Closer: Latest Single By Khanvict & Anjali Nayar Makes A Statement
The arts – music, dance and drama included - are the best way for people to express the severity of their emotions. Words are often limiting in their scope, but sound and visuals effectively get the message across. The latest song to express this rage, directed especially at the existing socio-political system around the world, is ‘Closer’ produced by Surrey-based Music Producer Khanvict aka Asad Khan. The song is a collaboration with other artists of South Asian descent – model and activist Seema Hari and renowned filmmaker Anjali Nayar, who has directed an arresting video to accompany the single.
Mostly made during quarantine, the song calls for action against the systemic racism that people of colour face – especially those that descend from South Asian nations. The frustration of these three talented artists, is palpable through the visuals of the music video, which recreates goddess Kali’s triumph over evil.
Nayar, the Director of the music video says, “this film was made in quarantine by brown people and their allies, as a creative outlet and expression of hope for a better and more equitable future, where people are not judged based on who they are, who they love and how they pray. Although this film digs deep into our South Asian heritage, there are many similarities between the Indian caste system, often equated with colour, and the current issues in the Americas. This song is our allegiance to the common cause.”
Seema Hari, Khanvict & Anjali Nayar
The video directed by Nayar is a stark visual interpretation of anger and unrest. She is known to have advocated various important issues throughout her career, including environment protection and the importance of human rights. Her feature films have premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and Toronto's Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, before being picked up by the likes of Amazon and Netflix. Additionally, she has written and filmed extensively for Nature, Reuters, the CBC News, the BBC, and NPR. Seema Hari was the perfect fit for the lead role, as an anti-colorism and anti-caste activist herself.
Released on March 26 under the Snakes x Ladders label, ‘Closer’ uses traditional Punjabi lyrics called ‘boliyan’, with a distinct Electronica and EDM sound. The song packs a punch, in more ways than one. Khanvict’s soundtracks are replete with strong elements of fantasy with skilful percussion and deep bass harmonised. He claims to be inspired by Bollywood composer A. R. Rahman and electronic artists like Close and Troyboi, with both influencing his signature sound.
Speaking about the choice to use traditional ‘boliyan’ as lyrics, Nayar states, “the interpretation of this particular boli, ‘Bhabho Kehndi Eh’, is a bit layered. When I listen to the original song, it seems that the women are singing about infidelity by their husbands. This is indicated by the usage of the word ‘saukan’ which means ‘husband’s second wife’.”
Khanvict further explains why he felt drawn to this subject, “we know that song and dance were creative outlets and expressions for hope, a kind of solace for the hardships our ancestral women faced. A simplistic analysis of the connection between bolis and this video is that they are bothforms of creative outlets and expression in the face of these hardships. But diving in deeper, I see anger in both expressions - the anger of the women that have been cheated on in the bolis, and the Kali-like embodiment of Seema in the video. Women are often denied anger as an emotion, instead being told to fit the mould, be compliant and complacent. But when they do express that anger, it is enough to raise fire and lead to tremendous change.”
‘Closer’ can be streamed on all leading music platforms.
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