Remixed songs were huge back in those days. Seeing your favourite bollywood songs getting a new version which scratched a new itch with its unique compositions felt great & soothing. But somewhere along the way the excitement it held faded with time, & now every track in the playlist started feeling like a recycled version of the old generation. 

The Remix Surge

To be open about it, we’ve already been drowning in remixes for a long time now. There was a time where it was considered as a clever nod to nostalgia presented with a slight creativity, but it quickly became way overused. We’ve been barraged with remakes since the last few years, like Masakali 2.0 or Tip Tip Barsa Paani 2.0. But none of them actually felt like a tribute to these songs, more like a marketing gimmick instead to pull in their fans who love the original. 

Even other industry experts such as Asha Bhosle & the late Lata Mangeshkar have voiced their opinions on this, stating that revisiting the past is good, but one should ensure to avoid any disrespect to it in the process. The main cause of this as I gather my thoughts is that the ‘new’ songs lack any soul, life & meaning that existed in the originals. 

Where Lies The Disconnect?

So exactly why are the remixes losing their grasp on the people?

• Over Abundance: There’s too many of them already in the market with no sign of stopping anytime soon. 
• No Emotional Connect: Remixed songs rarely have the emotions, story & soul of the original songs in them anymore. 
• Different Purpose: Songs now are being made to trend on social media through short form video contents like reels & Youtube shorts

I remember the countless remixes of old classicals years and decades ago. They were made with a specific group of audience in mind who wanted a niche little change in the original. Nowadays, a bassline is just attached onto a melody & sent to circulate in the market. 

People’s Crave For Originality

There’s something deeply satisfying about hearing a song for the first time & knowing it’s new & something different. 

Original compositions connect with the listeners on a much deeper level than remixes solely made for likes & shares. Take indie artists like Anuv Jain or Prateek Kuhad for instance, they have not given into the ‘trends’ like many others. They are still working hard at writing lyrics that come from the heart, & compose every scratch. 

Film composers are also starting to lean towards bringing freshness in the industry. Experimenting with regional sounds, unusual collabs or trying lyric-driven tracks. 

From Listeners to Loyalists

The listeners have started to evolve & demand too. A much needed change in the industry, since they are the ones who are deciding what should work & what shouldn’t. With time and constantly getting fed mediocre, soulless slop, they have understood the repeat pattern that has become too common now. 

Since what the people are looking for is not noise that has been given the form of melody, but rather words that are sung with such emotions that speak directly to the person listening. 

Future Of Remix

Not entirely.

There’s still a lot of opportunity laying in wait for someone to finally find it. I believe that when remixes are done with an intention & respect for the original, adding a layer of meaning over it to introduce it to a new audience, it works. 

But if the ‘goal’ is to simply chase chart numbers by riding the wave of the original & its fans, it becomes disrespectful & apparent, which the audience spots very easily. 

What This Means Moving Forward

I hope this shift doesn’t fade away. I hope bets & confidence in new voices & ideas always stay. I hope artists do not become afraid of taking risks. Because in a world that cannot stop looping yesterday, something new feels like wonder in it.