Every winter, Delhi’s live music scene peaks with festivals and gigs, but this year, it is quieter and punctuated with coughing fits. With the AQI often over 400, the season meant for performances has become a battle to breathe.

Parikrama’s Subir Malik says this Delhi winter is brutal for musicians. “Singers’ throats are their livelihood—if their throats suffer, the whole band can’t play,” he says.

Nitin Malik of Katalyst Events says smog is causing cancellations, and artistes are anxious. He recalls a Gurugram show where a top artistes landed with a throat problem. “Being one of the greatest artistes and a fine human being, he pulled off the show,” Nitin says. “But the next day he faced the same problem and we had to take him to a doctor and get him antibiotics,” he adds.

Mohit Bijlani, founder of Team Innovation, says air quality is now part of their risk protocol. “We now deploy temporary air-purification units, mist screens, dust-control setups, and eco-friendly generators to create safer micro-environments at venues,” he adds.

Euphoria’s Palash Sen treats precaution as discipline. “I avoid cold, spicy food, sour pickles — and lean heavily on yoga and breathing exercises. We are living in times where if you can save yourself, then save yourself,” he says.

Kirtan artiste Radhika Das, who performed in Delhi over the weekend, says “I warmed up by limiting outdoors on high pollution days and rested my voice consciously”.

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Our guitar player, Abhishek Mittal, he just couldn’t take it. Yesterday he left for the hills. He’s saying, I can’t stay in Delhi any longer. I think everybody is going through a horrific time to keep up with the levels of pollution hurting their throat.

- SUBIR MALIK, KEYBOARDIST PARIKRAMA

I do sometimes feel the effects on my throat or breathing after long sessions, especially if there has been heavy outdoor exposure. I warm up, avoid long outdoor hours on high-pollution days, and rest my voice consciously.

-RADHIKA DAS, MUSIC THERAPIST AND KIRTAN ARTISTE

I am not actively seeking out concerts or gigs right now, but I still have to protect my voice. I take warm water, kaadha to keep my throat clear . I also wear a scarf around my neck, or try to keep it covered at all times, so that it stays warm.

- ABHISHEK BHATIA, SINGER, CURTAIN BLUE

It’s been stressful accepting gigs during peak season. Have been postponing vocal recordings since weeks because the throat just not feeling up for it.

- VARUN RAJPUT, VOCALIST, ANTARIKSH

I have warm water throughout the day and do steam inhalation during night to protect my voice. I have a mixture of honey, turmeric and black pepper.

- PALASH SEN, VOCALIST, EUPHORIA