The Tapi Project emerged from a shared passion for music and storytelling, brought together by the collaboration of musicians from different backgrounds. This band from Surat blends ancient tradition and contemporary sounds. It's a collaboration between Yogendra Saniyawala, who focuses on instruments and lyrics, Swati Minaxi as the lead vocalist who stands out with her distinct vocal style and vast range, Gaurav Kapadia as the sound engineer and Biju Nambiar on keyboards and bass guitar—all dressed in their Bohemian aesthetics. Their music refuses to be confined to a single genre, offering everything from fragile, introspective ballads to wild, noisy jazz-infused pieces.
We speak with one of the band members, Yogendra Saniyawala, to know more about how the band entered into their genre-defying music.
First of all, tell me how you guys came together and formed the band.
I already had a band and was writing songs in English before Tapi Project. Then, in a competition, I met Swati, who was the vocalist.
I was struck by her vocal ability, and I invited her to join me. My previous band had already disbanded by then, so I was looking forward to a change in direction. I wanted to move into a much larger context in terms of songwriting—something that wasn’t driven by genres or limitations. My previous band was more of a rock/alternative rock band, but I didn’t want to look at life and music through genres or boundaries. I wanted to focus more on storytelling. When I met Swati, it just felt very organic.
So she joined me, and the important part is that I’m from Surat, a city known for business. Art and culture aren't mainstream there, so it's rare to meet musicians or artists who have something original, a completely organic approach to their discipline. Swati had that very special vocal talent. I asked her to join, and we started working on our first set of songs. We released our first album in 2015 with the help of a musician friend from Kerala.
In 2016, Gaurav Kapadia, who’s on drums, joined us after we released the first album. Our first album was a big collaborative project—we worked with people like Vinayak Paul on drums, and there was also a tabla player, a sitar player, a French violin player, and a surando player from Kutch, Gujarat. So, there were many different musicians involved in the first album. That’s how we started.
Last year, you released your track 'Mehsoos.' What is your creative process?
Most of the songs start with poetry. I usually begin with a tune in my head. Then Swati adds the melody, and Gaurav comes up with the rhythm. It’s all a reaction process. 'Mehsoos' came during COVID, when life as we knew it was disrupted. It reminded us how often we forget to appreciate what we already have—the air we breathe, the water, the sounds of birds in the morning.
'Mehsoos' is about experiencing the simple, yet profound, things in life. During COVID, I realized that we’re constantly chasing after things we don’t have and neglecting what we already possess. Life offers so much, even if you sit in one place for days. The song came from that experience. The melody and idea came to my mind, and then I presented it to the band. We just worked together—Swati with her melody, Gaurav with the beat, and our keyboard player who joined us during COVID. That’s how the song came together.
Our songwriting is like that—ideas appear to us rather than us searching for them. We just try to be transparent and let the idea take shape into a message or story. It’s all about being open to what comes through.
How would you describe your music to someone new to it?
I would say our music is all about dissolving boundaries. We look at music as just music, not confined to genres. So, you can expect anything—from a fragile song to a violent, noisy, jazz-style track. Our music can appeal to your innermost sensibilities, vulnerability, and can make you headbang hard if you let it. It covers a wide range of emotions and stories.
We don’t strive to create any particular experience; each song flows through us when it comes to us. In life, no two things are the same. Every day, there are serene moments and chaotic moments. We enjoy some, we get stressed by others—and all of that reflects in our music and songwriting.
In today’s world, do you feel responsible as artists? And if so, how do you approach it?
I wouldn’t use the word ‘responsible.’ I would say that as human beings, you have the choice to be committed to yourself first. Are you completely immersed in what you do? Are you fully involved? Total involvement is the first and most important thing a human being can do.
An artist is an observer of life, and they have mediums to express what they observe, which everyone should have, but not everyone practices. An artist has the tools to express themselves honestly. If you're honest in your expression, that honesty becomes your biggest force. Being completely immersed in the process will bring responsibility, discipline, and everything else naturally.
In today’s world, do you feel responsible as artists? And if so, how do you approach it?
I wouldn’t use the word ‘responsible.’ I would say that as human beings, you have the choice to be committed to yourself first. Are you completely immersed in what you do? Are you fully involved? Total involvement is the first and most important thing a human being can do.
An artist is an observer of life, and they have mediums to express what they observe, which everyone should have, but not everyone practices. An artist has the tools to express themselves honestly. If you're honest in your expression, that honesty becomes your biggest force. Being completely immersed in the process will bring responsibility, discipline, and everything else naturally.
Why do you do what you do?
There’s one simple answer: Why does the river flow? If you ask the river, it will tell you it flows because that’s what it does. We flow with music in the same way; it’s just part of who we are. It’s our second nature.
Since you identify as a traveler, is there a place that keeps calling you back for inspiration?
Silence. Silence is the best place to be. All four of us are fortunate to be very passionate and contemplative in nature, always curious about life. We’ve traveled to over 30 countries, and wherever we go, the beauty lies in the empty spaces, in the silences.
There’s a universality in human beings everywhere. Every person is searching for peace and happiness, no matter where they are. Different cultures may have different practices, but the search for Zen exists universally. That’s where our inspiration comes from.
As travelers, we experience the magic of life in every moment. For example, we were once in Nice, France, trying to rent a car to go to Spain. We couldn’t find a place to stay, so we ended up spending time by the station. An old gentleman approached us, took us to his home, fed us, and helped us the next day. It’s experiences like these, tough and beautiful, that shape you as a human being.
What can we expect from you this year?
We’re collaborating with a UK-based orchestra called Third Orchestra. It’s a big project for us, with 13 orchestra members and the four of us. We’ll first perform in the UK and then try to bring the project to India. We’re also planning to release three new songs and perform at various places, taking our stories to different audiences.
Words Hansika Lohani
Date 20.02.2025