MUMBAI: India’s underground music scene has always thrived on authenticity, raw emotion, and genre-defying creativity. Enter The Siege, Natiq, and Shy Wry, three distinct artists from different musical backgrounds who have joined forces for their latest track, “5 Baje.” Released under Def Jam India, this collaboration blends rap, R&B, and indie-pop into a seamless sonic experience.
But how did this track come to life? What brought these three artists together? And what’s next for them? We caught up with The Siege, Natiq, and Shy Wry to uncover the story behind 5 Baje and their creative journey.
A Song Born from Personal Experiences & Pure Intuition
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“5 Baje” carries a distinct energy, an undeniable vibe. But at its core, it’s a deeply personal track.
For The Siege, the song reflects a universal theme—losing love and learning to deal with it. “We all lose love and process it in different ways. This is how I’ve dealt with it all my life,” he shares. His long-time creative synergy with Natiq, whom he’s known for over six years, made the collaboration natural. But it was his admiration for Shy Wry, whom he met two years ago, that completed the project. “I’ve been waiting to work with him. He’s a once-in-a-lifetime talent.”
Natiq recalls how the song started with a simple idea. “The Siege and I had worked on ‘Bhaagna, Chhupna, Doobna’ before, and during that time, we talked about making pop songs with R&B elements. I shared an instrumental with him, and he introduced me to Shy Wry, who tied everything together with his vocals.”
For Shy Wry, the song was rooted in real emotions and a personal experiment in songwriting. He had developed feelings for someone but never confessed. Instead, he challenged himself: if he could write ten songs about her, he’d tell her how he felt. He only managed three before she moved on with someone else—the first became 5 Baje. He describes the moment of creation vividly: “It was New Year’s Eve, I was on a bus from Chandigarh to Rohtak, sitting by the window. I had The Siege’s unfinished project on my phone, put in my earphones, and a melody came naturally. I matched it with the lyrics I had written in my notes. That first draft made it to the final song.”
Blending Styles Without Boundaries
A hip-hop powerhouse, a genre-blending producer, and an indie singer-songwriter—on paper, their sounds couldn’t be more different. Yet, 5 Baje feels effortless.
For The Siege, music is instinctive. “I don’t think about genres—I don’t even know much about them. We didn’t blend anything intentionally. It all just fell into place.”
Natiq agrees, emphasizing that the best collaborations happen when artists with unique styles come together. “Working with people who sound like you can get repetitive. The challenge is to make different styles merge naturally, and for us, it just clicked.”
Shy Wry sees it the same way. “We weren’t thinking about fusion. It was pure intuition from all of us. The song came together organically, without any forced effort to make it sound cohesive.”
Navigating the Underground Music Scene in India
With the underground scene gaining momentum, the challenge lies in balancing authenticity with wider recognition. But for The Siege, there’s no question about staying true to his art. “It’s easy when you do this for more than just recognition. I was making music before anyone was paying me for it, before anyone was listening. If the scene died tomorrow, I’d still be rapping somewhere, alone in a room.”
Natiq echoes this sentiment, emphasizing that their goal was never to chase trends. “We made something that sounded good to us—sonically and lyrically. It’s more about expression than appeal.”
For Shy Wry, world-building is the key to making music that lasts. “All my projects start with a limited set of instruments I don’t stray from. That makes them cohesive. And as more listeners engage, the song takes on new meanings for each of them.”
What’s Next? More Music, More Surprises
With 5 Baje making waves under Def Jam India, what’s coming next for these three artists?
For The Siege, the answer is simple: “The album is coming.”
Natiq is keeping busy, with more projects on the way. “There’s more music coming—some with The Siege and Shy Wry, some solo. I want to explore different genres and sounds this year.”
Meanwhile, Shy Wry is gearing up for an intense focus on music post-graduation. “I’m going all in on music in the coming months. We’ve got more projects lined up—both solo and collaborative.”
The Final Takeaway
If 5 Baje had to be summed up in three words?
Shy Wry calls it Raw, Authentic, and Fresh. The Siege hopes it becomes a place of rest for listeners. And Natiq wants the audience to decide for themselves. “Takeaways in music are personal. I don’t want to define that for anyone.”
One thing is clear: 5 Baje isn’t just a song—it’s a shared moment, an experience, a story waiting to be felt. And with this trio continuing to push boundaries, this is just the beginning.
