Jun 09, 2026 7:00pm IST
Akshath: ‘There’s Something Magical About Heartbreak Songs’
After the success of “Nadaaniyan,” singer-songwriter Akshath found himself grappling with the expectations that come with a hit. His latest single, “Aadat Nahi Hai,” marks a conscious shift away from formulas and into a space of deeply personal songwriting. In a conversation with Variety India, Acharya talks about finding his voice again, drawing from his own experiences, and the enduring appeal of heartbreak music.
‘Aadat Nahi Hai’ seems to be hitting the right spot with listeners after ‘Naadaniyan.’ What story were you hoping to tell with this one?
So, after “Nadaaniyan,’ I released three more songs and what I realized was that I was in a way putting myself in a box where I was trying to maintain a certain image of non-film music that exists. Like, you will make a song that fits a certain sound, this is how you will emote and these are the words you will use. After I released “Rozaana,” I realized that I was doing this. So, I decided to take some time off and write music without the expectation of releasing it. It was almost like a diary journal. “Aadat Nahi Hai” and all the songs that will follow have allowed me to express myself.
What do you, what would you say is at the emotional core of this song?
I think it’s very honest and innocent. Because if you see the lyrics, there is nowhere I’ve tried to be too metaphorical or poetic; it’s very straightforward. It’s almost felt like surrendering. It’s not about something out of the ordinary that you end up missing the most and realize are actually the things that made your life special that suddenly don’t exist.
Has this track come out of your personal experience?
It does come out of my own experience. When you are very used to having someone in your life, you build routines around them without realizing it. For example, there’s a certain time that you probably speak at, and then the rest of your day gets structured around it. Suppose that person isn’t in your life anymore, then suddenly your day falls apart. There is this sudden vacuum. So, all of this was really hitting me. It wasn’t like something I was consciously thinking about; I was just sitting with my guitar and these words just came in one flow.
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How are you trying to strike a balance between personal storytelling and universal emotions?
I feel like they’re one and the same thing - the more personal you get, the more universal you become. When you talk about extremely personal things, the reason they feel personal is that you don’t really talk about them. When you write a song that is deeply personal, you may think it is specific to you, but once you release it, you realize, ‘Hold on, everyone was going through something like it in their own way.’
Heartbreak songs seem to have a certain hold over the audience. What do you feel is the appeal of these songs?
I wish I could tell you. They had this hold over me forever as well. Before I knew what heartbreak even meant, even in the happiest moments of my life, those songs didn’t fade. There’s just something magical about them, especially in Hindi. Heartbreak music in Hindi is a different genre. I don’t know why it’s so appealing.
Do you have a favorite heartbreak song?
I have way too many, but my favorite is “Edge of Desire” by John Mayer.
How have platforms like Instagram and YouTube played in your journey as an artist?
They have played a huge role because there’s a part of yourself that you can show through music, but that’s only a part of you, right? There’s so much more to you that you want to show. And Instagram and YouTube both give you these unique platforms to express yourself.
On Instagram, you can be more frank, you can promote your music and all of that. YouTube is very special, too. I have recently realized the power that it holds. I have so much going on in my head that I want to show the world, not just in audio storytelling, but also in visual storytelling. YouTube gives me the opportunity to be as artistic as I want to be because that is a slow burn, right? It’s not that a video that is put up tomorrow has a shelf life of two days. It has an endless shelf life if you can make it work. That’s why we also put our blood, sweat and tears into making the music video.
What has your experience been as part of Spotify Radar, a program that supports emerging talent?
It has helped big time. My first experience of Radar was a couple of years ago. Back then, I had a different dilemma: I didn’t want people to see me as just a cover artist because I used to post covers on Instagram. When I was featured on Radar, it was my first validation that people would see me not just as someone who can sing other people’s songs, but also as someone who can make his own music. People started viewing me in the same light as many other artists I really look up to. That itself was a big boost for me.
Considering collabs are the order of the day, is there a dream collaboration that remains on your bucket list?
My dream collaborations would probably be with John Mayer. In India, it would be Karan Aujla and Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy.
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