Twin Strings Deconstruct The Emotive Weight Of ‘Tere Tere': 'It's A Letter That Was...'

News18

03-08-2025

Last Updated:
Twin Strings talk about the emotional depth of their new single 'Tere Tere,' songwriting as catharsis, and the unseen reality of being indie musicians.
There's a reason why some melodies feel like memory. Not because we've heard them before, but because they awaken something we hadn't realized was waiting to be felt. In the case of Twin Strings, the Delhi-based pop-rock outfit known for their tender originals and soulful arrangements, this ability to stir quiet storms has become their signature. With Tere Tere, the first track from their upcoming EP Karwaan, they've taken that one step further — crafting a song that doesn't just play in your ears but lingers in the ache between words left unsaid.
Described as a 'letter that was never sent," Tere Tere sits at the intersection of vulnerability and restraint — a slow-burning elegy for the kind of love that never quite found its voice. And perhaps that's what Twin Strings does best. Whether it's the ache of Doorie, the fragile optimism of Tujhse Hoti Hai Subah, or the lullaby-like warmth of Aise Ho Tum, their music doesn't seek to impress. It seeks to accompany — to sit beside you quietly while you wrestle with your own ghosts.
Formed by brothers Sagar and Manav Raj Bhatia alongside Mohit and Sahil, Twin Strings has built an ecosystem that's as much about emotion as it is about enterprise. From viral covers born in a home studio to running their own production house, curating intimate Lounge sessions, and navigating the chaos of indie stardom, their journey is stitched together not by spectacle, but by sincerity.
But sincerity is not always easy. In a culture where musical perfection often comes with digital polish and algorithmic predictability, Twin Strings has chosen a different path — one that embraces imperfection, foregrounds feeling, and leans into the emotional silences that many shy away from. Their sound — often cinematic, often stripped back — is less about filling space and more about honoring it. The pause before a confession. The breath held between memory and acceptance. The slow realization that some questions will never have answers.
In this candid and wide-ranging conversation with News18 Showsha, the band opens up about the invisible labor of being independent artists, the quiet power of love and longing, and the deeply personal, often chaotic process behind crafting songs that feel both universally resonant and achingly intimate. As they prepare to unveil the next chapter of Karwaan, Twin Strings reminds us that music, at its most profound, doesn't always resolve — it reflects. And sometimes, the greatest comfort comes not from closure, but from simply being heard.
Here are the excerpts:
'Tere Tere" has been described as a letter that was never sent.' As artists, how do you access and process unsaid emotions to make them musically tangible?
Sagar: Sometimes, what's not said carries more weight than what is. Music helps us bring those feelings to life in a way words alone often can't. 'Tere Tere' is a song about all the things left unsaid. It captures that quiet phase in love where you're hurt, but you choose silence. Where memories weigh heavy, but words feel heavier. It's not about moving on, it's about living with the distance, the ache, and the unsaid 'why."
Was there a personal experience or memory that triggered the idea behind Tere Tere, or did it emerge from collective observation and empathy?
It wasn't one specific incident, but a mix of stories of our own and others around us. Everyone has someone they couldn't say everything to. That space of silence is where the song came from.
In terms of soundscape, Tere Tere feels deeply cinematic yet stripped back. How did you approach the arrangement to reflect the emotional restraint of the song?
We are trying to approach a new sonicscape for our songs. We wanted the song to not feel sad but at the same time convey the emotional restraint. We're glad we achieved that with some carefully chosen elements in the production while keeping space for the beautiful lyrics to breathe.
You often explore romance and longing in your originals. Do you feel love is still the most radical and relatable emotion to write about in today's world?
Manav: Yes, love is still the most universal emotion. Especially today, when everyone's so busy, love and longing still make people pause. That's powerful and that's why we keep coming back to it.
Your music often feels like it exists at the intersection of intimacy and universality. How do you ensure your songs remain deeply personal yet widely relatable?
Sagar: We create music from our experiences. If something feels real to us, chances are it'll feel real to someone else too. It's not about making it relatable it becomes that when it's honest.
What does the writing room at Twin Strings really look like chaotic, meditative, or something else entirely?
Manav: A mix of both! Some days are filled with jokes and jamming, and other days we sit in silence, just feeling things. The process is never the same, but the energy is always collaborative.
How do you decide whether an idea becomes a cover, an original, or something that stays in the drafts forever?
