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After years of crafting soundscapes for acclaimed films such as Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota, Shahid, and The Buckingham Murders, music composer and producer Karan Kulkarni has finally taken a leap into a deeply personal project — his debut EP titled One. Known for his textured and evocative background scores, Kulkarni steps into the spotlight with a collection of four tracks (The lead single ‘Iraade’ from the EP is already out) that are as introspective as they are sonically expansive. “There was a need to express myself through music and I thought an EP would be the best way,” he reflects. “To create One as an EP, was the first step in that direction. The feeling is extremely liberating and yet it feels like venturing out into the world on your own.”
At the heart of One lies an exploration of vulnerability and inner dialogue, something that emerged naturally as Kulkarni began writing. “I probably didn’t realise it but as time went by and I made these songs, things on my mind revealed themselves in the music,” he says. “On ‘Iraade’, ‘I Love It’ and ‘Where Are We Going?’, I wanted the songs to be lyrically thought-provoking, self-questioning and dealing with existential themes.” With lyrical contributions from Gautam Aditya on the lead track “Iraade,” Kulkarni delves into mental limitations, hope, and the human condition — themes that stand in contrast to the joyful, retro-inspired burst of nostalgia in “1985.”
Renowned for his richly layered sound, Kulkarni leans on a wide arsenal of instruments and production tools for this EP. “My music room at home is like a battlefield of guitars, string instruments, synths, drum machines, samplers, basses, wind instruments, percussion… the works!” he laughs. “The EP One features everything from an acoustic piano, to a fretless bass, to production techniques in Ableton Live and Logic Pro.” With support from long-time collaborator Alok Punjani on mixing duties, each track is a carefully constructed universe — one where found sounds, sampled instruments, and emotional storytelling converge to push the boundaries of conventional pop.
As he steps into this new phase as an independent artist, Kulkarni’s idea of success has also evolved. “Success is the freedom of being able to do more of what you want. Success is not having to worry about the outcome of your work and the fear of rejection,” he says. For him, it’s about connection — with self and with others — through music. “To take people on a musical journey with you and make a difference to their lives even in the smallest way, is success. Sounds simple, I know. But it’s also earned over time. And I’m still earning it in many ways.”
First Song ‘Iraade’ from the EP ‘One’:
