Farhan Khan on Blending Old-World Poetics and Modern Urdu Hip-Hop for New Album 'Alif Laila'

Mumbai-based artist has released the first single Jawab De' and it's music video from the two-part project

- SPANDAN FULKAR

Farhan Khan's followers have always known him as someone who wears his heart on his sleeve. For those who've been following the Mumbai-based Urdu hip-hop artist since "Astaghfar," the all-new version of Khan might come as a surprise.

Two years ago, he dropped his album Khansaab, and ever since it was long awaited and much-speculated time for his next project. Four months after killing off his Khansaab character in the track "Jannat," Khan is back on stage with Alif Laila. And if what's floating around on the web has any evidence to it, he's already got everyone talking again.

During a conversation with Rolling Stone India, Khan talks about his latest album, split into two distinct halves: Part A, a celebration of love and all its beauty, and Part B, a foray into the raw pain of heartbreak. The singer has chosen to release Part B first, a move many listeners may find surprising, but it's something intensely intentional.

Instead of starting with the bliss of love in Part A, he is diving into heartbreak and loss. When asked for a reason behind it, Khan clarified his philosophy. He says, "When you see a person wounded, you get comfortable with them. Once you see their sadness, you'll understand their happiness better." He is exploring vulnerability while creating a connect before opening up the lighter part. There'll even be an interlude between the two parts of the album, providing a sort of "breathing space" between acts, as if it were-an interval within a movie. Alif Laila is all about capturing a full range of emotions, with every track adding to the overarching story.