In the dynamic world of music, a new chapter is unfolding as 28-year-old musician Armaan Malik steps into the limelight with his debut album, intriguingly titled “Only Just Begun.” Despite his youth, Malik’s musical resume proclaims a level of expertise far beyond his years, yet he insists that the album title reflects his journey with complete honesty. With chart-toppers such as “You” and “Control,” Malik has already secured his place in the industry. “It’s only now that I am being able to showcase the pop sounds that I have always wanted to put out in the world,” Malik expresses, unveiling his deeper intent with the latest offering.
For a singer-songwriter whose English tracks have met with international acclaim, it was a long-awaited goal to create magic in his native Hindi. “It was always important for me to introduce my sound in my language, and I hadn’t gotten the chance to do that until now. I was essentially occupied with film commitments and assorted singles. So, [I looked at this album] as a platform to showcase my range of artistic versatility,” Malik reveals, acknowledging the Bollywood-centric skew that has often overshadowed independent musical ventures in India.
The album, according to Malik, is a carefully curated montage of personal life experiences, almost biographical in nature. About 90 percent of its content is derived from real moments that have shaped his life. “Kasam se” is not merely a melodic concoction but also the very song to which he proposed to Aashna Shroff, his fiancée. Malik hopes that the album, with its varied melodic moods, becomes a close companion to listeners. Whether it be the breezy strains of “Door chalen kahin” or the heartfelt confession in “Humnava,” which celebrates love blossoming between best friends, the album promises to resonate with wide-ranging emotions.
At the insistence of his brother, Amaal Mallik, who naturally dons the hat of executive producer for the project, Armaan added a particular song titled “Marne se pehle.” Ensuring the album’s cohesiveness, Amaal was adamant that a touch of melancholy was vital. Malik concedes, “It’s a sad song about heartbreak. Amaal said, ‘When you’re talking about love, you can’t not talk about pain’. In that moment, I didn’t feel that pain. But he was certain that I needed to express the entire range of emotions associated with love.” The decision bore fruit, as the song emerged as one of the most cherished from the album.
As Malik forges a path for pop music in India, there’s a sense of reflection on the stories that music can tell and the journey it undertakes—from the artist’s soul to the heart of the listener. This album signifies Armaan Malik’s confident stride into a terrain where he believes his music has always belonged. It is only the beginning of a promising revolution in the Indian music scene, one that bonds over life’s stories, set to the tune of a generational talent. Malik’s journey brings to mind the eternal fact that music, in all its forms and languages, is ultimately a universal language of storytelling, capable of touching every emotion.
The album “Only Just Begun” stands as more than just a collection of songs; it serves as an intimate diary entry of Armaan Malik, shared with the world, inviting all to be part of his musical odyssey. One can’t help but anticipate what this bold new voice of Indian pop will sing next, as he has only just begun.
