A Chat with Binoy (03.04.25)
Known for seamlessly fusing elements from his African roots, South Asian heritage, and love for dance pop, Binoy’s music is as introspective as it is empowering. From his thoughts on authenticity in songwriting to the evolution of his sound, Binoy shares insights into the journey that has led to his vibrant and genre-defying musical career. Join us as we explore the themes of self-acceptance, individuality, and the future of independent artistry in the music industry.
OSR: Your latest single, ‘POPular’, is a fusion of multiple cultural influences. Can you talk about how your African roots, South Asian heritage, and queer identity come together in your music?
Binoy: I spent a long time searching for my identity as an artist, namely, what informs my sound and writing perspective. The older I got, the more I learned to lean into parts of my identity that I had previously repressed. This meant letting my queer identity have a presence in my writing, using my life experiences to guide what I wanted to say. Sonically, I love a lot of components that are present in South Asian and East African music, and I felt like the two actually blend quite seamlessly with dance pop. Finding a happy intersection between all these various identities was, therefore, about cherry-picking certain components and figuring out what works well together.
OSR: What was the creative process behind ‘POPular’? How did you approach blending different genres to create such a distinct sound?
Binoy: With ‘POPular’, it really was a process of trial and error. We started by creating an instrumental that felt in your face and quite aggressive, anchored by the drum pattern and chorus bassline. I took it home and naturally started hearing the hook, which I fought at first because it went against the original direction I wanted to take it in. Eventually, I succumbed and started building the verses as well, with the second verse taking some time to come together. The final part was figuring out the outro, namely how we wanted to structure it and end the song.
OSR: The song explores themes of self-acceptance and individuality. What inspired you to delve into these topics, and how do you feel they resonate with your audience?
Binoy: I think even with uptempo dance music, I’m always trying to be a little introspective. That kind of thinking is really the reason I write, and so weaving the exploration of insecurity into a song about wanting to feel popular felt natural. Everyone has a constantly evolving journey with self-acceptance, and so I think it’s something that people will always be able to relate to in their own way. It’s probably also the reason I’m constantly able to revisit such musings with my writing because it’s always on my radar in some way.
OSR: As a multi-instrumentalist and producer, do you have a particular instrument or tool that you feel defines your sound, or do you experiment with different elements on each track?
Binoy: Definitely piano. It was the first instrument I learned, and I tend to understand and conceptualize music quite visually as a result. With piano, every key is laid out in front of you and in a defined order. When I stack harmonies or come up with chord progressions and bass lines, everything is usually done on the piano. It’s definitely the medium in which I feel most comfortable to play and experiment.
OSR: How do you maintain a sense of authenticity in your music, especially when merging so many different cultural influences and personal experiences?
Binoy: I think the authenticity really lives in the songwriting. I write every word that I sing, and so my writing is truly a reflection of my thoughts, feelings, and experiences. It’s where the cohesion of my work lives, especially when I’m exposing multiple genres. Sonically, I feel like I also represent a very unique blend of cultural influences that are distinct enough to feel like my own blend.
OSR: ‘POPular’ marks the first release from the deluxe edition of your album The Great Alone. How does this track fit within the context of the album, and what message are you trying to convey overall with this body of work?
Binoy: The main album really is an exploration of solitude and how we as individuals navigate isolation. A story arc exists, and all the songs flow into one another, creating continuity in what is quite a sonically diverse project. The deluxe edition breaks the pattern of transitions between songs, with each functioning more as an individual moment of storytelling. My goal with the deluxe was to both expand the sonic landscape of the project and also touch upon ideas and themes that I wasn’t able to in the main body of the album.
OSR: Can you share a bit about the evolution of your sound from your earlier work to now? How has your musical journey influenced the way you approach songwriting and production today?
Binoy: I think the most significant change is my willingness to experiment and create the music I want to versus what I feel I should be making in order to conform. Leaning into one’s intuition is a skill that is developed over time, especially when the norm is to create based on others’ expectations. The more music I make, the more I realize there isn’t really a rulebook, just guidelines that you can adhere to if you so choose. There are moments to create inside the box and moments where it really benefits you to step outside of it.
OSR: Who or what are your biggest musical influences, and how do they shape the way you approach making music?
Binoy: This is always a loaded question because I have so many and different projects are informed by different influences. I grew up listening to a lot of classic rock like Fleetwood Mac, as well as the Swedish pop blueprint in the form of ABBA. My teenage self fell in love with the writing style of Taylor Swift, all at the same time I was discovering the infinite genius of Max Martin. There are a few Bollywood songs that have a distinct place in my mind, and I absolutely love anything that fuses Eastern and Western sounds. In general, I have always been drawn to artists that add something distinctly individual to whatever they create, setting it apart from contemporaries.
OSR: How do you see your music as part of a broader cultural movement or conversation, particularly with the blending of your personal identity and global sounds?
Binoy: There’s definitely been a reversion towards authenticity in music in the past few years. The constant battle that exists is music as a product versus music as an art form, and it becomes so easy for the former to take over when large corporations are controlling the entire landscape of the industry. I feel happy and proud to be part of the independent wave of artists that are sort of reclaiming the artistry in music beyond turning a profit, where personal identity is really the only weapon we have in the battlefield for people’s attention. Late-stage capitalism has sunk its teeth into pretty much every aspect of life, and individuals creating and living based on who they are versus who they are told to be feels like our last vestige of hope as a society.
OSR: What do you hope listeners take away from ‘POPular’? Is there a particular emotion or message you want them to connect with when they hear the song?
Binoy: A sense of empowerment while knowing that growth and insecurity can exist concurrently. Also I just want people to shake some ass to it.
Many thanks to Binoy for speaking with us. Find out more about Binoy on his Instagram and Spotify.
