As we're born, we spend the early years of life learning about the world and as we grow we begin to develop a sense of our place in it. This slowly turns into an act of navigating the messy waters of identity, introspection, and existential wonder. What defines us? What are the roles we play in the grand theater of life? These questions, riddled with ambiguity, often bring solace only in fragments — through moments of art, music, or sheer presence. Yash Sahai’s new album, Laailaaj, is a door that aims to explore these spaces. With each track, he offers not just music but a map of self-exploration, a way to dive deeper into the layers of our human condition.
At its core, Laailaaj captures the intricate dance between affection and resentment, hope and disillusionment, and the yearning for connection amidst solitude. Yash describes the album as introspective and even self-indulgent — a stark departure from his debut work, Kangra Blues, which was an ode to the Kangra Valley. “This one is personal,” he reflects. “It became a process of self-revelation.” Each song feels like unlocking a new room in a house built on the foundation of self-awareness, offering an undeniable intimacy that resonates with anyone seeking to find their place in the world by first understanding themselves.
Yash’s creative journey has been anything but linear. With no formal training, his musical adventure began in the fifth standard when a computer teacher introduced him to music production software. High school saw him pick up the guitar, and college brought him into the fold of music clubs where he spent days practicing and creating. An art residency in Gunehar hosted by Frank Schlichtmann led to his first album, Kangra Blues (2019). A chance meeting with Sneha Khanwalkar in Mumbai opened doors to producing for films and eventually screenwriting. Each step in this journey has shaped his approach to storytelling, allowing him to craft music that feels cinematic in scope and intimate in resonance.
The thematic heart of Laailaaj beats in harmony with its sound woven from eras of Indian music, spanning the soulful melancholy of 70s Bollywood, the pulsating allure of disco, and the sharp edges of modern electronica. Yash explains that this wasn’t entirely intentional at first. Tracks like “Sirf Tu” started as a guitar riff and “Ab Kyun Aaye Ho?” emerged from an arpeggio while Itna Hi Kaafi Hai” was a bass line. But as the album took shape, it became clear that each song drawing a timeline in musical history. “I decided to arrange the album as episodes,” he says, “each going through an era of music, and a stage of life.” This structure, according to him, lent itself well to the evolution of the album and brought to life with the mixing and mastering by Venkatesh Iyer, creating a cohesive sonic narrative.
Crafting immersive atmospheres is Yash’s forte as an artist, and Laailaaj demonstrates this skill with finesse. “For some tracks, like ‘Ab Se Main’, I knew exactly what I wanted to say,” he shares. “For others, like ‘Sirf Tu’, it was more about capturing a space and a sound.” His process often begins with the guitar, but for this album, he made a conscious effort to move away from a guitar-centric approach. The result is a production style that feels raw, intentional, and deeply honest. “While it may not be technically perfect, I haven’t tried to hide that,” Sahai admits. “The focus remains on the themes and emotions.”
The electronic elements in the album act as hooks that immediately grab attention, often contrasting with the lyrics to create a surreal yet cohesive universe. Sahai’s background in screenwriting—having worked on dialogue and screenplays for films—undoubtedly plays a role here.“In songwriting, I focus on capturing the essence of the emotion, leaving things unsaid and letting the music fill in the gaps,” he says. “Screenwriting, on the other hand, gives you more room to explore characters and themes.” It’s this interplay between the two art forms that makes his work so compelling. Rhythm, he notes, plays a central role in both, influencing everything from the pacing of a screenplay to the beats of a song. “Screenwriting has influenced the production of my songs,” he continues. “Some songs directly reference cinematic eras, while others are meant to create a visual atmosphere, as if they were soundtracks for a movie that was never made—or will be made soon.”
When it comes to lyrics, Sahai draws inspiration from the timeless verses of Urdu poets like Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Ghalib, and Sahir Ludhianvi, as well as the modern-day lyricism of Andrew Bird, Kendrick Lamar, and Gulzar. “I didn’t shy away from drama or complexity,” he explains, “but I also tried to let go—avoiding forced, pseudo-meaningful ideas.” This balance of emotional depth and poetic simplicity gives Laailaaj its unique voice, one that feels both deeply rooted and refreshingly contemporary.
As much as Laailaaj a glimpse into Yash's universe, it's also a window into our own. As we move through its episodes, we find pieces of ourselves in the lyrics, the melodies, and the silences in between. A space to reflect and feel, the album is a sonic exploration of the questions we all carry but rarely dare to ask out loud. As we immerse ourselves in its episodes, we might just find fragments of ourselves in the process.
Follow Yash here and listen to Laailaaj below.
If you enjoyed reading this here's more from Homegrown:
This Year In Music: 50 Homegrown Releases That Were On Our Radar In 2024
'In Search Of Something': KillZen's Debut Album Is A Journey Of Inner Space Travel
'In Search Of Something': KillZen's Debut Album Is A Journey Of Inner Space Travel