ISHAN, an Australian/Indian/Swiss/Spanish singer-songwriter based in Melbourne, has a new single out titled “Universal Needs.” The singer-songwriter ballad that sounds as though it was made for a Disney movie trailer ricochets cheesy anecdotes about complicated love.
The message is supposed to be about the sacrifices we make in relationships: “You will be remembered / Oooh I will be your shadow of a doubt / You’ll go on and change this world / And I’ll be there to hold you down / I will be neglected / By your pursuit of things that can’t be seen / I will be here by your side / Cause that’s what this universe needs.”
The artists says, “Even if she takes him for granted and constantly prioritises her work over him, she still needs him by her side.” The overpowering instrumentals give way to a different soundscape, though — one of hope and happiness — when the song is seemingly more on the melancholy side.
The single sounds as though it takes inspiration from singer-songwriters like Ed Sheeran, Shawn Mendes, and Noah Khan. We listen to a folky pop ballad unwind into an explosive rom-com end-of-movie moment, where all loose ends are somehow tied: “All time / Is happening somewhere near / Does that mean that time’s not real? / Is that why you’re always late? / Eyes wide / While everyone else runs blind / You’re just a different kind / Your spirit belongs in space.”
Keep up with ISHAN: Instagram
