At just 6 years, rising pop sensation Nandini Nayal, better known as gini, realised that writing was her favourite mode of communication.  

Growing up in the serene hills of Dehradun, she had already started dabbling in poetry. Thanks to her parents, she was also exposed to a rich variety of music. “I’d sing along to Harry Belafonte and R.D. Burman songs, and just enjoy the process of singing,” shares the now 19-year-old indie darling. Over the years, gini started picking up various instruments – harmonium, guitar, and then the piano at 15 – often composing little tunes to go along with her poetry. “And boom, suddenly I was writing songs,” laughs the artist, who enthralled audiences at The Studio Theatre last month. “I started producing one summer in the 9th grade, released my first song at 15, and haven’t looked back since!” 

gini has already carved a niche for herself as an artist with her distinct sound, easy charisma and a quirky Instagram presence. With features in Rolling Stone India, Homegrown, and even the Times Square billboards, she is, as the kids say, in her ‘queen era’. “The biggest boon in this age is how easy it is to find a platform and access it,” quips the artist. “Earlier, you would have to jump through so many hoops to even get your music on record, but now, you can simply upload your music online and find an audience.”  

While her songs may cover a patchwork of moods and stories, the easiest way to describe gini’s sound is to talk about its deeply personal quality, something that seeps into her live performances. Somewhere in her set, you’ll chance upon a song about longing for lost love (‘So Far Away’), and then, a bare pile of her hopes, fears, and ambitions in the face of impending adulthood (‘Asaan’). A turn-of-road loneliness and the ennui of indecision looms over ‘Negative Space’, but the same words tell you that she is grateful for people who stop by to split the blues. For the most part, a lingering sense of nostalgia helps cobble together the singer’s heartfelt body of work which reflects her own coming-of-age reality, while still being far beyond her years.   

Fresh off the success of her new single Aadhey Adhoorey, which sees her collaborate with popular actor-musician Aashir Wajahat, gini enthralled Mumbai audiences with her ‘Cozy India Tour’, accompanied by talented colleagues Timothy (bass), Ethan (electric guitar), Nathan (keyboards) and Shivang (drums). Her performance at The Studio Theatre was equal parts intimate and immersive, drawing the audience into the soulful landscape of her lyrical world. The 250-seater theatre with telescopic seating, Dolby Atmos Surround Sound, and a theatrical lighting system lent itself beautifully to Gini's sound, allowing it to take on an aura both dreamy and haunting, melodic and melancholic… each layer revealing a quiet nuance. In her own words, this is music that sets out to “feel like a blanket to keep you warm on a cold day”. From the cosy, contemplative lull between her performances, it did comfort the audience, who were transported into the heart of gini’s melodic world.  

“One of the biggest challenges, in my limited experience, has been staying true to myself and why I make art, while still striving to be heard and giving the listener something they want to hear,” says the singer, who admits to being inspired by the production mastery of American singer-songwriter Finneas and the lyrical vocal styling of British musician Lianne La Havas. What has the journey been like – from strumming her blue guitar at age ten, to becoming a Spotify India RADAR artist, to performing at NMACC? “Surreal,” she gushes. “I still haven’t processed the gravity of many things that I have been fortunate to be able to experience through my art.” Largely, she’s just grateful she gets to receive love for doing what she loves. “What else can a human want?” 

For the young star who seems to have only just begun her ascent, ticking things off her bucket list has been a huge part of living the childhood dream. “Performing at NMACC is one of those moments that had my eyes glittering with wonder and gratitude!” she signs off… every bit ready to take on the world.   

Ask the Artist: gini in 8 Questions    

Q. Top song on Spotify Wrapped? 
‘How Much A Dollar Cost’ by Kendrick Lamar 
 
Q. Top 3 musicians of all time? 
Kendrick Lamar, Radiohead, and Billie Eilish 
 
Q. Contemporary musician who inspires you the most? 
Rachel Keen aka Raye  
 
Q. An underrated artist you think everyone should know? 
Vashti Bunyan 
 
Q. If you weren't a musician, you'd be: 
 Doing something in STEM… Astrophysics? Software Engineer? Neuroscientist?  

Q. Artists you'd love to collaborate with some day? 
Jacob Collier, Finneas, and Arooj Aftab 
 
Q. Your favourite gini song 
‘Khauf’ 

Q. Most difficult song to sing live vs the most fun ones 
‘Aasaan’ is difficult. ‘Khauf’ and ‘Sukoon’ are the fun ones!