Partners in High Places

Jaimin Rajani’s talent lifts his debut album, but so do his collaborators

- Akhil Sood

In 2020, after several years of writing songs, Jaimin Rajani finally felt ready to put something out. The Kolkata-based singer-songwriter began putting together tracks and working with co-producer Subharaj Ghosh to transform the scratch demos, recorded on his phone with just a voice and acoustic guitar, into full-band arrangements, honing those stripped-down songs into something grander. Thus, his 14-song album, Cutting Loose, was born—a thoughtful and emotive release that stands out as a mature debut. It’s also an album that boasts a series of Indian indie music heavyweights popping up as unexpected collaborators, including, among others, the powerhouse frontman of Indian Ocean, Rahul Ram. “I didn’t want to put out a half-baked attempt.” Each element of the record—which rests in a reflective, intimate space, driven by his voice and the guitar—was painstakingly worked on by Rajani, everything from the sonic