Electro-pop sensation Mansheel Gujral, the voice behind Bollywood chart-toppers like Channa Ve from Bhoot: Part One, Humsafar from Badrinath Ki Dulhaniya, and Flying Jatt’s high-energy title track, is kicking off a fresh musical adventure with her debut EP मOVE. Packed with groovy beats, soul-stirring melodies, and a blend of Punjabi, Hindi, and English lyrics, this highly anticipated EP is Mansheel’s playful yet heartfelt exploration of identity, love, loss, and self-discovery.
Rooted in Indian folk music but with a love for all things contemporary, Mansheel’s मOVE is like a vibrant musical smoothie—rich, colorful, and impossible to resist. The EP serves up three tracks that hit all the right notes: Chehra, a feel-good anthem about self-love that’ll have you singing in front of the mirror; Dooriyan, which beautifully captures the ache of love and distance (we’ve all been there); and मOVE, a straight-up dance number designed to get you off your seat and into your groove.
Known for blending traditional folk sounds with electro-pop energy, Mansheel is carving out a quirky, refreshing space in the music world. With the audio for Chehra and Dooriyan already making waves on streaming platforms, the video for Chehra, released on October 8th, is bringing Mansheel’s message of self-acceptance to life with vibrant visuals. Whether you’re looking to dance, reflect, or just vibe, मOVE promises to be your new go-to soundtrack.
In an exclusive chat with News18 Showsha, Mansheel dished on the inspiration behind her debut EP, the creative process, and what this exciting new chapter means for her musical journey.
Here are the excerpts:
Q: You’ve had an incredible journey in Bollywood with hits like ‘Channa Ve’ and ‘Humsafar.’ How has your experience in Bollywood shaped your approach to music?
A: It’s been an amazing journey! With every experience, you learn a little more about yourself. Working with talented music directors, I have learned how to use my voice, to mould it to a particular song or an emotion. Over the years I have developed a better understanding of my tone, texture, and range. The love I received for songs like Humsafar, Channa Ve, and Flying Jatt gave me the confidence to work on my first EP मOVE.
Q: Your upcoming EP ‘मOVE’ blends electro-pop with Indian classical and folk influences. What inspired you to explore this fusion, and how do you balance these different musical styles?
A: I grew up in a house where music was on all the time; it’s been a huge part of my life. My parents would wake me up to Elvis Presley, and I’d fall asleep to my dad listening to Jagjit Singh. Being a 90s kid, MTV and the then emerging Indian pop scene shaped my youth. Like any traditional Indian family, my first music training was in Indian classical, and from there, I just kept exploring different sounds and genres.
I’ve always loved listening to international artists, and what really hooked me was how they produced their music—the sounds and beats just grabbed me. I’ve always wanted to bring that vibe into the languages I speak. Punjabi and Hindi are my mother tongues, so blending them with global sounds just came naturally to me.
Q: Can you tell us about the creative process behind your debut EP? What inspired you to explore themes of identity, love, loss, and self-discovery?
A: I’ve always felt that music has this incredible power to stir emotions purely through sound. For me, it goes beyond lyrics—there’s something about a melody, a beat, or even a chord progression that can evoke feelings instantly. That’s exactly what I tapped into while creating the मOVE EP.
I had a clear vision of how I wanted this EP to sound—something with a unique sonic identity, a blend that felt fresh but true to me. Once I locked in the melody I was after, the themes naturally started to emerge from the music. Instead of forcing a narrative, I let the melodies, rhythms, and beats dictate what kind of emotions I wanted each track to bring out.
It was like the music was telling me, “This is what this song should make people feel.” So with each track, I aimed to stir a specific emotion, letting the sound guide me. It was a very organic process, and that’s what makes the EP so special to me. Each song has its own vibe, its own journey, but it all stems from the heart of the music itself.
Q: Your songs like ‘Channa Ve’ have captured listeners’ hearts. How do you ensure your music stays authentic to you while appealing to a wider audience?
