It was during the lockdown that Haniya Nafisa broke into the music scene. The covers she uploaded on her social media handles won her a legion of fans. After a short break from social media, Haniya forayed into the independent music scene and has released three originals this year, the latest among them being an English track, ‘When life gives you lemons’.
“It was a song meant for a friend’s short film. I recorded it along with the background score. I was encouraged to release it separately.
Initially, we made a lyric video with some artwork. There was no plan to bring it out as a music video,” says Haniya, over the phone from Kochi. Haniya Nafisa in her music video, 'When life gives you lemons'| Photo Credit:Special Arrangement “It is about living a monotonous life,” says Haniya, who features as a waitress in the video.
She adds, “It was an attempt at something new. The acceptance for English songs is picking up in Kerala, so it was a risk that we took. I have experimented with the vocal texture by bringing in a retro vibe.
” The tonal quality of her voice, the cinematography, the orchestration and the vibe of the video have come in for praise. Produced by Haniya and her friend, Aslam Seju, the cinematographer of the video, under their banner Neue Films, it is directed by Arshed Iqbal. The work also features rapper MHR and digital creator and musician Salman Koroth.
“We didn’t expect so much love for an English song. There has been positive feedback from.
