Few acts in India’s rock landscape have pushed boundaries like Antariksh. Blending odd-timed riffs with Hindustani classical elements, grand choruses, and emotionally charged storytelling, Antariksh continues to evolve with every release.
‘Naaqis’ sees Polish guitarist Jakub Zytecki come on board for a legendary collaboration fusing the best of indie, rock and Hindustani classical.
In this conversation, Antariksh and Zytecki reflect on working together and open up about the creative journey behind their song.
IN-CONVERSATION WITH ANTARIKSH
You’ve called Jakub one of your guitar idols. Can you take us back to when you first discovered his music?
If I remember correctly, I first heard Jakub’s music in 2015/16 when he had a band called Disperse, and honestly, I was completely blown away. I had never heard someone play the guitar with such ferocity and yet so emotively at the same time. Not only his playing, but his choice of sounds was also so unique and modern that it got me hooked on his music.
Your previous collaborators include Marty Friedman as well as Baiju Dharmajan. What do you look for in a collaborator?
I’m just very, very grateful for the fact that I’ve had the honour and pleasure of having some of my favourite guitarists play on my songs. I’ve told the story about how I got Marty to guest on our song “Quest” quite a few times, but to answer your question about what I look for in a collaborator, it’s just pure synergy.
As a composer and producer, whenever I write a section where I want someone to guest, I usually think of guitar players or musicians whom I not only love listening to, but whose playing style and tonality would not only complement but also supplement the song.
I usually make a list of people who fit that criteria and try to reach out to them in a particular order. Then it’s simply a matter of who likes the song first, is available for the collaboration, and of course agrees to play on the track.
How did this collaboration actually materialize?
Honestly, the collaboration story for Naaqis wasn’t as dramatic as the one for Quest, where I had bumped into Marty Friedman at an airport and later reached out to him with my music.
For Naaqis, I had a few guitar players in mind whom I thought would help elevate the song. As soon as everything except the guitar solo was recorded, I started reaching out to some of them, and Jakub responded. He liked the track and was kind enough to agree to play on it.
What do you think ‘Naaqis’ had that made it resonate with Jakub?
Well, actually I had sent another track to Jakub before Naaqis. I remember him getting back to me saying that although he liked the song, it was not exactly his style, and he is usually very particular about anything he plays on. But if you know me, then you know that I don’t give up so easily.
A month later, I sent him Naaqis, and he immediately got back saying that he was up for it. Honestly, it would be hard for me to answer on his behalf as to what he liked about the song, but my sense is that some of the melodies, guitar riffs and the Indian instruments in the track, like the sarangi and ghatam, piqued his interest.
Please tell us about your experience of working with Jakub?
Oh, it was a breeze. As soon as I sent him the song to play on, we agreed upon a date, and Jakub sent across his solo before that. It was incredible how he adapted his playing to the vibe of the song. I remember him telling me that he got a very “old school shred” vibe from the section he was playing on, which is very different from the kind of material he plays in his original music. You’d be blowing away listening to Jakub in a completely new avatar on this one.
Tell us a little about ‘Naaqis’.
Naaqis, an Arabic and Urdu word, is usually used in a wide variety of meanings, from deficient and flawed to almost worthless or disloyal. The song “Naaqis” is part of a much larger concept album that Antariksh will be releasing this summer.
It explores the emotional turbulence one feels when embarking on a journey driven by passion, hope, and excitement, only to realize that things are not as easy as expected and do not go as planned, resulting in disappointment, disillusionment, and hard realizations. There is a constant tussle between the grit required to not give up and the storm that relentlessly hits you, and “Naaqis” aims to represent that emotion through the song.
Musically, the song is set in a prog rock and fusion soundscape, full of heavy odd-timed riffs, grand choruses, and Hindustani classical elements. It also features a haunting sarangi solo by Momin Khan and an explosive guitar solo by Jakub Zytecki.
What does 2026 look like for Antariksh? Is this single part of a larger body of work? More collaborations? Touring plans?
2026 will definitely see a lot more new music, as well as a concept album from Antariksh this summer. And yes, there are some really interesting collaborations that we’ll be unveiling soon with new releases over the next few months. We’re also looking to do an India tour this summer around the album release, and then potentially do another US tour early next year…
IN-CONVERSATION WITH JAKUB ZYTECKI
What drew you to collaborate with Antariksh on ‘Naaqis’ and what stood out to you about their sound as an Indian Rock act?
We have a common friend that suggested the feature. I listened to the track and really liked it. I enjoy the Indian music influence mixed with progressive rock elements – Antariksh really seem to have a solid vision for their work.
When you’re asked to guest on a track, what are the boxes it has to tick for you? And what do you try to do differently with each one?
I’m not necessarily thinking about what can I do different each time. If I like the spot I just try to vibe with it and see what happens. In case of ‘Naaqis’ I just wanted to go for a straight up rock vibe, it was tons of fun.
How does 2026 look for you? Are you planning to tour or release new music or both? When do we see you perform in India again?
Definitely both! Right now I’m slowly wrapping up the record, which I hope to release this summer. The shows will most likely happen during the second half of 2026. Can’t wait!
