Photosensitive: With her new single, Jeanne Merchant reflects on love, loss and longing

Singer Jeanne Merchant's latest release blends memory, grief and emotional resilience.

- NOOR ANAND CHAWLA

Diving into one’s soul for creative fodder, isn’t for the faint of heart. Singer and popular vocal coach Jeanne Merchant, however, does it with flair. Her evocative new single, 'Photosensitive', released on December 11, is the latest example of this.

"Photosensitive is a haunting journey through memory, loss and the fragile spaces that exist between reality and imagination. Told through cosmic metaphors, fractured images and emotional undercurrents, the song follows the narrator trying to navigate grief while clinging to the presence of someone who disappeared. Time becomes elastic, dreams blur into waking life and shadows remain long after the light has gone," she says, explaining the premise.

She adds, "The refrain, 'Shut the curtain to the light', captures the struggle of a soul unable to step out of the darkness, choosing instead to remain moored to the feelings of longing. The track moves through hypnotic textures and lyrical urgency, building toward a powerful emotional release."

Composed, written and sung by Merchant, the song’s production is by Anshuman Sharma, who has made a name for himself in the contemporary soundscape in India. While her vocals offer both a vulnerability and intensity, Sharma's production adds to the drama with electronic elements meeting raw emotions.

Merchant boasts a versatile range which moves effortlessly between R&B, soul, jazz and contemporary music. Her vocal studio, going strong for over a decade, has honed the skills of singers across age groups, shaping numerous talented performers in Bollywood and beyond. Her latest track, 'Photosensitive', reveals a more introspective dimension to her artistry, where imagination meets narrative storytelling and vocal expression.