A: Thank you! Channa Ve definitely gets a lot of love, and I have to say, it’s one of my personal favourites too. Singing soulful, emotional tracks has always been a big part of who I am, and I know my audience connects with that side of me. There’s something really powerful about being able to evoke deep emotions through music, and I’ll always love doing that.
But at the same time, I’ve always wanted to explore another side of myself as an artist. There’s a part of me that craves the energy and excitement of music that makes people want to move, dance, and feel amazing. Electro pop has been my go-to genre for that, and I love how my voice sounds in those tracks. The vibe is so different, and it’s exciting for me to express that celebratory, fun-loving side of who I am.
The मOVE EP represents that shift for me, stepping into a space where I can offer a mix of everything I love about music. I think it’s important to keep evolving as an artist and challenging yourself to try new things. These songs have come from a very personal creative space for me, and I’m thrilled to share this new chapter with everyone.
Q: Your debut EP ‘मOVE’ consists of three tracks—Chehra, Dooriyan, and मOVE. Could you walk us through the meaning behind each of these songs and how they connect to the overall theme of the EP?
A: This three-song EP is about love in different forms. It encapsulates my life.
Dooriyan is about the relationships we have with people who are far away physically but close emotionally. It reflects the feeling of longing, which I experience a lot as an artist who travels constantly.
Chehra is about believing in yourself. It’s a reminder that we all get bogged down by other people’s perceptions, but we need to be our own cheerleaders and love ourselves.
मOVE is me at my happiest—forgetting all my worries and just dancing, loving the present moment.
Q: The track Chehra celebrates love and self-acceptance. What was the inspiration behind this empowering message, and how do you hope listeners will relate to it?
A: It took me some time to really nail down the sound and style I wanted as an independent artist, but Chehra was the first song I created for मOVE. When I began working on it, it started off as just a regular love song—bubbly and cheerful. But as I developed it, my entire perspective shifted! Suddenly, it became this track I wanted to play on repeat, and I felt a surge of pride in what I had accomplished.
For years, my phone was filled with voice notes and snippets of melodies I’d collected, and finally, I turned those ideas into something tangible. Chehra isn’t just another song for me; it represents a significant milestone in my journey. It reflects my growth and my personal exploration as an artist. So the message of self-acceptance and love was in a way a self-fulfilling prophecy. I just wish the listeners feel the same joy while hearing it.
Q: Dooriyan touches on themes of distance and longing. What personal or universal experiences influenced this song, and how does it fit into the narrative of your EP?
A: My parents live in Pune, my work home is Mumbai, and my heart is in Goa. As a person, I think I have a sense of longing built inherently into me. It’s that emotion that I believe is reflected in the song. I want to embrace all of life, and Dooriyan is my way of coming to terms with that.
Q: You describe the title track “मOVE” as a groovy dance number. How did you approach the production of this track to make it both a dance anthem and a celebration of love?
A: I wanted one of my songs to be a total party banger—something you’d hear in a club with lights flashing everywhere! I aimed for a beat that would make you jump on the dance floor the moment you hear it, and my producer really helped me achieve that. I wanted it to be so infectious that you couldn’t help but groove! Plus, I brought my friend Jeffery Iqbal on board to collaborate, and I knew he’d nail the sound. At the end of the day, isn’t dancing to celebrate love the best kind of anthem?
Q: You have a unique voice and have mixed Punjabi, Hindi, and English in your music. What drives you to incorporate multiple languages, and how does this multilingual approach reflect your artistic identity?
A: Thank you so much! I am a Sardarni, raised in Pune, who moved to Mumbai and loves spending time in Goa. My life is a blend of my experiences from all these places. Combining these languages feels completely natural to me. I’ve been lucky to have grown up listening to a ton of different genres and styles of music. I really believe music has the power to stir emotions, no matter what language it’s in. Singing and merging two worlds has always been part of my journey—it’s what comes organically to me.
