Negotiating Oxytocin

Negotiating Oxytocin, the debut English-language album of 16-year-old singer-songwriter Upamanyu Mukherjee, is much more than teen angst, and packs a whole lot more substance than what one would expect from a debut work. Placed in the emerging Alternative Pop Rock and Experimental Pop genres, the album comprises seven tracks that offer listeners a range of subject matter from poignant love to alienation to intense passion. The album debuted at No. 1 in the iTunes India Top 100 Albums chart on 10 August 2023, staying in the Top 10 over the release weekend.

Built around Upamanyu’s innovative songwriting and new-age approach to composition and production, the songs are further embellished by his deep baritone vocals and, staccato delivery. The album benefits immensely with the experience of musician, sound engineer and producer, Onkar Tarkase, resulting in a collaboration that maintains the raw edginess of Upamanyu’s original compositions and production yet shaping it into an international quality musical offering. The disarming honesty of the lyrics are well complemented by the earnest and non-conventional vocal delivery, resulting in songs that are likely to strike a chord with listeners searching for alternative perspectives on negotiating matters of the heart.