With his upcoming single ‘My Location’, musician and producer axe.shay explores identity and visibility in a digitally monitored world
RAMANDEEP KAUR | NT BUZZ
Independent musician and producer Akshay Chowdhry, known as axe.shay, is set to release his new single ‘My Location’, a psychologically charged track that looks at identity in a world defined by surveillance and algorithmic control.
“It’s about the tension between who you are and who you’re allowed to be,” says Chowdhry, adding that “location” extends beyond geography and speaks to how people are seen and understood.
The idea came during the COVID-19 period, when daily life became more screen-dependent and restricted. “Phones, apps and algorithms track what we do and engage with,” he says. “I wanted to respond to that in an emotional way.” The song captures how everyday life is increasingly recorded through digital systems.
Self-produced, with mixing and mastering by longtime collaborator Vivek Thomas and live drums by Floyd Libera, the track opens with a quiet, atmospheric build before moving into layered guitars, steady riffs and melodic vocals. He says one of the challenges during production was managing writing, arrangement and performance himself while maintaining balance in the track.
Chowdhry has released six singles so far and continues to work closely with Thomas, who has contributed to tracks including ‘Over the Moon’.
While his songs differ in sound, they share a personal approach to writing. There is a consistent sense of vulnerability and reflection in his work, which he hopes continues to resonate with listeners over time. “I try not to overthink it. I just let the song take its own form.”
‘My Location’, he says, shows a change in both writing and sound from some of his earlier work. “It is closer to the conversations and concerns of the present time. Musically, it moves towards a heavier, guitar-driven style while still keeping strong melody and immediacy.”
The Porvorim-based artiste began listening to music early, through his older brother’s cassette collection, during school runs. At a time when international rock music was not easily accessible in India, those early listens stayed with him. “That’s what I grew up on, rock from the late ‘90s and early 2000s,” says the musician, who is the great-grandson of Thumri artist Naina Devi. He also trained under slide guitar maestro Debashish Bhattacharya and collaborated with him on the 2024 single ‘Love in Kyoto’.
At the University of Southern California, he was exposed to a more demanding musical environment. “It was overwhelming at first,” he says, adding that it pushed him to take discipline more seriously.
His first professional step came with Delhi-based band Barefaced Liar, which released two albums, toured and received airplay on radio and MTV Indies. He developed his understanding of songwriting through long studio sessions with his bandmate and writing partner.
He later worked in indie music, advertising, film and studio production and set up Three Kings Recording Studio. Advertising focused his approach to structure, film work on mood and timing, and studio work on technical control. In his solo work, he still begins from instinct rather than a fixed process.
A composer, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, he works across alternative rock, blues and Western and Indian classical traditions. He is currently developing a sound that mixes live instrumentation with cinematic textures and Indian classical nuance.
He is endorsed by Orange Amplification and Rotosound Strings and was a finalist at the UK Songwriting Contest (2016). He has also been featured by OMEC Digital’s #TeleportYourTone contest and Talenthouse.
‘My Location’ will be available on all major streaming platforms from May 28.
A new rhythm
Chowdhry, who has been in Goa since 2019, moved after his child struggled with Delhi’s pollution and weather. “We began looking for a healthier environment to live in,” he says. He adds that life in Goa has also changed his work and routine. “There’s an openness here that’s difficult to explain unless you experience it,” he says, pointing to the relaxed pace, the people, culture and strong sense of community.
Balancing art and survival
“One of the biggest challenges has been staying creatively honest while dealing with the practical demands of the music industry. Independent musicians often have to balance art, survival, visibility and consistency at the same time. Another challenge is evolving without losing a sense of identity.”
