The past month was nothing short of a gift for Jubin Nautiyal, with two of his songs, Barbaad from Saiyaara and Bas Ek Dhadak from Dhadak 2, emerging hits. Naturally, the singer and musician is elated. But after a successful 11-year-long career, there is more he wants to add to his discography. “I find myself imagining what it’d be like to sing a jazz piece in an old-world setting,” he smiles. In a chat with mid-day, Nautiyal walks down memory lane to talk about the songs that made him a star, and the hunger that drives him. 

Excerpts from the interview:

What was your discussion with composers Javed-Mohsin or director Shazia Iqbal before you went behind the mic for Bas Ek Dhadak? 
The tune Javed-Mohsin shared with me was moving. I remember sitting in the studio, closing my eyes as the first notes played, and thinking, ‘This isn’t just melody; it’s a feeling’. Shazia Iqbal gave me a beautiful brief. She said, “Don’t sing it. Feel it like a broken heart.” Singing for Karan Johar’s [banner] added its own magic. They treat music with grandeur.