Zaeden Your New 5-am friend

The singer-songwriter who is a popular name in the independent music scene, has recently dropped his highly-anticipated EP 5 am. The dance pop delves into the poignant theme of long-distance relationships, is a charming piece that is already climbing the charts

- Rohit Kamble

He's one of the hottest musicians around; 

not just for his undeniable good looks but his supersonic voice that saw his debut song Tera Bina earn 70 million streams on Spotify, besides amassing a dedicated fanbase of 2.4 million monthly listeners on the mega music platform. But for Zaeden, who started his musical journey at 14, the party really starts now as he celebrates the success of his track 5 AM-one that he calls out as being doubly special, not just for the music but the video in which you'll see the hitmaker exercise his dancing chops. Forget that, in less than a month, he's already got 1.2 million people grooving to his new track. We talk to the musician about what it means to be at the top of his game. Excerpts:

Zaeden means 'out of the box thinking' in Latin. Does this philosophy translate into your music and personal style?

So, regarding the name Zaeden, I've come to realise that my previous claim about its Latin meaning might not hold. It seems I might have misattributed it to Latin when it could be another word with a simple 'Z' addition. I was just 15 when I came up with it. As for my approach to music and style, I don't deliberately aim for out-of-the-box thinking or being unconventional. Instead, I believe in authentic self-connection, which sparks those creative 'aha' moments. When I'm stuck on a song, I dig deep into the core emotions and desired impact, allowing the music to flow naturally. It's up to the audience to judge whether it's truly innovative.

Many musicians are known for their iconic on-stage looks. Who are some of your style icons, and how have they influenced your fashion journey?