Imon Remembers Assam & Critiques Delhi Gratefully On 'Ziya'

Prabahan Shakya just released the single 'Ziya', his third under his moniker Imon.

With the track, Guwahati-born Delhi-based singer-songwriter sings about the strangeness and struggle upon moving to Delhi more than a decade ago, but blends the cynicism with gratitude as he also looks at how it has shaped him into the person he is. "'Ziya' is the Assamese for dragonflies. It serves as a symbol of hope and of finding home within a chaotic city," he explains. "I cannot think of a song that feels closer to home than 'Ziya', even though it is also a critique of a city far from home in every possible way."

The track sees Imon move towards grungier edges that do pair better with his grand dramatic singing style, which he features in the conversational verses, though he overplays his influences with the guitar-led second half of the track. Ultimately, the track is upheld more by its lyrical Assamese chorus, which, even to one unfamiliar with the language, imparts a feeling of melancholic hope through its memorable melody – making you not just hear but feel the beautiful imagery in lines that translate to: "Come out friends, take pictures of dragonflies before we lose them from these golden fields."

Listen to 'Ziya' below and follow Imon for more.