Mumbai rapper, singer and composer Pratika, along with producer, sound engineer and drummer PrabhuNeigh released Evolution of Thought, the first single from their debut five-track EP called ‘Growing Up’. The song was released on 28th July 2023, along with an animated music video by Chinmay Patkar.
The song has an upbeat industrial rock vibe, with a beautiful guitar solo featuring DefGiant, a project of Reinhardt Dias, the guitar player of Mumbai alternative rock band BLAKC.
Evolution of Thought is a song that speaks in two ways - first, keeping in line with the idea of the EPbeing about growing up from childhood to adulthood. It talks about how life from a young age tonow has evolved for us as people, along with the obsolete thoughts older generations used toforce us to believe. It speaks about breaking out from those thoughts to be a better person.
Pratika was in a conflicting phase while writing this song last year, wondering whether being an artist fixated to a genre was a good thing, or if being able to do more and create art from the heart was more important. The second angle was inspired by a post by Mumbai artist Sandunes - which inspired Pratika to express the idea of making what you truly want, not dumbing down your sound, your originality or skill set just for mass appeal. It spoke to Pratika about being multidimensional, the evolution of expression for artists and not always making your art or your work easy for people to understand. It made Pratika hopeful to engage more minds in changing their perspective of art, and also evolving as listeners versus expecting what you.
The EP ‘Growing Up’ follows the life of Pratika (through the lyrics) and PrabhuNeigh as children, who were raised in a small neighbourhood in Bandra West, Mumbai. The EP shines a light on Pratika’s range as a vocalist, with clean singing vocals stacked with layers of harmonies, unique flows in her rap verses, multiple voiceovers and adlibs enacting situations, sprinkled with some metal screams and growls in places.
The backbone of ‘Growing Up’is the powerful production by PrabhuNeigh, mixing all their influences from over 15 years of playing and making music, fused into a rap meets hip hop meets metal culmination that’s never been seen before in India. From the typical old school hip hop meddling with electronic sounds and synths, all the way to pounding bass drops, metal guitar riffs and even a guitar solo, the EP is a unique blend of sounds.
Single Evolution of Thought Credits
Vocals written and performed by Pratika
Music produced by PrabhuNeigh
Mixed and mastered by Shikhar Yuvraj Manchanda at The Beast India Company
Animated music video by Chinmay Patkar
Click on the link below to watch the music video of Evolution of Thought on YouTube: