In a career spanning over 20 years, Jassie Gift has carved a unique niche for himself in the music industry, refusing to pigeonhole his work into any single tone, language, or style. Since his first album release in 2003, the versatile singer-composer has crafted songs that gained cult status, becoming mainstays at college festivities, school trips, and road adventures. His compositions, which once dominated TikTok trends, continue to captivate audiences on Instagram, with influencers grooving to his addictive beats.
Jassie’s latest venture is an Afro hip-hop track titled ‘Thakthom,’ produced by Reyan and Melvin of the New Thira Productions based in Ireland. This vibrant piece, featuring Jassie, has already accumulated over 300,000 views on YouTube since its October launch. “Reyan and Melvin’s previous album, Thamburatti, released in 2022, was a big hit in the UK. They are very passionate musicians, always eager to push boundaries,” Jassie said, reflecting on his collaboration with the Dublin-based duo who share Malayali lineage. “They work to represent their cultural roots overseas,” he elaborates.
Jassie’s association with Reyan began last year with a viral video of them dancing to Jassie’s iconic track ‘Themma themma themmadikkaatte’ from the 2004 film Rain Rain Come Again, originally sung by Jyotsna Radhakrishnan. This collaboration has only added another feather to Jassie’s versatile cap.
Jassie’s journey in music began during his undergraduate days at the University College in Thiruvananthapuram, where he honed his craft as a freelance keyboardist for city bands like The Gypsies, Nine Hours, and Baiju and the Band. This period exposed him to an eclectic mix of music genres, from country and hard rock to metal and soft rock. “We listened to various genres to fulfill audience requests during performances,” he recalls fondly.
Reflecting on the influences during his formative years, Jassie recalls being fortunate to have his musical senses shaped by legends such as MS Baburaj and G Devarajan, as well as international icons like Pink Floyd. He proudly identifies himself as a ‘Floydian’ of that era.
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The turning point in Jassie’s career came in late 2003 with the release of the soundtrack for the film 4 the People, directed by Jayaraj. Although he had previously worked on movies such as Bhibatsa and Saphalam, it was this album that catapulted him into the spotlight, primarily owing to Jayaraj’s insistence that Jassie be the voice for the tracks. “Originally, I was supposed to just compose, preferring others to sing the lead,” he mentions, but Jayaraj convinced him, leading to his vocal debut on the hit ‘Lajjavathiye.’
Throughout his two-decade career in the music industry, Jassie has composed over 50 songs in Kannada and more than 20 in Malayalam, extending his creative prowess to Tamil and Telugu. On the singing front, he has lent his voice to over 200 songs each in Malayalam and Telugu, among other South Indian languages. Despite his affinity for fast-paced tracks, Jassie has also composed numerous melodies like ‘Oru noorashakal’ (Enittum), ‘Snehathumbi’ (December), and ‘Manikkinavin kothumbuvallam’ (Pokkiriraja), which he considers his “comfort zone.”
Working with his idols remains one of the most cherished aspects of Jassie’s musical journey. Revering K J Yesudas as his greatest influence, he recalls collaborations with stalwarts like Shankar Mahadevan, Shreya Ghoshal, Sonu Nigam, and the late KK among others. “I got opportunities to work alongside those I admired growing up,” he reflects with gratitude.
Currently, Jassie is channeling his energy towards live shows, scheduled for a tour in Australia from November 2 to 29, covering five cities. However, balancing between live performances and composing music remains a challenge, one he is eager to address. “While focusing on live shows, I carry my instruments. If inspiration strikes, I do make time to create new tunes,” he says, underscoring his commitment to music.
Simultaneously, Jassie is gearing up for another collaboration with director Jayaraj on a forthcoming, yet-to-be-titled project, signaling that the world can expect more of his creative genius to unfold in the near future.
