Panini Pandey, better known by his stage name AFKAP, marks his return to the music industry with his highly anticipated debut EP ‘Parat’ (which means ‘layer’ in Hindi). The six-track EP is a deeply personal journey, offering a sonic exploration of the complex layers of human emotion and the intricacies of life. It also reflects honestly the creative field of AFKAP.
The EP masterfully encapsulates a range of emotions – from confusion and shame to frustration, loneliness and finally freedom. AFKAP deftly tells the story of his seven years abroad, with a narrative rooted in realism and contemporary significance.
A consistent theme throughout the EP is the tug-of-war between personal desires and social expectations. AFKAP strikes a delicate balance between fulfilling public obligations and pursuing self-expression. The debut album promises an eclectic and insightful listening experience that sheds light on family relationships, social norms and the pursuit of personal fulfillment.
AFKAP spoke exclusively to News18 Showsha and revealed a more detailed look at Parat and the philosophy behind their music.
Here is an excerpt:
Before delving into your first EP Parat, how would you describe your journey from Kyuyu to now and how all of these experiences culminated into Parat?
Musically, there wasn’t much of a journey because I was neither consistent nor
Actively interact with your audience. When Aaina took off, there were a lot of things stopping me from releasing music – my voice situation, my job, etc. But most of all, I was confused as to how to follow up such a successful single. At one point, I gave in to overthinking and decided to let Parat express how I felt about everything…
Coming to the name of the EP, which is Parat, it means layer. How is the name synonymous with what you want to convey with the EP?
I’m not sure I can express this clearly, but I’ll try… I’ve observed that society has a tendency to make everything binary. Good versus evil, liberal versus conservative, etc. No matter what spectrum you introduce, society will always find a way to break things down into “for or against”. “Parat” is about how complex beings we are, with many layers, and yet our simple experiences have so much depth and shouldn’t be judged through a binary lens. Because the best person I know is myself, I just try to explore and express the complexity of my feelings. All the songs are connected and also speak to the listener.
What’s the story behind some of the tracks on the EP, like Sookhi and Rukawat? Also, how would you describe your experience of collaborating with Karan Kanchan on a few songs?
“Rukawat” embraces the past while welcoming the prospect of a new beginning. The song explores the frustrations of pleasing other people and the frustration of giving up everything to wander. Sookhi, on the other hand, is about pride and ambition. Kind of wanted to check out my skills, which is why there are different sounds and beat switches in this track. There is a dreamy hook in the verse that contrasts with the heavy realism. Only someone like Karan could make something like this possible. Overall, he makes production look easy because he’s so versatile. Karan was able to understand what I wanted and he tried to add his own style to the track without sacrificing the intent. He understands this subtlety, which makes the whole process so much fun. The most important thing is that he doesn’t let anything slip away and he does a great job, which allows me to be at my best.
One of the most defining factors on this EP is the musical context, which forms the skeletal structure of your verses. It’s very unique, fresh and different from the usual Indian hip hop songs I’ve heard. How did you develop this style? How does it define your musical acumen?
Music is my favorite art form and the one I spend the most time with.I listen
There are all kinds of genres, which keeps me inspired. There’s always an emotion attached to the sound, so I rely on my intuition to create the melody, and then if the overall sound is just right, the lyrics flow automatically. I only experience joy when I’m making music, so I like to keep it fun and authentic because there’s nothing more fun than being able to surprise yourself.
Unlike your peers in the genre, you focus more on quality than quantity. Was this a conscious decision on your part? Are you willing to delete tracks more often in the future?
Absolutely not. I overthink things, which is why my writing process is so slow. I wish I could play music more often. Deep down I do want to make sure every bar is in 100% condition, but that’s not sustainable. Sometimes I don’t want to think too much. That being said, yes I will be dripping more frequently this year, so the goal is 1 drop per month.
The Desi Hip Hop scene is growing at an astonishing rate. But with this growth,
To stand out, the competition is real.So a lot of times, something mediocre
Taking the spotlight off something that could otherwise be very profound.how do you navigate
Are you nervous about the competition around you in these choppy waters?
You know I’ve stopped questioning why something I thought was mediocre did so well.
You can’t control everything, and business/markets can’t pin goals around
Quality of craftsmanship/art.If we make good music we will all find our audience
There’s still more music to be done, so I’m feeling optimistic and excited.my journey has just
It started, so I expected some tough challenges, but it didn’t scare me and I felt ready.
We also want to talk about the commercialization of Hip Hop and Rap.In recent years, due to
A very different view of the genre has faded away due to the influence of Bollywood
This may not be entirely true.But on the other hand, Bollywood also helped
This type makes it popular among the masses. What are your thoughts on this?
The commercialization of anything means there will be a lot of manufacturing. Obviously, when you put any type of art into a money-making machine, it’s going to be diluted and exploited. Bollywood is a huge manufacturer and I think it’s a fair deal that it gets some creative ideas from DHH and in return DHH gets more exposure. My problem has always been with our own artists and communities who contribute to an untrue perception of the genre. I think if we put our foot down more often, the Giants will adapt. It’s easier said than done, but we need to draw the line before big checks damage the culture. I can’t expect too much from other people’s families, I can only expect from my own.But artists have more power
The global stage still maintains the integrity of its craftsmanship. I think every entertainment medium plays its own role in shaping culture and we should know where we stand.
Among your contemporaries, which artists do you admire and would you like to collaborate with? Also, how did you resolve creative differences during the collaboration?
There are really many games nowadays. My top 5 changes every two weeks but now I’m looking forward to works from Raf Saperra, Talwiinder, DIVINE, Seedhe Maut, Vijay DK, Raga, DG Immortal, Sambata, PDNY, HYDR, Bharg and Rawal. I would like to work with all of them at some point. My records are now being released solo, so I haven’t experienced creative tension with anyone else.
Besides Parat, what else should people expect from you in the days to come?
I was working on something other than music. I don’t think I can function without doing visual effects, so I’m going to combine them. That’s a long-term goal, but beyond that some kind of animated video? A bunch of collaborations. Maybe another EP?
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