Singer-songwriter Hanita Bhambri, known for her soul-stirring indie-pop melodies, has stepped into uncharted sonic territory with the release of her debut full-length album Shoharat. Departing from her earlier mellow tones, Bhambri leans into a darker, edgier “dark pop” sound to narrate a deeply personal story of pain, power, and perseverance.
The album is more than a musical project—it’s an emotional reckoning. “Shoharat isn’t just music to me—it’s a map of my emotional survival,” said Bhambri. “It’s messy. It’s real. It’s every version of me that emerged from pain: the forgiver, the survivor, the girl who cried on the bathroom floor, the woman who learned to roar.”
Genre-Defying Tracks Packed with Grit and Vulnerability
Crafted as a series of interlinked stories, the album acts as a confessional canvas for Bhambri, shedding all pretence of politeness. Produced by Sagar Dhote, with contributions from Keshav Dhar and Vaibhav Pani, Shoharat begins with “Zeher,” an ominous opening number that sets the emotional tone with the haunting line, “Kuch baatein ankahi hi behtar hain” (Some things are better left unsaid).
From there, the album charges into “Zillat,” a fierce anthem rooted in karmic reckoning, before diving into “Daayan,” a chilling continuation of the psychological narrative begun in “Khoon.” Bhambri flips the script on the ‘angry woman’ stereotype, embracing rage as an act of resistance.
The title track “Shoharat” tackles the painful paradoxes of fame—how artists are elevated, only to be discarded. In “Mohabbat,” Bhambri lays bare the disintegration of self within love, which is followed by the biting honesty of “Kadva,” driven by Megha Rawoot’s ghostly Zitaar.
A Sonically Bold and Fearlessly Honest Debut
Other standout moments include “BHEDIYA,” where Bhambri makes her rap debut with sharp satire aimed at industry pretenders, and “macchar,” a playful diss track layered over surprising bossa nova rhythms. “Bhool Bhulaiya” offers a dance of love lost in chaos, while “Shehzadi,” the album’s closing track, delivers a regal yet sorrowful commentary on the price of public adoration.
In every track, Bhambri sheds layers, challenging expectations while honouring raw emotion. Shoharat isn’t just an album—it’s a genre-bending manifesto that blends pop, rap, electronica, and lyrical poetry to capture the fullness of a woman reclaiming her narrative.
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