TroyBoi Honors Lata Mangeshkar’s Legacy in Stunning New Single “Kabhi”

TroyBoi has always had a flair for weaving global influences into his bass-driven world, but with “Kabhi,” he’s stepped into a deeply personal space. The new single pays tribute to the late Lata Mangeshkar, one of India’s most revered voices, using an officially cleared sample from the title track of the 2001 Bollywood epic Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. It’s the first time this piece of music has been licensed for use outside Indian cinema—a monumental move that underscores both the trust in TroyBoi’s vision and the cultural weight of the source material.

“Growing up, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham was played on repeat in our home,” TroyBoi shared. “Lata Mangeshkar was not just a legendary singer, but a soul who defined the sound of Indian cinema for generations… to me, her voice feels like memory itself—timeless, emotional, and deeply spiritual.”

The track itself keeps that spirit intact while folding in TroyBoi’s signature low-end rumble and crisp rhythmic breaks. The reverence for Mangeshkar’s performance is evident; her hauntingly pure vocals remain the focal point, surrounded by atmospheric swells and subtle percussive details that bridge the worlds of classical Bollywood and modern electronic music.

For South Asian listeners, “Kabhi” lands like a full-circle moment, a beloved cinematic memory reframed for the festival stage without losing its emotional core. For newcomers, it’s an introduction to a voice that shaped an entire era of Indian culture.

“Kabhi” arrives as the second single from TroyBoi’s upcoming Rootz EP, due September 19th. If the rest of the project carries this level of heart and craft, it could be one of his most defining works yet.