Mohit: We go by feel. If something moves us deeply, it usually becomes an original. Covers are our way of paying tribute to songs we love. Some ideas just don't feel ready and we're okay letting them wait.
What role has vulnerability played in your evolution from making covers in your home studio to now releasing originals that bare your emotional core?
Sahil: Vulnerability is everything. Covers gave us a start, but originals pushed us to be real with ourselves and our listeners. That's how we've grown not just as musicians, but as people.
How do you balance being musicians and entrepreneurs especially while running a production house, managing a YouTube channel, and curating live performances?
Manav: It's tough, but we divide things based on our strengths. Some of us focus more on music, others on visuals or marketing. We're are still learning, and that's what keeps us going.
There's a cinematic quality to your arrangements almost like a soundtrack to a moment. Is film score a conscious influence on your sound?
Sahil: Yes, we've always loved storytelling through music. Film scores have definitely inspired us. We try to make every song feel like it belongs to a moment or memory.
Your music often carries a strong Sufi or indie-pop undercurrent. What are the musical traditions or artists you keep going back to for inspiration?
Mohit: We love Sufi music for its depth, and indie music for its honesty. We have grown up listening to A.R. Rahman, Salim Suleman, Coldplay have inspired us in different ways. We try to bring our own flavor to that mix.
Aise Ho Tum has a lullaby like tenderness. What emotional space were you in when writing it?
Sagar: We remember it was back in 2019 while on a trip to the beautiful town of Bir when Manav felt something so strong about his now fiance that he initiated Aise Ho Tum. We all instantly loved the lullaby like tenderness to the tune. It was a beautiful time.
The lyric 'ek pal na laga khud ko khone mein" is hauntingly beautiful. Do you recall how that line came to you?
Manav: Often one has a list of things he/she wants in their partner, but then somebody comes into your life and those things go flying out of the window. Before you realise, you have already fallen into this beautiful, unexplainable feeling. That was the thought behind this
line.
Doorie explores separation and emotional distance. Was the track inspired by personal relationships, or was it a broader commentary on disconnection?
Manav: It was inspired by a very personal experience of being in a long distance relationship with your loved one. However with time, different people have gone on to feel the song differently, some feel the separation from their parents or best friend or their pet. But it will always be a very personal song for us.
The guitar work in Doorie adds a kind of wandering mood. How important is instrumental storytelling in a song like this?
Sahil: Very important. The guitar had to sound like someone walking alone with their thoughts. It wasn't just background, it was part of the emotion.
Released during the pandemic, Tujhse Hoti Hai Subah became a comforting song for many. Looking back at the creation of the song, how did you want the listener to feel after hearing it?
Mohit: We wanted people to feel a sense of comfort and hope. The song is about that one person who makes everything feel better even in the darkest times. The use of old live footage in the video added a layer of nostalgia.
Was that a creative choice or an emotional necessity during lockdown?
Sagar: A bit of both. We didn't have many new visuals, but watching those old clips brought back memories and matched the feeling of the song perfectly.
Is there a track you feel didn't get the attention it deserved? One that's a hidden gem in your catalogue?
Mohit: 'Khabar" It's one of our most layered songs. We poured a lot into it, and we still feel it has more to offer with time.
When you look at your body of work, do you see a thematic throughline? What are the emotions or questions you keep returning to?
Sahil: We always come back to longing, connection, and memory. Those feelings show up in many forms, but they've always been part of our story. But in the coming singles you'll see a shift in our music overall (Lyrics, production & vibe wise).
What do you wish more listeners understood about the 'invisible' aspects of being an indie band beyond the applause and final video?
Mohit: There's a lot behind the scenes writing, shooting, editing, managing budgets, promotions etc as an independent artist. We love it, but it's not as effortless as it may seem.
Twin Strings Lounge is such an intimate celebration of performance. What's your personal favorite memory from the Lounge sessions one that perhaps didn't make the final edit?
Manav: Every shoot of the Lounge Series is different and special it is very hard to name one. But the best part is when the director says Pack-up 🙂
What's next in the pipeline for Twin Strings?
Sagar: We have been working on a 'EP' called Karwaan, First song was 'Tere Tere' and the second song is 'Baadal' that's releasing on 1st August (It's a gentle reminder that sometimes peace isn't found in answers, but in the journey itself). Also we have some exciting collaborations and more live shows are coming too we can't wait to meet our listeners again!
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First Published:
August 03, 2025, 17:29 IST
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