After the breakout viral hit Taambdi Chaamdi, Shreyas is back with a brand-new EP titled Lokhand, a collection of three hard-hitting tracks that echo the strength and resilience of iron—aptly named as Lokhand translates to “iron”. Here we break down the sound, vision, and lyrical journey of the EP while diving into Shreyas’ creative process, his deep roots in Marathi culture, and the collaborative energy that shaped this project.
The Sonic Concept of Lokhand: A Hammer to Iron
When I asked Shreyas where the idea for Lokhand started, he surprised me by saying that it “sort of made itself.” He didn’t sit down with the intention of creating a cohesive project, but rather, the songs came together over time. “The title Lokhand reflects the sound more than anything,” he explained. Each track has a hard, aggressive energy, like hitting iron with a hammer—sharp, powerful, and unapologetic.
While the three tracks—Pankha Phaast, Proper, and Serious—don’t follow a linear narrative, they are connected by the intensity, aggression, and rawness that runs through their sound. It’s a sonic experience that reflects the creative space Shreyas is currently in—“outgoing and aggressive,” as he puts it. He adds that despite the songs being created in different time frames and contexts, they’re bound together by the hardness of their sound, making Lokhand an appropriate title for the project.
Maturing as an Artist: The Evolution Post-Viral Success
Following the success of Taambdi Chaamdi, Shreyas admits that public perception can create pressure: “When an artist gives one hit, people make up an image of who you are and what to expect,” he says. But for Shreyas, this EP marks a significant evolution.
His music, he shares, is maturing—becoming “more well-rounded” and less influenced by external expectations. What’s evident in Lokhand is Shreyas’ commitment to staying true to his roots in hip-hop: “This project is textbook hip-hop,” he emphasizes. It’s a reminder that despite his commercial success, his love for old-school hip-hop hasn’t faded, and this EP is a testament to that devotion.
The Collaborations: Building Tracks with Siege, Sky, and More
Each track on Lokhand brings together different artists who add their unique textures to the EP. “Siege was with me on stage,” Shreyas recalls about Pankha Phaast, a track that came to life when Siege spontaneously offered to lay down a verse after hearing the beat. The track is produced by Sky, a producer from Delhi. Shreyas explains that the original beat for the song was a remix of an old Honey Singh track, but Sky provided an original production that gave Pankha Phaast its final form.
For Proper, Shreyas takes us through the long journey of the track, which has been in the works for over two years, going through multiple beat changes before Mridul Kala finalized the version we hear today. The track features Shanu and Ajinkya (Started Off Poor), both of whom Shreyas holds close as friends and collaborators, making this a personal and meaningful piece of the EP.
The final track, Serious, is the most recent creation, born out of a spontaneous studio session with Mridul Kala. “We were doing a random session,” Shreyas recalls, and from this casual collaboration, Serious emerged with its subtle yet impactful tone.
The Roots of Marathi Hip-Hop: Shreyas’ Cultural Standpoint
Shreyas has been representing Marathi culture in his music for the past few years, and this EP continues that tradition. When asked about how his roots influence his work, Shreyas admits that it wasn’t always easy to rap in Marathi: “When I used to write in Marathi, it felt more vulnerable,” he says. Writing in his mother tongue initially made him feel exposed, but over time, he found a new confidence in expressing himself through Marathi rap.
This shift not only reflects in his lyrics but also in the cultural significance of his work. Shreyas is part of a growing movement within the Marathi music industry, which he notes was historically overlooked. “Marathi people were not confident about being Marathi,” he shares, but now, artists like him are bridging the gap, proving that Marathi hip-hop has its own place in the larger Indian music scene.
Looking Ahead: The Vision for the Future
When asked about his driving force behind making music, Shreyas offers two simple but powerful reasons: “Music allows me to live life the way I want to,” he says. For him, making a living through music means freedom—no one telling him what to do or how to do it. He also speaks about the unpredictable magic of the industry: “Anything can happen at any time,” he notes, recalling the serendipitous moments that shape his journey.
Before we wrapped up, I asked Shreyas what’s next for him after Lokhand. True to form, he’s already working on more releases. “You’ll see at least two more drops soon,” he promised.
And while he’s proud of Lokhand, he knows it’s just a small part of a bigger vision. “Raise your standards,” he said, “because what you’ve seen so far is just the tip of the iceberg.”
Shreyas’ confidence is infectious, and it’s clear that he’s not done pushing boundaries—whether it’s within hip-hop, Marathi culture, or his own creative limits. His vision for the future is clear: keep making music that stays true to his roots while continuing to elevate Marathi hip-hop on a global scale.
