RUSHIL on the Power of a Song to Bring People Together
As we pass the one-year anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic in North America, it’s strange to look back at this past year and see how we have been separated, isolated, and alone, whether physically, emotionally, or mentally. This has, undoubtedly, been a difficult year for everyone and we could all use a little bit of hope in our lives as things begin to transition back to normal and many people get vaccinated.
RUSHIL’s inspiring song, “Un1ty” is the motivational, uplifting spirit that I wasn’t expecting. He draws from orchestral pop, classical Indian music, and hip hop to present a universal message of peace, honesty, and perspective. He calls it “An Anthem for Humanity” and it’s definitely something I could see being in a UNESCO commercial.
The song starts as a soft, piano ballad as he sings of bringing other people up, and seeing past their differences. Even from the first line, his voice strikes a tone of hope and solemnity. As the melody moves into the pre-chorus, he begins exploring the upper registers of his voice, before crying out, “Can’t you see?” After a dramatic pause, the chorus explodes into an orchestra of strings in an anthemic fashion.
My favorite line from the chorus is when he sings, “Turn the hate and greed of society into love.” It’s such a simple, yet beautiful message that needs to be said more, especially now more than ever. We are living in an increasingly divided society, and people are being driven apart because of money, their differences, and beliefs. Instead, we should be embracing each other’s individuality and having empathy for others, and that is what RUSHIL sings about.
As much as I love RUSHIL’s message, the song is a bit cliché and sounds too much like the 2000s for me. I can’t help but imagine this song being sung by a children’s choir in a big arena at the Olympics or something. However, there’s nothing about the song that jumps out at me as being new. He does switch to Hindi and Spanish later on in the song, which was a great way to tie in the idea of global inclusion. I also quite liked the vocal harmonies in the last chorus, with references to Christopher Tin’s “Baba Yetu”.
Listen to RUSHIL talk more about his culture, musical experiences, and his process in the FOCUS Podcast hosted by Marina Arriola Ballesteros.
The FOCUS Podcast is about giving a platform to fellow creators around the world. We invite creators who have their own stories to tell and content to share. We talk about the creative’s journey, current issues, and social advocacies close to their heart. In this way, the podcast creates a safe space to showcase talents and inspire revolutionary change with music, media, and art! Check them out below:
FOCUS Podcast — Apple Podcasts
Listen to RUSHIL’s Un1ty here:
