Raghav Meattle to launch 'Songs From A Matchbox' with nationwide tour

Raghav Meattle performs at the NH7 weekender in 2019; (right) at a studio recording

If you can't remember the last time city-based indie-pop musician Raghav Meattle's name popped up on your favourite music festival's roster, you're not alone. Speaking from his Bandra residence, Meattle, once a familiar face at live shows, pauses for a moment, then recalls, "It's been a while, at least two years," he laughs when we ask him about his hiatus. In a month's time, Meattle will set out on an India tour with Intezaar Tera, his new collaborative studio album.

The title of the 32-year-old's new album seems apt for more reasons than one. Written as an ode to long-distance relationships, the album also comes after a six-year-long wait for his fans after Songs From A Matchbox, Meattle's debut studio album released in 2018. "While the debut album was more cohesive and had a strong sonic identity, Intezaar Tera is much like a mixtape. Nine songs stringed together by the overarching theme of longing, yet musically diverse," he reveals.

The nine tracks, encompassing soul, folk, and electronica, feature collaborations with old friends and musicians from Meattle's new venture, first.wav. Rohan Shetty AKA Shor, Ashish Zachariah AKA Maara, Jeremy Samson, Pradeep Mathews, Christy Joby, and Aditi Raj, all add their own spin to the artiste's signature indie-folk style. Meattle admits he has taken a liking for the collaborative route of producing music over the years. "When I sat down to make music with these artistes, I realised how the process became more productive, objective, and quick, sans the usual artistes' block and overthinking."

As for hitting the road, it's a mixed bag of emotions for the artiste. "I've missed performing for large audiences. The set is a mix of songs from my debut album and the new one. Finding the right way to string them together, given that they're sonically poles apart, will be a challenge. But I hope I can put together a good time for old and new listeners," he concludes.

LOG ON TO Spotify (for the album); @raghavmeattle (for tour details)