Apart from touring extensively for gigs, Darshan Raval has been frequently releasing independent music, too. The singer-composer, who recently got appreciation for Dhindora Baje Re (Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani), says, “I never ran after film music. I enjoy singing for movies as long as the songs suit my sensibilities. For me, music is music. In case of singing for films, you sing for a composer, actor and situation. As a musician, I love the process of making a song, as I like to jam with my co-artistes. I don’t get to experience that collaborative process while singing for films.”

The 28-year-old is glad that the Indian soundscape is changing with the growth of indie music. The Mannat singer shares, “In 2017, I released a single, Tera Zikr, and it broke the boundaries between film and non-film music. I was told that mera gaana kisi film ke gaane se bhi bada ho gaya hai. Today, it’s difficult to differentiate between a single and a film number. It’s a great time for independent music, as people don’t care whether a song is from a big film or by someone from a remote village in Gujarat. If people like it, it’ll go viral.”

Ask if he sees himself becoming an out-and-out Bollywood musician going forward, and the Chogada (Loveyatri; 2018) singer adds, “I don’t think so. Woh mere liye job jaisa ho jayega. In the past, everyone would sit together in the studio and jam, now the process of making film songs has become inorganic and mechanical. So the charm is lost. Indie music is thriving as we work on a song together. Agar aisa process film music mein follow karne ko mile, then I’d love to do it.”