Editorial Team at WallMag Updated on May 21, 2026 4 min read

From Christmas Memories to Debut Album: A Conversation with Singer-Songwriter Sunny Sanyal

What was the first song you ever wrote, and what inspired it?

The first song I ever wrote and released was “All I Want This Christmas Eve.” I wrote it in November 2025 while thinking about how special Christmas had always been to me. I studied in a Catholic school from a very young age, so Christmas was more than just a holiday—it was a season filled with joy, music, celebrations, and some of my happiest childhood memories. While writing the song, I wanted to combine that sense of nostalgia with a universal feeling of love. My idea was simple: sometimes the greatest gift during the holidays isn't something wrapped under a tree, but having the person you love beside you. That's where the central theme came from—waiting for someone special and feeling that Christmas is complete only when you share it with them. Looking back, the song was my way of blending childhood memories, holiday traditions, and romantic storytelling into one piece of music. It was the beginning of my musical journey and taught me how powerful personal experiences can be when turned into a song.

How did your journey as a singer-songwriter begin?

My journey as a singer and songwriter began long before I ever released a song. Back in 2008, when I was a little kid, I actively participated in cultural programs, singing and dancing whenever I had the opportunity. Growing up in West Bengal, I was naturally introduced to Rabindra Sangeet, which plays a significant role in the musical upbringing of many children here. Those early experiences gave me a deep appreciation for music, storytelling, and artistic expression. Unfortunately, after the sudden loss of my father, I stepped away from music and performance for many years. While that chapter of my life came to a pause, my love for writing never disappeared. I spent those years writing poems and short stories, exploring ways to tell stories through words. Then I realized that songwriting was the perfect place where my passion for music and my love for storytelling could come together. That realization inspired me to return to the world of music and begin creating songs that were deeply personal and emotionally honest. Around the same time, I discovered Taylor Swift's music and songwriting, and her ability to transform personal experiences into powerful stories had a huge impact on me as a writer. She inspired me to embrace vulnerability in my music and to write songs that people could genuinely connect with. That journey eventually led to my first release, All I Want This Christmas Eve, in late 2025.

When was the first time you felt truly moved by a piece of music, and how did it influence you?

While I grew up listening to Rabindra Sangeet, the first time I truly felt moved by music as an artist was when I discovered Taylor Swift. Her ability to transform personal experiences into compelling stories completely changed the way I looked at songwriting. Instead of seeing songs as just melodies, I began to see them as a powerful form of storytelling. Albums like Reputation, Folklore, Evermore, and The Tortured Poets Department inspired me not only because of their music, but because of the creativity, visual concepts, and emotional depth behind them. Her journey as an artist and her advocacy for artists' rights also left a lasting impression on me. They showed me that music can be both deeply personal and universally relatable, which continues to influence my own work today.

How has your musical style evolved from your early work to now?

My musical style has evolved quite a bit since my earliest work. My first release, All I Want This Christmas Eve, was rooted in nostalgia, childhood memories, and the warmth of the holiday season. It reflected a simpler style of songwriting focused on celebrating fun, love, and cherished moments. As I grew as an artist, my writing became more personal and emotionally layered. My last release, “Love Drug,” can be taken as an example—it explores the idea of love as an addiction, something you know may be unhealthy, yet you find yourself unable to walk away from. It allowed me to dive deeper into storytelling and more complex emotions. I'm also currently working on my debut album, which I've planned for release next year, and I believe it represents my biggest growth as a songwriter so far. The songs are more personal, more vulnerable, and more ambitious in their storytelling. While I can't reveal too much about that yet, listeners can expect a side of me they've never heard before.

Walk us through your primary creative space and what it means to your process.

My creative space usually begins long before I step into the studio. Most of my songwriting actually happens in my bedroom, usually late at night when everything is quiet. That's when I feel most connected to my thoughts and emotions, and it's often the easiest time for me to write honestly. The studio is where those ideas begin to take shape and come to life. It's where rough lyrics and melodies become finished songs. For me, these spaces aren't just places where I work—they are places where I experiment and turn personal experiences into music. They play a huge role in my creative process and help me stay authentic as a songwriter.

What's the story behind your latest track, and can we hear a demo?

“Love Drug” explores the idea of love as an addiction. It's about being trapped in a relationship or emotional situation that you know isn't good for you, yet finding yourself unable to walk away. No matter how many times you try to break free, you keep getting pulled back in by the memories, emotions, and hope that things might change. In the song, I've used the metaphor of a drug to describe the highs and lows of love—the excitement, the obsession, and the difficulty of letting go. At its core, it's a story about vulnerability, emotional dependence, and the complicated nature of human relationships.