfilled love and longing. They believe that today's listeners are open to accepting songs that don't pretend to be emotionally strong. The artists draw lyrics from both personal experiences and observations of people around them, with most of the album's emotions inspired by real-life situations.

The album features a mix of emotions, with 'Bewajah' highlighting anger and vulnerability, 'Mile Jo Sukoon' drawing from Indian classical music elements and blending them with modern production, 'Naina Saavan' (featuring Purusharth Jain) addressing the struggle to move on from past memories, 'Hausle' representing the rise of hope, and 'Teri Aadatein' (featuring Hansika Pareek) symbolizing the courage to love again after an emotional storm.

Rishabh elaborated that the decision to use specific instruments, like the sitar in 'Bewajah', is made based on the song's emotional sensibility rather than technical considerations.

The duo's music is often described as cinematic, which Sanchit attributed to their inspiration from films and other art forms. Their animated music video for 'Bewajah' features skeletal characters, symbolizing the enduring desire for love even after death. The artists have Master's degrees in music and media technology and management, respectively, and emphasized their commitment to being independent artists, valuing creative freedom over the limited promotional opportunities that come with working with labels or Bollywood.