Q: Your music combines traditional Indian elements with modern pop. How do you navigate keeping your cultural roots while evolving with contemporary sounds?
A: I’ve been learning folk and classical music since I was a kid. When I was 13, I went to Punjab to train in Punjabi folk music. So my roots are in Indian music. They form the base of every song I work on. I am an avid listener of music—I love exploring new sounds, and they subconsciously find their way into the music I create. I don’t force myself; I let the melody come naturally to me. Speaking Punjabi and Hindi at home, blending these languages with international sounds felt like the most natural expression of my identity.
Q: As an artist, what role does self-discovery play in your creative process, especially in a project like ‘मOVE’?
A: Oh, it’s absolutely important! It took me a while to understand my vibe and really tap into my strengths. I had to honestly decide what I wanted to be known for. Yes, I have a voice, but what lies beyond that? What is my musical identity?
I tried writing many different kinds of songs—my phone is filled with various melodies—but I finally made the decision to create this EP, which is so truly me. Having a solid grasp of your strengths and weaknesses is essential, and when you’re honest with yourself, only the best version of you shines through.
This EP is very different from the kind of music my audience is used to hearing from me, but I know it truly resonates with me. It’s exciting to step out of my comfort zone and explore new sounds that reflect who I am as an artist right now. So you can say I have rediscovered myself while making the मOVE EP.
Q: The video for Chehra is set to release soon. What can fans expect from the visual representation of this powerful track, and how does the video enhance the song’s message?
A: The music video for Chehra is super fun. The visuals are bright, colourful, and fun, representing a day in my life—waking up and singing Chehra. It’s me in my element with all the people I love. All my friends came together to make it happen, and we shot it in Goa, which is my happy place, so it’s extra special. My journey of making the EP मOVE started in Goa, so it’s come full circle. It’s kind of mystical how everything fell into place, like the universe was pushing me to do this. I believe this alchemy of events does translate into the vibe the music video tries to convey.
Q: You’ve contributed to major Bollywood soundtracks. How has your experience in the industry influenced your growth as an independent artist with your debut EP?
A: After working with some amazing music directors and lending my voice to a wide range of styles over the years, I’ve really come to understand my voice and how to make the most of it. I’ve learned to modulate my voice to fit the melody, and doing this every day has helped me learn, adjust, and improve. Staying true to my vocal range has also been key, and I’ve discovered that using the mic—whether I’m on stage or in the studio—is a skill you develop over time. All these experiences have played a significant role in creating my EP मOVE.
Q: With मOVE marking your first EP, how does it represent a new chapter in your career? Are there any specific goals or messages you want to communicate through this project?
A: While creating the मOVE EP was a process of self-discovery, it does feel super liberating to be able to play around with the craziest ideas that come to me. An absolute freedom of expression… Though you can get in your own head and be over-critical sometimes. My experiences and this industry have given me so much perspective. I’ve taken my time to evolve—given up many times, celebrated wins, and faced rejection. But I always remind myself why I chose this path in the first place, and if I’ve made it this far, there’s no turning back now. So my only message is: Carpe Diem baby!
Q: What can we expect next from Mansheel Gujral? Are there any upcoming projects or collaborations that you’re excited about?
A: Right now, I’m all about electro pop, but I also love singing love ballads, which my listeners have appreciated in the past. So, yes, there’s a super sweet collaboration happening soon, which I am excited about. Hopefully, it will be out by the end of this year!
Q: Lastly, what advice would you give to aspiring musicians looking to find their unique sound in an industry that is constantly evolving?
A: Pursuing music as a profession isn’t an easy choice—it can take years before you feel like a working artist! But don’t be afraid to be honest about the kind of artist you want to be. Don’t just settle for what you’ve learned; dig deeper! Make the music that feels right to you. Challenges will come your way, but I believe in getting knocked down and getting back up, just like that famous song! So no matter what happens, make sure you’re giving it your all and enjoying the journey because what’s the point otherwise? In this constantly evolving world, I think authenticity is really something that can set you apart.
