Chilled-out jam sessions, Parekh & Singh combine acoustic, folk and indie to make a sound that will always “keep me hypnotized” – their song Me & You (2013) further enticing you to spend a day on the beach as you fall happily in love. Or dream of being a Panda (2013), their song of the same title making an already cute fluff-ball utterly irresistible with its cheery beat.
Image courtesy of Parekh & Singh. Credit: Parizad D. Jivraj Singh (L) and Nischay Parekh (R)
Mixed in with their acoustic vibe is an alternative pop that experiments with sound cuttings and electric off-beats; Hill (2013). Producing a sound that would easily fit for a lazy lie in the sun. Since debuting their full-album Ocean (2013), Parekh & Singh have marked themselves as a stand-out duo. Hailing from Kolkata in India, the pair match not just in striking-suits, and bold colours, but in their musical talents, with Jivraj Singh being the group’s producer and percussionist, and Nischay Parekh the vocals, keyboard, synthesiser and guitar. Together they’re set to conquer your sound system.
Image courtesy of Parekh & Singh. Credit: Parizad D. Jivraj Singh (L) and Nischay Parekh (R)
Highly stylized, their look is almost cinematic – in fact Ghost couldn’t be more of glossy-magazine spread if it tried. The music video a creative inspiration for those in interior design, fashion, travel, and maybe even paint-making? The colours bounding across the four-minute video and screaming to be let out into the real-world – making it all that brighter.
The music video (directed by Misha Ghose) follows a young girl as she sets about in her attempt to hold onto the past and in some way replay it. Matching the lyrics in their meaning; “We tried to go back to the way that it was back then/It is the best thing to do when trouble ends”. Although Parekh & Singh sing about a romantic relationship, while in the music video it’s about a girl who misses her dog. Cue tears. But at the end they’re both about recapturing that love, while leaving you to take your own perspective as to what that is; a childhood, family, friends, lovers etc.
Having lost her dog, the girl in the video takes an empty lead out for a walk, letting the collar drag on the ground. Returning home, the retro TV (stuck in the nostalgia of the past) shows Parekh & Singh as they perform the song straight-faced, appearing almost as backing-singers to her story. The girl’s family then surround and try to comfort her, but instead she seeks to escape and to instead start a treasure hunt to find a memento of her dog’s life – his tennis ball.
The video sounds sad, right? But with vibrant clothes that match the upbeat music/black-and-white striped leggings (that shout whimsy)/a beautiful sun-draped scenery/and a touch of Wes-Anderson imagery – if a little hyped up (and all the better for it) – it suggests that this “ghost” will be alright. Also the four-legged friend at the very end helps.
Image courtesy of Parekh & Singh. Credit: Parizad D. Nischay Parekh (L) and Jivraj Singh (R)
Parekh & Singh’s modest attitude comes through in their music, each part syncing in harmony and never looking to over-shadow, while their music videos carry the same artistic creativity as the content of their albums. Then there’s the fact the duo always make sure to give credit to those around them – so just how much more likeable could Parekh & Singh be?
Other songs by Parekh & Singh we love:
- Summer Skin (2019 – Science City)
- Sunbeam (2019 – Science City)
- Surgeon (2019 – Science City)
- I Love You Baby, I Love You Doll (2013 – Ocean)
- Ocean (2013 – Ocean)
- Panda (2013 – Ocean)
Other artists you might like:
- Chloe Moriondo
- Generationals
- The Shins
