At Filmibeat, we love connecting with artists who are passionate about what they do. When Yash’s Toxic: A Fairy Tale For Grown Ups hit the silver screens, the public fell in love with the English track Toxic. So, how could I not catch up with Hanita Bhambri, the talented singer behind the hit song?
From carving out her niche in the independent music scene to making waves with Toxic, Hanita Bhambri has enjoyed a rollercoaster ride. In an exclusive conversation with Filmibeat Associate Editor Abhishek Ranjith over the phone, the singer candidly spoke about collaborating with Vishal Mishra and revealed what attracted her to the song.
Did you know that she was originally approached to write the lyrics for the film? “Is this really happening?” – Hanita’s first reaction is definitely worth your attention.
Here are excerpts from the interview:
1. How did you come to Toxic and what was your first reaction when you were approached for the project?
Hanita: Vishal Mishra’s team approached me about Toxic and the whole experience felt like something out of my dreams. They told me they were looking for an English lyricist for the film, and when I heard the brief, I immediately felt there was something really exciting about it.
What was even more special was that I not only got to sing the song, but also write the lyrics. As an independent artist, being able to bring my own writing to a film of this magnitude was a special opportunity. To be honest, my first reaction was a mixture of excitement and disbelief. I think part of me was just thinking, “Wait, is this really happening?”
2. What was the idea behind Toxic and what attracted you to the song?
Hanita: Geetu Mohandas ma’am had a very clear vision of creating something dark and dangerous, but also very majestic and cinematic. The song had to have international appeal and I really liked that.
I’ve always been drawn to music that explores the more intricate and complex sides of human emotion, and Toxic gave me a lot of room to play with that.
3. What was the recording experience like and how did you approach bringing your voice and personality to the track?
Hanita: For me, the recording was just like a movie. Initially, I was invited just to write the lyrics for the song, but during the presentation, Vishal Mishra liked my voice so much that he asked me to sing it. He called Geetu ma’am, put it on speakerphone and I sang the song out loud to her. Hearing my voice, she was glad that I recorded it.
I approached it almost as if I was getting into the character of the song. There’s a certain confidence, playfulness and danger, and I wanted all of those emotions to come across through the vocals. I also wanted the delivery to feel conversational in certain places, as if I was teasing the listener rather than just singing to them.
4. What was it like collaborating with Vishal Mishra? What did you learn from this experience?
Hanita: Working with Vishal sir was truly a special experience. He has such a strong musical instinct, but at the same time he gives you the opportunity to discover your own interpretation of the song.
One of the most important things I learned was how much can change through tiny decisions in a recording, whether it’s how you pronounce a word, where you breathe, what attitude you put into a line, or how restrained you choose to be. Sometimes the smallest vocal decisions can completely change the emotion of a song, and his feedback and insight helped me convey that in my vocals.
5. As an independent singer-songwriter, how do you balance your own sound with your creative vision?
Hanita: I didn’t want to go into the project thinking, “This has to sound exactly like my independent music.” The film has its own story, characters and universe. my job was to understand this universe and find my place in it.
At the same time, my writing, my vocal character and the way I approach dark emotions are very much part of who I am. My album “Shoharat”, which I released a year ago, is also about dark pop sounds and vocals. So instead of choosing between my sound and my vision for the film, I tried to find a match between the two.
Additionally, I was given complete creative freedom to write and express my artistry in song. It requires a different level of trust and I am very grateful to Vishal and Geet for giving me the opportunity to bring a piece of myself into the song.
6. Was there anything from your independent musical journey that you consciously brought to Toxic?
Hanita: My independent music has always allowed me to explore emotions that aren’t necessarily neat or pretty. I released 40-45 songs. I’ve written a lot about obsession, heartbreak, anger, desire, revenge, and the dark side of relationships.
I also brought a songwriter’s mentality into it. I always think about words and what they are trying to make you feel. My own fascination and love for dark pop made me feel like I was in a hand-holding situation.
7. What’s next for you as an artist and what kind of music do you want to explore next?
Hanita: I’d like to keep switching between my own independent music and exciting film projects and eventually create a body of work that people can recognize as mine before they even know it’s me.
I want to keep doing what excites me and this is probably the simplest way to put it. I want to continue writing and creating music that feels distinctly my own, as well as exploring different worlds and partners.
I am very interested in further developing storytelling through music and developing my craft regardless of genre. It could be dark pop, but it could be rock or blues or whatever, as long as it’s still me and comes from the heart. I’m looking forward to my new era.