Last year, Aastha Gill went all out and entertained her fans with the peppy number Crazy Lady and more recently, the Abhi Toh Party Shuru Hui Hai singer has dropped a new track with fellow artist Mellow D. The song – Drunk N High – promises to be the new party anthem for the year. The singer-songwriter who created a buzz in the music industry with songs such as Buzz, DJ Wale Babu and Naagin (with Akasa) has been working hard on her music and lyrics-writing skill. “I have also recently started performing again on stage, so the concert life is back,” she shares. Aastha tells TMM that her fans can look forward to a number of collaborations from her this year.

You dropped Drunk N High recently. It’s such a peppy, upbeat track. The perfect way for you to kickstart the new year?
Yes, I think this is the perfect time to release a song such as this. People have started stepping out of their homes, they have started partying again. It’s the perfect time to give them that high in the new year. I’m glad that we could start 2021 with such a peppy track.

Your last solo track, Crazy Lady, was such a funky, fun song too. You went all out for the video…
That was the concept behind it. Ultimately, the crux of the song is that everyone is crazy in their own way. I feel it’s important to be a little crazy in life in order to make it big. The song and the video are all about owning your craziness. Just be the way you are. In terms of styling and looks, I wanted to go all out and make it a massy video. We used different elements like the teddy bear, Now, kids are calling it the Teddy Song! (laughs)

You have also become more confident in front of the camera?
Yes, that has happened. I personally feel the difference. I was really conscious of myself in front of the camera. Now I’m like, ‘bring it on!’ (laughs)

You come from a music family, but you tried your hand at advertising before getting into music. Why is that?
I was passionate about music but was scared of failures. I always thought there is a lot of struggle involved and I won’t be able to handle it. My dad has been part of the industry but I have seen him struggle every day. I wanted an easy life. I wanted my salary at the end of the month and I needed my security. Then I started working in an ad agency and realised that nothing comes easy. There is a struggle everywhere, so might as well struggle in something that you love doing. This is what I tell my fans now – follow your passion. Don’t be scared of failures.

Do you consider meeting Raftaar a turning point in your life?

Yes definitely. The turning point came the day Raftaar bhai heard me singing in my college. He came up to me and said, ‘Aastha, your tone is very good. Let’s work together’. I had no idea how serious he is but I was so passionate about music that I immediately said yes. Since then, we have been working together. He took me to meet Badshah bhai and then I started performing with him. Now, the first version of any song he makes is recorded in my voice. Then if he feels the song’s requirement is a different voice, then he takes someone else.

What has Badshah’s contribution been to your music?
In a way, he has given me the vision that I have now. It’s a different thing to dream about something and another, for it to happen realistically. I never thought of myself becoming one of the biggest pop stars of India. I was just going with the flow and had no idea what is in store for me. He told me that he sees me as one of the biggest pop stars of India and that I need to work accordingly. It moved me so much that this person who is not even related to me has such a vision for me, then I need to have a bigger vision for myself. That pep talk gave me the strength and I told him that I will make him proud. Ever since then, I have been working hard on myself.

You have collaborated with many artists in the past including Badshah, Akasa, and now, Mellow D. Any collaborations on your wishlist?
Oh, the list is very long! There are many artists I can think of because one gets to learn so much from them. When I met Jasmine Sandlas, I realised what a beautiful human being she is. Maninder Buttar inspired me to write because he said nobody can write what you know about yourself. I would love to collaborate with Sunidhi Chauhan mam because she is my childhood idol. Then I would love to work with Diljit Dosanjh – I love him! (smiles) Some of my other dream collaborations would be Guru Randhawa and Arijit Singh. The list goes on.

What’s in store from you in 2021?
I will be working on a lot of collaborations. I want to explore new talent and different artists and find out how I can fit in with other artists. I have already started working on a few of them.