Ritviz on collaborating with Pakistani artist: It shouldn't be a controversial topic at all (Exclusive)

For over a decade, Pakistani artists have been banned from working in India, due to the intercountry tensions between the two nations. Meanwhile, there is so much chatter about whether Indian artists should collaborate with Pakistani artists or not. Singer-songwriter Ritviz, in the meantime, has joined hands with Pakistani pop-R&B sensation Hasan Raheem for his latest single.While addressing the topic of collaborating with the neighboring artist, Ritviz states, “Music transcends borders. It's a universal language that connects people across cultures and backgrounds. Collaborating with Pakistani singers shouldn't be a controversial topic at all. It's about creating something beautiful together, sharing stories, and breaking down barriers. If anything, these collaborations can be a force for good in the world.”
Further talking about collaborations, he adds, "Collaborations are a beautiful way for artists to push each other creatively and learn from each other's styles. It's like mixing two different paints on a palette to see what new colour emerges. Collaboration is about finding someone who respects your individuality while bringing their own unique flavour to the table. It's a balancing act, for sure, but open communication and mutual respect are key."
Ritviz has released his single - after a gap of almost two years. “I took a little longer than usual on this one,” he admits. Ritviz’s last album came out in 2022. Earlier in an interview, Ritviz had confessed that he had burned out after releasing back-to-back singles. Ask him if the recent sabbatical was also due to the same reason, and he denies it outrightly. “Since released, I've been busy touring for the most part - we did a 4-month long album launch tour across 10 cities in India, I went on two tours to North America, one tour across Australia and New Zealand. All while constantly working on the next set of music parallelly,” he clarifies.
In just the last two years, so much has changed in the music scenario, while Ritviz has been away. Instagram Reels now determine the fate of a track. On the same, the 28-year-old elaborates, “The music scene is changing, and there's no denying the influence of social media. Platforms like Insta Reels can be a powerful tool for discovery, but they shouldn't define what makes a good song. A catchy hook might get you noticed, but it's the depth, the emotion, the story that keeps people coming back. As an artist, I'll focus on creating music that resonates with people on a deeper level, regardless of the trends.”