Bhrigu Sahni’s Awakening stands out as a deeply personal journey into sound, inviting listeners to experience something more than just music. Coming from Pune, Bhrigu shapes this New Age folk EP with his intricate guitar work and thoughtful vocals, creating a space that feels both intimate and expansive. Collaborating with Grammy-nominated artists like Annette Philip and Priya Darshini, Awakening captures the essence of spiritual growth and reflection, offering listeners a rare blend of soulful expression and technical mastery. The music that asks you to pause, listen, and connect on a deeper level.
The Spark Behind Awakening
When I spoke to Sahni, it was clear that Awakening wasn’t born out of a sudden creative burst but was instead nurtured over a decade. “Some of these songs go back ten years,” he tells me, reflecting on how they lived as demos on his laptop for years before he decided to bring them into the world. “It was one of the biggest things I could do for myself,” Sahni shares, explaining how these compositions had always been in his heart, waiting to be released.
While the album’s creation has spanned a long timeline, the actual recording process was relatively quick, completed in just over a year. What took time was the decision to give these songs the space they deserved—to stop visiting them in his mind and commit them to record. And that’s what Awakening feels like—Sahni making peace with a decade’s worth of creative expression and offering it to the world.
Higher: Reaching for Peace
The EP opens with Higher, a serene and aspirational track that sets the tone for the spiritual depth of the entire album. Inspired by a deep meditation session, the song carries an ethereal calm, as if calling the listener to ascend beyond the chaos of everyday life. Sahni’s intricate guitar playing pairs beautifully with Annette Philip’s vocals, which elevate the track to a surreal, almost otherworldly level. As Sahni explains, Higher is about longing to reach a place of peace, an invitation to rise above the mundane.
With Philip’s soothing voice swirling around Sahni’s acoustic guitar lines, the song feels like a guided meditation itself—inviting you to close your eyes and let go.
To Be: The Eternal Watcher
In To Be, Sahni explores the essence of presence, a theme deeply tied to his spiritual practice. After years of meditation, Sahni had a profound realization that he is not the thinker but the silent observer—the true self, or pure awareness. The track revolves around this eternal battle to remain present and detached from the noise of the mind. The harmonies between Sahni’s vocals and Priya Darshini’s soulful backing create a layered, meditative experience, much like the mindfulness practices that inspired it. The song’s depth is matched by its simplicity, a constant push and pull between inner peace and worldly distractions.
Believe: A Message of Resilience
Sometimes, personal struggles fuel the most poignant art, and Believe is a testament to this. Written after a fallout with his parents, the song became a message of self-belief in the face of doubt. It’s a reminder to trust your heart, even when no one else does. The strength in Believe lies in its quiet confidence—a call to keep going, no matter what. Sahni’s emotive guitar playing and introspective lyrics remind us that even when the world seems against you, inner belief can guide the way forward.
Aye Bhava: Friendship Remembered
Awakening takes a tender turn with Aye Bhava, a song written in Marathi as a tribute to a dear friend from Sahni’s childhood. The lyrics are poignant, filled with longing for a friendship that, while not lost, is no longer what it once was. “It’s a bit of a call-out to my friend,” Sahni shares, reflecting on how life’s demands often cause important relationships to fade. The track brings a personal touch to the album, showing that spirituality is not just about connecting with the divine but also about cherishing the human connections that shape us.
The Album’s Title Track: Awakening
The final track of the EP is where it all culminates. Awakening is more than just a song—it’s a revelation. Written in his Brooklyn apartment, the track represents the moment Sahni felt truly aligned with his music and the universe. With lyrics that ask, “Do you see? Now do you see?” Sahni invites listeners to recognize the divine in everything, from the patterns of a snowflake to the movements of the stars. It’s an ode to the ever-present beauty of the world, patiently waiting for us to wake up and notice.
Clarity in Chaos: Theme no 1
Inspired by jazz legend John Coltrane, Theme no 1 // Clarity brings a reflective, almost dreamlike quality. The song evokes a sense of movement, of a journey unfolding as harmonic complexity unfolds into something clear and serene. “It reveals a magical land to the listener,” Sahni explains, “where clarity and peace are waiting to be found.” The pensive nature of this track invites you to slow down and reflect, echoing the reflective moments of life when everything becomes clearer in hindsight.
The Musician Behind the Magic
Bhrigu Sahni’s journey as an artist has been one of constant growth and self-reflection. An alumnus of Berklee College of Music, he has performed at iconic venues like Carnegie Hall and The Blue Note Jazz Club, while also collaborating with renowned artists such as Arooj Aftab and Karsh Kale. Yet, despite his impressive resume, Sahni remains grounded in his music’s spiritual and emotional core. His style, which blends acoustic fingerstyle guitar with ethereal folk, speaks to universal themes of presence, mindfulness, and personal growth.
In Awakening, Sahni has created a body of work that transcends the typical boundaries of folk music, inviting listeners to explore their own spiritual journeys. It’s an album that feels intimate and grand at the same time, filled with personal stories, deep reflections, and a musicality that transports you to a higher plane.
The Journey Continues
As Sahni gears up for a tour with his band, he’s excited to see how the songs from Awakening will translate to a live setting. “There’s a live element that adds something new,” he tells me, eagerly anticipating how the music will evolve when played for an audience. Whether experienced through headphones or live on stage, Awakening is an album that will leave its mark—a reminder that, in the rush of life, there is beauty in stillness, in presence, and in simply being.
