Purna Rai: Music is a form of meditation

Purna Rai, the sensational singer and songwriter behind hits like ‘Sparsha Sangeet (raw)’, ‘Biram’, and ‘Dhurwa Tara’ has good news for his fans. In 2024, he is gearing up to release more new albums and songs than ever before. It’s his New Year’s resolution, he says. 

Rai has always had a connection with music. During his early days in Dharan, Rai used to play the drums at the back alongside his brother in musical performances at school events. Over the years, he took to singing. It surprised his family and friends as they thought his brother would be the one to pursue a career in music. 

Rai says it all started when he was doing his Bachelor’s in Darjeeling, India. His college friends pushed him into the spotlight, urging him to be the lead singer because of his good vocals, while he had just wanted to chill as the background drummer. But after giving singing a shot, he was hooked and he soon became interested in songwriting as well. He got into the habit of pouring his feelings into his lyrics, drawing inspiration from his days in the bustling city of Darjeeling. 

Rai, now 27, believes he connects with songs that are about nature. “When I’m just playing around with chords, words start flowing and lyrics just pop into my head,” he says. He jams out tunes on his guitar, turning those lyrics into full-blown songs. He says that is why people think he has a real knack for songwriting.

Right now, he’s releasing songs that he wrote during a heartbreak period, mainly love songs. He’s aiming to explore various musical genres, but currently, he’s putting out folk tunes. When he started singing, he had no official band members with him. Now he considers himself fortunate enough to have some musicians on his side. 

“I feel like music is a part of who I am,” he says. Trying to make a name in music is tough, but he’s all about finding what people like while sticking to his style. Talking about his track  ‘Sparsha Sangeet (Raw)’ he says, “It took off on TikTok and social media, giving me a big boost.” Now, he’s excited about dropping its official music video soon. Balancing what sells with staying true to art can be tricky but he says, “It’s a challenge and I’m up for it.” And he’s not stopping there, he wants to explore more beats and styles to connect with his audience.

His first song, ‘Ma’ came from his time in Darjeeling. It was about figuring out life in a new place. Then he poured his heart into ‘Biram’ after a tough breakup. After that, he kept coming up with hits like ‘Manaka Kura’, ‘Dhurwa Tara’, and ‘Kalo Seto’. Turns out, his lyrics are all about his own life and he even throws in conversations to give them a more personal touch. When he dropped a short snippet of ‘Kalo Seto’ on TikTok, it got a lot of views and people were soon requesting a full music video.

Since 2023, he’s been very active in the music scene, hitting up concerts, festivals, and shows while working on new releases. He’s not just a performer. He vibes with the music and passes those good vibes to the crowd. The best part for him is when the audience sings along. Regarding this, he shared a funny incident about the police turning down the music system in the middle of a late-night show. Even with all that, the crowd kept on singing. “It was wild and the energy stayed sky-high,” he says.

He’s quite reserved and doesn’t engage much on social media. However, his involvement in music has completely transformed his social dynamics, pushing him out of his comfort zone. He’s in the process of learning to be more outgoing, a step he believes is crucial if he wants to stay in the industry in the long run.

Rai is not running after being viral or trendy. His focus is on making songs that stick with people, ones they’ll remember long after he’s gone. He’s all about leaving a musical legacy rather than going for short-lived popularity. Music, for him, is like pouring out his feelings and telling his own story. When he writes songs, he goes deep into the details and scenes of everyday life. He wants his lyrics to do more than just sound good and expects his audience to see and feel the emotion behind the song. 

Even though his parents weren’t initially happy about him pursuing music, his hit song on the internet changed their minds. Now, when they come to his concerts, it’s a big win for him. Reflecting on his experience in the music industry, he says, “Music needs strong dedication and meditation.” He believes that music isn’t something to be forced but flows naturally as a natural expression, guided by the mind to convey artistic truth.