With hits such as Veere (Veere Di Wedding; 2018) and Kaise Hua (Kabir Singh; 2019), among others, singer-composer Vishal Mishra has managed to carve a niche for himself in the industry. His motivation to do better, he says, comes from his fans. “You’ve to have the responsibility to create something honest. Good and bad is a perception, but being honest is an intent and I keep a check on it,” he says.

Was the Coronavirus lockdown, then, an advantage for him as a musician? “It is debatable,” he says, adding, “Musicians are human beings; they are as vulnerable as any other person. But there are not many things happening in the world [right now]. When you listen to a song, the reason you like it is that it relates to something you aspire or something you don’t have in life. So in these difficult times, music is a calm feeling.”

Record labels have been facing flak of late for promoting a set of artistes. But the 28-year-old believes that they’re only trying to help. “Record labels are absolutely a boon for musicians. Anybody who is helping you do better in life is a boon. There has to be a sense of professionalism in anything you do,” feels Mishra, who is undeterred by the raging debate on favouritism in the music industry. “I make sure I’m making music that keeps me happy. What happens outside my studio is not my concern,” he asserts.