The New New Delhi Anthem

It started out as a regular gig for a private Holi party thrown by Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit at her residence.

It started out as a regular gig for a private Holi party thrown by Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit at her residence. Little did the five band members of Astitva know that one of their songs would impress her so much that she would make it the ‘Delhi Anthem’ three months later, replacing Euphoria singer Palash Sen’s song Dilli Meri Jaan. The soon-to-bedeclared Delhi anthem is called Somewhere I Belong and is essentially about the joys of living in Delhi. According to band drummer and percussionist Ayush Gupta, the song reflects the eclectic influence of jazz, rock and Hindustani classical music that has come to define the band’s music in the last couple of years. “But more than anything else, it is about apni Dilli and its people, which is what I think impressed the Chief Minister,” says Ayush. The Chief Minister did recommend some changes in the lyrics, though. “She asked us to add a few lines about the Delhi Metro and infrastructure development, as that has come to define Delhi in the last few years, which we did happily,” says Ayush.

The anthem is yet to be released and is currently being re-mastered in London. All expenses are being borne by the Delhi government.

About The Author

Aanchal Bansal