One evening I chanced upon a song called “Kinare” and the profundity of its content left me speechless. I started researching the singer-songwriter and got to know of his other songs like “Love me anyhow”, “Why so serious”, “Tum mile”, “Memory lane”, and “Love 3x”.
Eager to sample more of his music, I was glad to learn that his next single “Raahain” will be released on September 15, 2023.
Peferd Da Costa, from the port town of Vasco Da Gama, Goa, grew up as an introvert. Throughout his academic career, at the end of which he earned an MBA in International Shipping from Chennai, Peferd composed songs using his guitar.
He moved to Bangalore for work, later returning to Goa on his mother’s passing and having suffered a broken relationship. He used music to mellow the blows fate had dealt him and focused on composing original music.
Filmmaker Milroy Goes and Rohan Goes signed him under their record label Buenos Muzik.
In 2019, he released his debut single “She called me on a Christmas night” with a music video featuring actress Mayanka Pereira. He currently has a 3-year contract with Delhi-based record label Songdew Network Pvt Ltd.
Talking about his songwriting process, Peferd says, “Back then, being an introvert, I didn't know how to talk to people, which is when I realised I did better at expressing my thoughts through writing. I never knew I could write lyrics until I had my guitar in hand and was lost in my thoughts.”
“I didn't know I could sing well until I gained some guitar-playing skills. I'd say my guitar taught me how to sing by ear. My own life experiences have taught me a lot, and the hope of finding peace through music inspired me to write, compose and sing my songs,” he adds.
His debut single “She called me on a Christmas night” is a romantic Christmas song about a snowy evening with a woman, celebrating the magic of winter and the unexpected joy of a special connection.
Among his other originals, Peferd’s “Kinare” explores loneliness, life’s mysteries, self-awareness and appreciation. It explores moving forward, finding comfort and longing through a soulful melody.
“Love 3x” is a personal song written in 10 minutes, reflecting on sadness, questions and disappointment from a failed 5-year relationship, with a fun, groovy vibe.
“Raahain”, which is to be released soon, holds a special place in Peferd’s heart.
He says, “It's a reflection on the challenges and victories of embracing individualism, urging all of us to stand strong in our uniqueness and not be swayed by societal norms. Ultimately, it's a tribute to the power of authenticity and the strength that comes from defying societal expectations.”
Peferd has been very experimental with his music, searching for the right sound for himself as an artist.
He says, “With ‘Raahain’ I believe I've achieved that. It's an indie-pop song that combines acoustic sounds with electronic elements. The song will take listeners on an emotional journey, making them realise how far they've come in life and how beautiful life can be. The music video for ‘Raahain’ will feature real people with real memories, including some known faces from Goa.”
Peferd creates relatable indie-English and indie-Hindi songs, aiming for listeners to find answers or joy in the music. His ultimate goal is for listeners to connect and return to listen to it again.
He believes that it’s essential to offer what people want to hear while staying true to your originality.
He doesn’t see it as a highly competitive space; instead, he says, “It’s about finding inspiration in each other’s work and appreciating genuinely good music. We all need love and positivity in this creative field.”
John Mayer, an American singer-songwriter is his favourite.
He says, “I even have a big poster framed in my bedroom. Although his style of music is entirely different from mine, his unique songwriting style, genuine lyrics and guitar-based music have always inspired me. Personality-wise, I feel a personal connection with him. Someday, my dream is to sing with him.”
Speaking about songwriting, Peferd says, “Sometimes, I can write a song in as fast as 10 minutes, but there are times when a song never gets past the first verse. This usually happens when I push myself too hard with deadlines.”
He continues, saying, “Emotions, whether happy or sad, are often the driving force behind my writing. I find it challenging to write when I'm not emotionally invested in the subject.”
About music production, he says, “There are so many talented music producers out there but that does not mean all of them can produce your music as per your vision. The most difficult part is to find the right producer.”
Peferd speaks about the creation of “Raahain”, saying, “I either write my songs on my own or co-write with my collaborator Joshua Da Silva. We think alike in many ways, which makes the process smoother. When I was playing with my guitar, I came up with an amazing tune that felt special. I called Joshua and told him that we needed to write something positive with this melody.”
He adds, “The melody often dictates the vibe of the song, and I never write lyrics first; they are always a mystery until they’re written. I realised that we often complain about what we don’t have and wanted to convey that we should cherish what we do have, despite the challenges we’ve faced. This message drove the creation of ‘Raahain’.”
Peferd’s versatile musical style blends various genres and sounds, with a focus on indie-Hindi and indie-English.
He reasons why, saying, “I felt that I needed a clear musical direction, so I experimented with different genres to find my sound. Through trial and error, I realised that Hindi indie-pop suits me best. While Hindi is not my first language, the positive response to songs like ‘Kinare’ and ‘Tum mile’ and their inclusion in Spotify playlists, signalled that I was on the right track.
India has a significant audience for Hindi music, and as an artist, I want to explore this opportunity for growth.”
Encouraging young musicians, Peferd says, “Don’t let rejection consume you. It’s okay not to be someone’s first choice, and there will always be someone better or worse. Focus on creating a unique identity for yourself because nobody can be another you.”
His next song, “Yeh daastan”, an uplifting, groovy indie-Hindi track, will drop after “Raahain”. The song is currently being written and has a distinctive framework.
It has appealing chorus lines, a blend of guitars, piano with a 90s feel, and contemporary components. He is thrilled and eagerly anticipating it and is confident that people will share his enthusiasm.