‘Jalpari’ singer Faheem Abdullah on the song’s ‘shared spirit’: ‘Want to build something that lasts longer than a single track’

Faheem Abdullah, after going viral in Bollywood with “Saiyaara” and breaking through with early hits like “Ehsaas,” “Sajde” and “Ishq”, returns to his indie roots with the just released slow-burn “Jalpari,” a rock ballad released via T-Series, that follows the singer’s journey into vulnerability after “Bichadna” and “Jaana Nahi,” but this time with a deeper sense of collaboration and purpose.

“Jalpari” also features Abdullah’s frequent collaborator, music producer Hyder Dar. Huzaif Nazar is on writing duty with Abdullah and features vocally on the track with him along with Rather Hashim. Directed by Ruman Hamdani forsakes literal storytelling for abstract, metaphor-driven visuals. “Jalpari” marks a creative shift for Faheem.

He lays bare the reason for having a variety of voices on the track. He philosophises, "The more I think about it, the more I realise that no space truly belongs to one person. Whatever we build only has meaning when it connects us to others. I don’t want to stand in that space alone. I want to use it to uplift the artists around me, especially Kashmiri musicians who carry extraordinary depth and talent, but are often denied visibility. Huzaif Nazar, Hashim Rather, Hyder Dar; these are voices that deserve to travel far and beyond.”

He adds, “‘Jalpari’ is the first conscious step in that direction. It is collaborative by design, not as a strategy but as a philosophy. This isn’t merely about releasing a song. It’s about creating a structure where independent Kashmiri artists can thrive, where opportunity is shared, and where what we build lasts longer than a single track or a passing moment.”

“Jalpari” sticks out in the crowded indie space, just because of that “shared spirit” – a coming together of voices that reflect the evolving sound of Kashmiri independent music.