Darshan Raval, who performed in Vadodara on Valentine's Day, says this concert felt “extra special.” Darshan, who tied the knot with Dharal Surelia in January last year, says, “Ab Valentine’s Day pe toh biwi ko saath mein le jaana padega na! It was the first time after our wedding that she could attend a live concert of mine. I couldn’t have celebrated the day in a better way.”

Darshan, known for hits like Taarifein, Chogada and Kamariya, adds, “I thoroughly enjoyed performing in Vadodara after a long time because I share a special connection with the city. Even before I participated in India’s Raw Star (the music reality show which made him famous), I used to come to Vadodara with my band for a college-level competition hosted by MSU. It was the first competition in which I participated with my band. So, my journey as a performer started here. Every time I perform in Vadodara, I fondly remember those days. I feel happy that so many of my songs are about love and romance. I love this genre. I love all songs by Pritam Chakraborty in this genre, and Tere Hawaale is one of my all-time favourites. Among my songs, Taarifein is very close to my heart.”

Happy with the way indie music has grown in India, Darshan says, “Earlier, when I used to say I want to do my own music, people would laugh and say, ‘That is fine, lekin Bollywood mein kya gaaya hai?’ Today, non-film songs are ruling the charts, and Bollywood songs often struggle to make it to the top 10 in these charts, which are made by the public. Nobody asks those questions now and there has been a complete shift, which makes me very happy.”

He adds, “Indie music has now become mainstream in our country. Artistes who haven’t sung many Bollywood songs also enjoy immense popularity and are doing a crazy number of concerts. People no longer ask me about Bollywood songs; they just ask, ‘Aap ka naya gaana kab aayega?’ It’s a big change, and new artistes are doing some amazing work.”

With the growing number of concerts in the country, Darshan says, “As artistes, we have to constantly try and upgrade our concerts. I always try to make sure that even after listeners leave the concert, the performance stays with them. This year is going to be very special for my fans because be it concerts or new songs, there are some exciting announcements in store.”

He adds, “Constant travel and hectic schedules are an integral part of our job. However, even when I am not feeling 100 per cent, discomfort vanishes the moment I am on the stage. Even today, I feel the same excitement as I felt during my first live concert. It keeps me going.”

Asked about the impact of AI on music, he says, “At this point, AI seems to be a useful tool for musicians, and it has made lives easier. But these are early days and we have to wait and watch for the long-term impact.”

Darshan, who celebrated his first wedding anniversary last month, says, “I had no idea that life would be so beautiful after marriage. Dharal and I have been best friends for 13 years, and we still share the same equation. I keep telling her that it feels like it’s just been a month since our wedding (smiles). I am grateful to have a supportive partner like her, who has always been with me during my ups and downs. We keep celebrating the little things and love listening to music together. It’s very comforting to have her around; it makes me feel at peace.”