2020 was tough for many. The global lockdown brought the world to a grinding halt and people stayed confined to their homes. Some hunkered down and waited for things to get back to normal. Some others used the time to express themselves creatively and find a channel for their emotions. Neevan Fernandes was one of them.

Upon being homebound due to the sudden onset of the pandemic Neevan turned to music. The Mapusa-based lad found comfort through music and eventually went on to writing and producing a music track of his own. His debut track ‘I Met Her’ produced in December 2020 is now streaming on Spotify.

Music has been a part of Neevan’s life from the time he was 5-years old. What started as a few classical guitar classes grew into a whole new dream for Neevan after receiving his first electric guitar – a gift from his father Nelson Fernandes. “I would watch people play on stage and be so enamored by the electric guitar. It’s like I got a cape from a superhero. I was so happy. That’s when my love for music really took off,” explains Neevan, a student of one of the leading hotel management colleges, V. M. Salgaocar Institute of International Hospitality Educations (VMSIIHE).
Confined to his home, with no outlet to release his frustration and troubles, Neevan picked up his electric guitar and started playing a couple of chords. He found himself humming and writing lyrics to match his feelings. Says Neevan, “words started rhyming, melodies started forming and one thing led to another,”.

Through the lyrics of his debut single, Neevan aims to tell the story of a boy who aches from losing someone he loves. For the 19-year old singer-songwriter, the inspiration for his lyrics was translated from his own feelings and personal life.
Despite the initial jitters of releasing something so personal, he hoped the message in his lyrics would resonate with the audiences listening to his song.

“I produced the track with help from my friend and teacher Elton D’souza, an artist himself. He guided me through the process. My background with the classical guitar helped me find the right melody for his track and was influenced by artists like Alec Benjamin and Passenger,” says Neevan. The song was released early this year in January on Spotify, a major streaming platform, and has received a tremendous amount of love and support. “It feels like I’ve made friends with people without having met or spoken to them because they’ve listened to my music and relate to the message I’ve put out and somehow we have connected on a personal level.”

Neevan revealed that he has been writing more music and is looking forward to releasing some songs in the near future. He also hopes to dabble in various other genres and showcase different layers of his music. “If you have a dream, follow it, don’t let go. You have to be the one to believe you can,” says Neevan advising other budding artists and dreamers to pursue their dreams.
Spotify Link to the track ‘I Met Her’ :
https://open.spotify.com/album/3KBqRdyRZWJDgSvRpzyNS1?highlight=spotify:track:7ASIpD7VTS6chsJtZfzuen