Take us back to the very beginning — what first pulled you toward music, and do you remember the moment you knew Tamil songwriting was what you wanted to do?
Actually, my journey into Tamil music began with my passion for mimicry. From my school days, I was fascinated by voices and started developing my skills as a mimicry artist. As I grew older, I continued exploring and developing different vocal styles of celebrities, which gave me a deeper understanding of voice, expression, and performance.
During my school and college days, I gradually began exploring my own interest in music. In 2009, along with three other members, I took a serious step into the independent music scene by becoming part of the music group Mamiboys—Krisheno, Kevi J, and Caleb Jacob. Our journey also involved talented collaborators including Jude Niranjan, who worked on programming and mixing, and the late Saravanan Navin Shankar, who also contributed to programming and mixing.
Through Mamiboys, we worked on several independent singles, including En Hormones Ellam Thoongudhey, Oru Mental Pola, Kakal, and Chennai Ponnu, with music produced by Krisheno. I also contributed to the album Dumtea with Mamiboys. These experiences gave me the opportunity to explore different aspects of music and understand the process of creating songs from an idea to the final production.
My musical journey also extended into Tamil and Telugu cinema. I had the opportunity to sing for music director Srikanth Deva for the Tamil film song Seema Sirikki, collaborate with Jessy Gift for the film Thottu Paar, and contribute to Harris Jayaraj's music for the Telugu film Orange, starring Ram Charan. I was also associated with the Telugu film Bindaas, for which Bobo Shashi composed the music.
Over the years, my interest gradually evolved beyond singing. I began exploring songwriting, composition, and music production because I wanted to create music that could reflect my own sound and emotions.
Most recently, between July and August 2026, I released four independent Tamil tracks that I have sung, composed, and produced: Usurey Usurey, One Simple Love, Nizhal Kadhal Nee, and Unmeedhey En Kangal. These songs explore genres including R&B, EDM, Electropop, and fusion. They are available on Spotify and other major platforms such as Apple Music, YouTube Music, Deezer, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook.
For Unmeedhey En Kangal, I collaborated with Praveen K, a lyricist from New Zealand, who wrote the lyrics for the song. Moving forward, I have several upcoming tracks planned in collaboration with Kevi J, a lyricist and singer, Saravanan, a lyricist, and several other independent musicians and artists.
What originally began as a fascination with voices and mimicry has now grown into a passion for creating my own musical identity. Tamil music, for me, is more than just melody—it is a powerful medium to express emotions, tell stories, and connect with people. My goal is to continue exploring new sounds while staying rooted in the emotional depth that makes Tamil music so special.
Is there a song — yours or someone else's — that made you fall in love with music? Tell us about it and why it stayed with you.
One Simple Love from Calebjacobmusic, my own song.
Who shaped the artist you are today — a mentor, a family member, or an artist whose sound you grew up on?
Ilayaraja, AR Rahman, Yuvan Shankar Raja, Michael Jackson, Akon, R Kelly, Eminem, Jay-Z, Usher, Black Eyed Peas, Zayn, The Weeknd, Krisheno, Kevi J, Jude Niranjan, Anirudh, Sai Abhyankar, Pritam, and Silambarasan.
My family is my biggest inspiration. Everything I create in Caleb Jacob Music carries a piece of the love I feel for my wife and son.
When you sit down to write, what usually comes first for you — a melody, a lyric, or a feeling you can't shake?
Melody.
What's the story behind the track you'd want someone hearing your music for the first time to press play on?
I thought of swapping to the body of aliens and trying to feel singing on another planet.
Walk us through what we're seeing or hearing in your raw ideas — how does a raw idea like this grow into a finished song for you?
For me, a raw idea can begin from anywhere—a melody that suddenly comes to mind, a particular emotion, a phrase, a personal experience, or even a sound that creates a certain mood. I usually start by capturing that initial spark before it disappears, sometimes as a simple vocal melody or a rough musical idea.
From there, I begin building the emotional world of the song. I ask myself what the song should make the listener feel. Is it love, longing, heartbreak, nostalgia, happiness, or something more energetic? That emotional direction helps me shape the melody, rhythm, arrangement, and overall sound.
The next step is developing the composition. I experiment with chords, melodies, and different vocal approaches until the song starts finding its own identity. I also enjoy exploring genres, so a track may begin as a simple Tamil melody and gradually evolve by incorporating R&B, EDM, Electropop, or fusion elements.
Lyrics then play an important role in giving the music its story. Depending on the project, I develop the lyrical concept myself or collaborate with lyricists whose writing connects with the emotion I am trying to express. I believe the lyrics should not simply sit on top of the music—they should become part of the song’s emotional experience.
Once the composition and lyrics come together, I move into the production stage, where the song really begins to take shape. I build the arrangement, select sounds and instruments, record and refine the vocals, and keep experimenting with layers and textures. This is often the stage where the original idea transforms the most. Sometimes a small melody evolves into something completely different from what I first imagined.
Finally, I focus on the details—vocal expression, dynamics, production, mixing, and the overall balance of the track. I listen repeatedly from the perspective of a listener rather than only as the person who created it.
For me, the most exciting part of the process is seeing—or rather hearing—a small, raw emotion slowly transform into a complete musical story. The final song may be polished and fully produced, but at its core, it still carries the original feeling that inspired it in the first place. That is what makes the journey from an idea to a finished song so special for me.
Tell us about this setup — what's essential to the way you compose, produce, or record?
For me, a raw idea can begin from anywhere—a melody that suddenly comes to mind, a particular emotion, a phrase, a personal experience, or even a sound that creates a certain mood. I usually start by capturing that initial spark before it disappears, sometimes as a simple vocal melody, a humming, or a rough musical idea.
From there, I begin building the emotional world of the song. I ask myself what I want the listener to feel. Is it love, longing, heartbreak, nostalgia, happiness, or something more energetic? That emotional direction helps me shape everything—the melody, rhythm, arrangement, and overall sound.
What do you remember most about that moment when you shared your music with others, and how did it feel to have your songs out in the room?
I received overwhelming comments from Native Americans, Russians, and New Zealanders.
What can you tell us about what you're working on right now — what are you hoping listeners feel when it's finally out?
I want to deliver unique music to the users, and they should feel good music, filled and satisfied.
Writing in Tamil carries a particular weight and beauty — what does singing and writing in your own language let you say that you couldn't any other way?
Singing and writing in Tamil lets me express emotions, memories, and cultural nuances that would lose their full depth in any other language. Tamil carries the rhythms of home, the intimacy of everyday speech, and layers of history that shape how I see the world. Through it, I can say not only what I feel, but where those feelings come from.
When you imagine the kind of artist you're becoming, what's the one feeling you most want your music to leave people with?
Listeners should be satisfied to listen to my sound.
Contact and Follow
Email: bharathi.tech2018@gmail.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calebjacobmusic/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6DfKlHBdlkfpGlpdk3IsJH
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@CalebJacobMusic
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/un-meedhey-en-kangal-single/6803978833
YouTube Music: https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=qo3LUrs2290&si=rrbowGGiBoTUe7Nn
YouTube Vevo: https://youtu.be/DOODwJu16-0?si=3MAy5ngTD2IA1ziu
