‘I want to recreate the 80s sound’: Zaeden after releasing his debut album ‘Genesis 1:1’

The DJ-turned-singer talks about his inspiration, inclination to experiment and more

It is easy to imagine artists eternally submerged in their art, like mango in a pickle. But in most cases, it is reductive thinking; their art is not their sole muse; it is just a way of expression. They try out different activities, go to new places or consume other art forms and literature so that these things, at some point, serve as an inspiration for their art. Zaeden, after the release of his debut music album, , is doing exactly this. He is learning how to sketch. He is also watching fashion documentaries. “In Halston [a miniseries based on the life of the eponymous fashion designer], it was amazing to see him get inspired by the environment around him and channelling that energy into his fashion. A similar thing can be done with music as well, so that's what I'm hoping for,” he says over a call. Genesis 1:1 is a collection of 11 tracks tied together with the theme of love. “When I started writing my first song ‘kya karoon?’, I got ideas which were similar sonically, but different lyrically. So I just thought it is better to compile them into an album,” he says. About the title, he says, “The word ‘genesis’ in its literal sense means the birth of something novel. It’s the perfect analogy for my career.”