To Mahima Sogani, who started out as an actor with Inside Edge and Dhokha Round D Corner (2022), shifting gears to music is not exactly a career leap. Exploring singing felt like “opening a new room in the same house” to the artiste, who recently released her maiden album, Shuru Se Shuru Karein. The album, she says, is born out of her one-woman storytelling performance, The Mahima Sogani Show. “When it’s just you, your voice, and your story, there’s nothing else to hide behind. That simplicity makes the experience powerful,” she reflects.
In the early days of her musical career, Sogani has attempted different genres to bring forth varied stories and poetries. Ask her to distil her voice into three words, and she says, “Playful, rooted, vulnerable.” Playful because it sneaks into unexpected genres; rooted as it carries the essence of her home state Rajasthan. “Vulnerable because honesty seeps through, and that’s the only way a voice can touch someone,” she explains.
The playfulness shines through in her track, Haapus Ke Aam, from the new album. Ask her about the quirky title, and she laughs, “Mangoes are the most honest metaphor for love. Raw mango is tangy, playful, and a little immature. Ripe mango is sweet, indulgent, and wise. Love is exactly that mix — messy and delightful at once.”
Born in Rajasthan, the singer and composer now divides her time between Mumbai and London. Each region has influenced her music, which she describes as “global sound with an Indian soul”. “Rajasthan gave me foundation, Mumbai lent madness, and London offered perspective. Put them together and you get a sound that travels wide but still smells of home,” says the singer, who plans to tour across India in November with her latest album.
If you could sing one track to your younger self, which would it be?
“That would be ‘Why So Mean’ because it’s about being kinder to oneself. It’s a reminder that your strength isn’t something to hide; it’s something to celebrate,” says Sogani.
