Neela Digs Into The Fragile Layers Of Forgiveness And Self-worth On New Single, ‘Forgive’

Indian-Canadian singer-songwriter Neela releases a nifty soulful pop composition titled ‘Forgive,’ a captivating appetizer of her upcoming EP ‘Exposed.’

Toronto-based musician Neela initially wrote the single with a desire to express and unleash the emotions she was going through. In a starry collaboration, Grammy-nominees Kevin Ekofo and Akeel Henry (2023 Junos Producer Of The Year) produce ‘Forgive,’ with its animated music video guided by director Purusha Anokhei, who also worked with Neela on the music video for her previous release ‘You’ll Never Know.’

Neela’s poignant and soulful singing shrouds the composition, neatly latched onto a gray indie/R&B melody. For ‘Forgive,’ she drew inspiration from her experiences of love, heartache, resilience, self-discovery, and forgiveness. The nearly three-minute song effortlessly highlights the artist’s vocal dexterity and command.

The accompanying music video for ‘Forgive’ is set against the backdrop of Neela’s ancestral roots in Lucknow, India, emphasizing themes of self-acceptance and love. It traces the journey of an Indian woman performing her routine chores, burdened by her previous romantic endeavor. Only while moving on to different and pleasant circumstances does she truly let go. 48 seconds into the video, co-directors Purusha Anokhei and Neela snuck in a clever poster on door number forty-four that reads “Music is the soul” in Hindi language.

Discussing this release and the song, Neela shared in a statement, “The lyrics of ‘Forgive’ explore the complex emotions tied to love, forgiveness, and letting go. Despite the heartache, there’s a profound maturity in the willingness to forgive and find self-worth. The song implies that the lessons learned and the healing experienced in this relationship will not be forgotten and passed on to future generations, fostering growth and understanding.”

Dipping into the animated and music video, the songstress says, “We wanted to expand our artistry, so teaming up with my creative director Purusha Anokhei we created an animation storyboard with the backdrop of India showcasing my ancestral roots. Using metaphors in the animation we showcase my journey to self-acceptance and love.”

Song Credits –
Vocals: Neelam Khare
Written by: Neelam Khare
Produced by: Akeel Henry and Kevin Ekofo
Mixed & mastered by: Colin Leonard at SING Mastering
Composed by: Neelam Khare
Video Credits: Purusha Anokhei and Neelam Khare

Find Neela on: Spotify | Instagram | YouTube

You May Also Like:

American-Indian Artist Sheherazaad Releases New Mini Album, ‘Qasr’

Ditty Explores Her Deep Connection With Nature On ‘Skin’

Koktun Takes You to Their Childhood on New Single ‘Muito Mano Ang’