Jalandhar, here she comes

Gurnaaz Kaur

“Next week I am hopefully going home. I am so excited about it. This is the longest I’ve stayed away from Jalandhar. I visit my town every month,” says a joyful Jyotica Tangri. This playback singer has been holed up in Mumbai since the lockdown began. Now, all she wants to do is chill with her mom.

“My mom is alone as my brother’s family lives in Dubai. I want to make it very special for her. I’ve planned a lot of things. I will drive her around in the city. We will sit on the terrace with tea and pakoda. I’ve learnt new recipes, so I will cook for her and together we will watch TV.”

Jyotica hasn’t just learnt cooking during these three months. This time has been of learning and growth for this 27-year-old singer. “I’ve been working from home; made some videos, even recorded songs and sent them to composers. When I was asked to do the female version of Teri Mitti by Zee Music, for the first time in life I used this app called Garage Band to record my song. I did it with the mic of our normal earphones. And I was thrilled when it came out so well.”

Even when there were no resources, there was willingness and this difficult phase made her realise how lucky she is. “It’s pure grace that in a time when my friends had to go back since they didn’t have work or money to pay the rent, I had both savings and work flowing from all corners. I feel, in this time, I’ve grown as an artiste.”

Around 10 of her songs have been released in the last four months, some of which were ready before the lockdown. Virgin Bhanupriya, a film released on Zee5, has three of her songs. Then, she did a project with MyFm called The Corona Song, which talks about ways to protect from the virus. That one has her voice in 21 different languages, a quality that got her recognition in the industry since her reality show days. “I can switch to different languages, this is my USP.” The highlight of this period has also been her song Jaadugariyaan. “The lyrics are mine and the music is by Aryan Shukla and Sonu Sagu.”

Jallandhar special

Every time she goes to Jallandhar, the must-do activities include, “I am a foodie and I love the street food in Jallandhar. Chole bhature being one of my favourites, I also make sure to go have the novelty burger. A person sells them on the roadside near the Kapurthala chowk, it’s very close to my place and I never miss going there when I am home.”

Most cherished memory

“I started learning music at the age of 6-7 and I’ve participated twice in the oldest sangeet sammelan, the Harbhallabh Sangeet Sammelan. In the junior round, I came second and in the seniors, I came first. It is held every year at Devi Talab Mandir. That’s one place and one memory very close to my heart.”