Souvviek Kabi Interview
Playback singer, music director, and producer Souvviek Kabi shares his self-taught journey from learning music through television broadcasts and overcoming intense early struggles in Mumbai to producing diverse Bengali film tracks and devotional releases like Jai Jai Sai. He discusses the ethics of AI in music production, balancing regional tradition with modern arrangements, and avoiding artificial metrics to chase genuine emotional connection.
Q. Souvviek, you work across playback singing, music direction and production. How did your musical journey begin, and what led you to pursue these different roles?
My journey began as a child fascinated by stage performance. After watching Indian Idol season one, I began singing along to Mohabbatein Lutaunga and Lafzon Mein Keh Na Saku on television every afternoon. Without formal training, I was simply discovering my voice.
After Class 10, I saw an ad for a ₹15 lakh sound engineering course. Though my family couldn't afford it, my drive to learn production never faded. Lacking formal education, I learned through observation and practice, working odd studio jobs and even cleaning spaces just to be near music creators. Realizing I was being taken advantage of, I moved to Mumbai with ₹1,000, eventually walking miles to a Malad studio job I had to leave because I couldn't afford meals or daily travel.
Hiding my struggles from my father to spare him worry, I isolated myself to self-teach music production using YouTube, PDFs, and masterclasses. Progress was slow, but it proved that you don't need everything figured out before taking the first step. Music was never just a career choice; it was something I held onto through my hardest days.
Q. From romantic tracks like “Pehli Dafa” to devotional music like “Jai Jai Sai,” your work spans different emotions and genres. How do you adapt your creative approach to each kind of song?
Honestly, all the credit goes to God, who has made me the person I am today.
A true artist goes through many experiences in life: happiness, sadness, excitement, loneliness, and many other emotions. When an artist experiences all these things, they naturally develop a wide range of emotions within them. I have experienced both happiness and pain, felt love, and faced rejection. I believe all these experiences help me connect with different emotions through my music.
I have been spiritual since childhood, and personally, I am also a fun-loving person. I believe in spreading happiness because we never know what the next hour of life may bring.
For me, music is an emotion, a feeling, and a form of love. Whether I am creating a sad song, a romantic track, or devotional music, I need to feel it myself first. If a song touches my heart, I believe I can express it in a way that touches other people’s hearts too.
Q. You have worked on Bengali music projects such as “Dugga Thakur” and the title track of “Shiuli.” What makes composing for Bengali cinema distinct, and how do you balance regional musical identity with contemporary sounds?
For me, Bengali music has a very special identity because it carries a rich cultural heritage, beautiful melodies, and deep emotions. When I work on Bengali projects like Dugga Thakur or the title track of Shiuli, I try to understand the soul of the project first and what the story needs to express.
I believe the beauty of Bengali music lies in its roots, its language, and its emotional depth. At the same time, music is constantly evolving, and today’s audience enjoys fresh sounds and modern arrangements. So, my approach is to respect the traditional essence while bringing in a contemporary musical touch wherever it fits naturally.
I don’t believe in changing the identity of a song just to make it sound modern. For me, the melody, lyrics, and emotions should always come first. The production can be contemporary, but the soul of the music should remain authentic. My aim is to create something that connects with Bengali audiences emotionally while also appealing to the younger generation.
Q. As a playback singer, you interpret someone else’s composition. As a music director, you shape the sound yourself. Which role challenges you more, and why?
As a playback singer, the biggest challenge is to understand the composer’s vision and bring the right emotions to the song. You have to connect with the lyrics, the melody, and the situation, and then express everything through your voice. It is important to make the song feel natural and relatable to the listener.
As a music director, the responsibility is much bigger because you are shaping the entire musical experience. From understanding the mood of the song to choosing the right melody, arrangements, sounds, and vocals, every decision matters. You have to make sure that everything comes together beautifully.
If I had to choose, I would say music direction challenges me a little more because it allows me to take responsibility for the complete musical vision. But being a singer helps me understand emotions from the inside, and that experience also influences the way I compose music.
For me, both roles complement each other, and I feel fortunate that I get to explore both sides of music.
Q. With recording technology and AI changing music production, how do you think these tools are reshaping the work of singers, composers and independent musicians?
Technology opens doors for independent artists to experiment without massive budgets. However, while tools assist creativity, they cannot replace human emotion and lived experience. A major concern is how some established composers use apps like Suno to generate entire tracks, add minor percussion, replace the vocal, and claim full authorship. AI should be a helpful tool, not a substitute for genuine artistic effort.
Q. Your devotional releases reflect a personal connection with Sai Baba. How does faith influence your creative process, and what do you hope listeners feel when they hear your devotional music?
My faith has a very special place in my life, and my connection with Sai Baba is something very personal to me. I have been spiritual since childhood, and I feel that faith gives me a sense of peace, strength, and positivity. In many ways, it also influences the way I approach my music.
When I create devotional music, I don’t look at it as just another song or project. I try to connect with the emotions, the meaning of the lyrics, and the devotion behind every line. I want to feel what I am singing before I can expect the listener to feel it. For me, sincerity is the most important thing when it comes to devotional music.
Through my songs, I hope listeners feel peace, love, hope, and a sense of connection with Sai Baba. If someone is going through a difficult time and my music brings even a little comfort to their heart, or makes them feel that they are not alone, I would consider that a blessing.
Ultimately, I don’t want my devotional music to be just something people listen to. I want it to be something they can feel, connect with, and find comfort in. If my music can bring people a little closer to faith and positivity, that itself is a big achievement for me.
Q. The music industry often measures success through streams, views and viral trends. How do you balance those expectations with your own artistic instincts when creating a song?
These days, people have become very fake in order to appear famous: fake Instagram followers, fake YouTube views, fake comments, fake streams, and inflated play counts. They have created an artificial world for themselves and are living in it, but I want to stay away from all of this.
For me, music is not just about numbers, views, or going viral. If 100 people listen to my songs, I will create music wholeheartedly for those 100 people. Their genuine connection means far more to me than any fake number.
I understand that in today’s music industry, streams, views, and trends can help artists reach a larger audience. However, I do not want to lose my musical identity by constantly chasing numbers. I want to create music that reflects my true feelings, creativity, and individual voice.
Trends come and go, but a beautiful melody and genuine emotion can remain in people’s hearts for a long time. That is why fake followers, fake views, fake comments, and fake streaming numbers no longer matter to me. For me, true success is when my song genuinely touches even one person’s heart.
Q. Fun question to end with: if you could compose and sing a song for any one actor in Indian cinema, who would you choose, and what kind of song would you create for them?
If I had to choose one actor, I would love to create a song for Shah Rukh Khan. I have always felt that he has a very special connection with music, especially romantic songs. The way he expresses love on screen gives a song a completely different emotional impact.
I would love to compose and sing a soulful romantic track for him, something with a beautiful melody, meaningful lyrics, and a timeless feel. I would want it to be the kind of song that makes people fall in love all over again, something that stays with them long after they have heard it.
For me, the dream would not just be to create a song for a superstar, but to create a song that becomes a part of people’s love stories and memories. If that happens, I think it would be truly special.
Bio
Souvviek Kabi is a playback singer, music director, and music producer known for his work across Bengali music, film soundtracks, and devotional songs. His musical portfolio spans diverse genres, from expressive title tracks to faith-inspired compositions such as Jai Jai Sai. Through his work as both a vocalist and a music creator, he brings together melody, emotion, and storytelling, continuing to explore different dimensions of the Indian music industry.
Interviewed by Abhisek Rath
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