taba chake

The Arunachal Pradesh-based singer-song-writer discusses how his latest song "Kahani" reflects the power of love songs.

- Anurag Tagat

"WHEN I WAS UPLOADING THE VIDEO [FOR 'KAHANI'], I WAS THINKING IF WE'D MADE SOMETHING TOO CHEESY. I SHOWED IT TO MY DAD AND HIS DRIVER. MY DAD'S DRIVER, HE LITERALLY CRIED. MY DAD ALSO GOT EMOTIONAL WHILE WATCHING THE VIDEO."

IF YOU'RE about to watch Arunachal singer-songwriter Taba Chake's new video "Kahani," it's best to keep a tissue at hand. Based on a concept written by Chake and video director Bengia Morto, a story of an older couple looking back at their lives together strikes a chord when it comes to telling a love story like few others. It helps that Chake's lush indie-rock way with melodies and heartfelt Hindi lyrics are driving the visuals too.

Chake will always be a storyteller, sometimes introspective - like on his English song "Halfway" - and other times, a total romantic, like on hit songs "Udd Chala," "Aao Chalein" and "Shaayad." Then, there's the nature-inspired tunes, ones that go all the way back to his debut EP Bond with Nature in 2018. The artist speaks with us about where that romanticism and sense of yearning for another era comes from, the response for "Kahani" and what's coming up next.

Rolling Stone India: There's something to be said about how you're drawn to old-fashioned love stories with "Kahani" as well as "Udd Chala," especially with their music videos. What draws you to that kind of storytelling?