Royal Stag BoomBox recently returned with Season four with a much larger lineup spanning four cities: Calcutta, Vizag, Mumbai and Mohali. Known for a fabulous production featuring solid sound and visual experience, the tour’s Calcutta leg held at Aquatica featured Armaan Malik headlining along with the legendary rock band Fossils and others. t2 caught up with the super energetic and warm Armaan on Calcutta, music, staying relevant and married life. Excerpts.
Royal Stag Boombox is a great platform with artistes across different platforms. What made you say yes to being a part of this?
I liked the idea of different sounds coming together on one stage. Melody and hip-hop, different fan bases, different energies. That kind of crossover reflects what music feels like today. It’s not boxed in. As an artiste, I enjoy spaces where genres collide and something unexpected happens. That’s what made it exciting for me.
The Calcutta gig also had Fossils, the iconic rock band helmed by Rupam Islam. How excited were you to share the stage?
Very excited. Fossils are legends in Bengal. Rupam da has a voice and presence that commands respect. Sharing a stage with artistes who have built such a strong cultural identity is always inspiring. Calcutta audiences love their music deeply, so being part of that same lineup feels special.
You are a true multilingual powerhouse and have sung many Bengali songs. Is there any particular song that stays close to you?
There’s something about singing in Bengali that feels very intimate. It’s such a beautiful language. Chirodini / Dil mein ho tum is one that stays with me. Every time I sing it, it feels personal. It’s always beautiful performing in a language that holds so much emotion.
You’ve been in the industry for over a decade now. What’s harder now: staying relevant or staying real?
Staying real. Relevance comes and goes in phases. But being authentic takes conscious effort. The industry evolves, trends change, but if you lose yourself trying to keep up, it eventually shows. I’d rather grow honestly than chase noise.
In the era of Reels and 30-second hooks, how do you protect the soul of a full-length song?
I remind myself that music is bigger than algorithms. Hooks are important, yes, but the emotion in the verses and the journey of the song matter just as much. I try to make songs that people can listen to for years, not just scroll past.
If you had to describe your current musical phase in three words, what would they be?
Honest. Evolving. Unapologetic.
Is there a genre you’re secretly itching to experiment with but haven’t yet?
I’d love to dive deeper into acoustic rock with more live instrumentation. Something raw, less polished. Maybe even a stripped-down unplugged project that feels very organic.
What’s a belief you had at 20 that you’ve completely outgrown now?
That saying yes to everything was the way forward. I’ve learned that saying no is just as important. Protecting your peace and your art matters.
If life right now were a song title, what would it be?
“Ghar se nikalte hi.” Because I’m literally in a new city every day. Always in and out of my home, packing and unpacking bags.
Talking of marriage, what advice would the married Armaan give to the Armaan just starting out?
When you find someone who feels like home, hold on to that. Career is important, but the people you build your life with matter even more.
Who’s more romantic at home — Armaan the singer or Armaan the husband?
Definitely Armaan the husband. The singer might write the songs, but the husband has to live them.
You and Aashna (Shroff) are adorable. What’s one habit of yours that marriage has forced you to upgrade?
I am a full space cadet. I zone out mid-conversation. I guess the biggest thing I’ve learnt is to listen more actively!
Finally, what are you working on this year?
There’s a lot of new music coming. Some film songs, some independent work, and a few collaborations that really excite me. I’m in a phase where I want to create from a very honest place, and I think listeners will feel that shift this year.