Real Talk with Jyoti Sardar

Kavita ji & Kanishk Seth join me on this episode of Real Talk for a conversation I knew had to happen the moment I heard their new EP, Dil Safar 🤍This conversation feels especially relevant right now given we are in a time where speed often replaces depth, and trends move faster than thoughts. Which is why I wanted to sit with two artists who’ve chosen a slightly different path.Kavita ji, whose voice has defined some of the most emotionally resonant songs in Hindi cinema (from Iktara to Rangi Saari) and Kanishk, who is reshaping Indian sound while staying deeply rooted in its tradition.This chat isn’t just about music. It’s about discipline, work ethic, purpose, and about how tradition can stay alive without being rigid. We talk about protecting art in an attention economy, carrying poetry forward in a digital age, and what responsibility really means when you inherit something bigger than yourself :)

This episode is proper special!! No studio. No sofa. No sitting still in front of a mic. Just Yungsta and I are walking in his city, through the hood that holds real weight in Indian hip-hop history!This is where the cyphers happened. Where battles went down. Where hunger, talent, ego, friendships, rivalries and culture all collided before the scene even had a spotlight. And getting to walk around these lanes with Yungi while he tells those stories was exactly the kind of experience I want to have over a real conversation. We talk about his childhood in Gorakhpur, his early days in the cypher circuit, and how those years shaped his writing, his mindset, and his voice. We get into life before and after "Meen", the shift, the expectations, and how success quietly changes things, both outside and inside.We also talk industry, relationships, inspiration, evolution, and how he’s grown as a human and an artist over the years. Plus, he throws in stories about the park, the people, the energy of the place… the kind of details you only get when you’re actually there!No upcoming release. No PR talk. No image management. No performance.Just a real, honest conversation with the human behind the bars.

What does it really take to break a hit in today’s music game?!This episode pulls back the curtain with two people shaping the sound and strategy of Indian music right now.Anmol Singh Dhand (co-founder of Mashooriya and Marketing Head at Gully Gang), has helped push tracks like "Obsessed" and "Kehne Lagaa" into the viral stratosphere.Aniket Rajgarhia (co-founder of Music Tech India and ex-Outdustry), connects the dots between music, tech, and business, having worked on campaigns for everyone from Sez and the MVMNT to Lauv & Major Lazer.We dig into how songs blow up, what an A&R rep really does in the sessions, and how tech is rewriting the future of India’s music scene. If you’re an artist, artist manager, or just a music fan who loves understanding how hits happen, this episode is for you.

Justh (the artist behind the viral hit song ‘Chor’), joins me for a warm and heartfelt conversation, where we go beyond the charts and into the 'why' behind his music!Justh tells me about the moment he knew he had to tell his stories through music, and we discuss his unique song structures & melodies, the power of pauses, and the quiet magic that lives in every note he writes.This chat also gave me a deeper appreciation for his latest release ‘Unse Jaake Kehdo’, a soul-hitting follow-up to Chor.Let’s dive in - here’s Justh, on Real Talk Ep. 16.

In this episode, Aman Sagar dives into the world of ESWY - a bold, genre-blending EP built around the concept of “7 janam” or 7 lives, told through 7 tracks that form a narrative arc you can get completely lost in. I know I have! Then we’re joined by the director of the music video for the title track, Yuvrajaago, to break down the insane cinematic universe that him and his team have created! We talk visual metaphors, character design, easter eggs, and how the short film brings the emotional weight of the song to life. The EP, the film, and this chat sit at the crossroads of sound, story, and cinema - and show just how powerful and path-breaking creative work can be when the intent is clear. This one has set new benchmarks and I'm here for it! #RealTalk #AmanSagar #ESWY #Podcast #MusicPodcast #MusicInterview #JyotiSardar #RealTalkwithJyotiSardar

Atul Churamani is the man behind most of your favourite Indipop songs from the 90s like Daler Mehndi, Baba Sehgal, Shaan, Shweta Shetty, and Colonial Cousins (among many more). He is an encyclopaedia in music business, the OG A&R in the non-film music space, and has been instrumental in developing the digital and publishing landscape of the music industry. In this episode of Real Talk, I invited Atul for a casual catch-up wherein we not only hear stories of how things happened back in the day (as opposed to now), but we also get a quick summary of important music business elements that artists, their teams, and the audiences should be aware of. This conversation has something in it for everyone - music fans, artists, and music business executives (present & future). Thank you very much Atul, for taking the time, and for helping us understand this mad business of music better!

In part 8 (Ep. 13) of this #CokeStudioSeason15 series with Xulfi, we dive deep into the world of "Blockbuster" ... and everything that went into the making of this chartbuster. Hope you enjoy the conversation!#RealTalk #Xulfi #CokeStudio #Podcast #Blockbuster #UmairButt #FarisShafi #GharwiGroup

In part 7 (Ep. 12) of this #CokeStudioSeason15 series with Xulfi, we dive deep into the world of "Chal Chaliye" ... and the confluence of thoughts between generations. Hope you enjoy the conversation!#RealTalk #Xulfi #CokeStudio #Podcast #ChalChaliye #SajjadAli #FarheenRazaJaffry

In part 6 (Ep. 11) of this #CokeStudioSeason15 series with Xulfi, we dive deep into the world of "O Yaara" ... covering the struggles, the hopes, the ups-and-downs of life, and the 'warm hug' the universe brings us all in the midst of it all. Hope you enjoy the conversation!#RealTalk #Xulfi #CokeStudio #Podcast #OYaara #Kaavish #AbdulHannan

In part 5 (Ep. 10) of this #CokeStudioSeason15 series with Xulfi, we dive deep into the world of "Harkalay", and talk about a language, culture, and people that have felt stereotyped for too long. Hope you enjoy the conversation :)#RealTalk #Xulfi #CokeStudio #Podcast #Harkalay