Tune in: Melody Matters

Shruti Pathak is a Bollywood playback singer who shot to fame with Mar Javan from Fashion. Having started her career singing for various remix albums, Shruti has sung various chartbusters like Tooh and Dil Duffer from Gori Tere Pyaar Mein. She’s also the brains behind Guzzler, where ghazals are fused with neo-progressive versions. 

One song you have on repeat on your iPod these days:
Hare Hare Baans from Coke Studio, season 8

If you had to put together a soundtrack for your life, five songs that best describe your life would be: 
Lag Ja Gale. It’s one of my all-time favourites and the song can move mountains;. Second would be Ranjish Hi Sahi by Mehdi Hassan saab — each and every word of that ghazal is love. The third soundtrack would be Aaj Jaane Ki Zidd Na Karo. I’ve been loving and singing this one since the time I didn’t even know what it meant. The composition, the poetry, as beautiful as life! Kuch Toh Log Kahenge by Kishore Da, I love every bit of the song. And thumris by Bade Ghulam Ali. That was the first ever album gifted to me by my father and my journey into music began at that point. 

Is there a song you love to listen to when: You’re happy and upbeat:
Currently, Panj Taara by Diljit Dosanjh. It is a lot of fun.

You’re really low:
Fix you by Coldplay. It immediately lifts me up. It’s like a ray of hope.

You’re working out:
Anything EDM

Any music you used to love as a kid or a teenager that you’re now embarrassed by when you think back:
I used to love listening to ’90s Bollywood music. But I’m surely not embarrassed. I still enjoy it with my friends sometimes.

One band or musician that you would like to perform a private concert for you: 
I wish I could listen to Mehdi Hassansaab live. I’m always going to regret not having had that opportunity. 

—As told to Pooja Salvi