Sanjeeta Bhattacharya and Raag Sethi Release ‘Phir Se’, First Track From Upcoming EP ‘Dear Diary’

Sanjeeta Bhattacharya and Raag Sethi have joined forces for their first collaborative single, ‘Phir Se’, the opening track from their upcoming EP ‘Dear Diary’. The acoustic pop/folk song explores reconnection, second chances and the unexpected ways love can return to our lives.

Independent musicians and newlyweds Sanjeeta Bhattacharya and Raag Sethi have officially unveiled their first collaborative single, ‘Phir Se’, marking the beginning of their upcoming four-track EP, ‘Dear Diary’.

The new song draws from the couple’s own story of meeting, losing touch and eventually finding their way back to each other. Blending intimate storytelling with acoustic pop and folk influences, ‘Phir Se’ captures the emotional journey of reconnecting with someone from the past and discovering a deeper bond when it is least expected.

Sanjeeta Bhattacharya, known for her work with the Berklee Indian Ensemble, international festival performances and her acting debut in Shah Rukh Khan’s Jawan (2023), brings her distinctive vocal style to the track. Raag Sethi, an acclaimed composer, producer, bassist and guitarist and founder of Compass Box Studio, handles the production and arrangement.

‘Phir Se’ Tells a Story of Reconnection and Second Chances

At the heart of ‘Phir Se’ is a deeply personal story. Sanjeeta and Raag first met in 2019 and spent a day together before eventually losing touch. Years later, when they met again in March, their relationship quickly developed from friendship into love.

That unexpected reunion became the inspiration for ‘Phir Se’.

The song presents their story through an intimate acoustic sound, reflecting the feeling of discovering love after believing that a chapter had already ended. Rather than focusing only on romance, the track explores the emotional possibilities of second chances and the serendipity of two people finding each other again.

Sanjeeta Bhattacharya on the Making of ‘Phir Se’

According to Sanjeeta, the song began with a simple guitar idea recorded by Raag on her phone. She started writing around the melody and quickly found herself reflecting on the early days of their relationship.

The song was initially written in English before Abhin Joshi joined the creative process to help shape the lyrics in Hindi. Sanjeeta and Raag drew inspiration from folk, jazz and acoustic pop while aiming for an organic production style.

The arrangement features acoustic guitars, upright bass and vocals, with much of the instrumentation recorded rather than programmed. Sanjeeta also cited the music of MARO as an influence on the harmonies and phrasing.

For Sanjeeta, the track became more than a musical collaboration. It offered a way to transform a deeply personal chapter of her life into a song that could be shared with listeners.

Raag Sethi and Sanjeeta Bhattacharya’s Creative Partnership

The collaboration between Sanjeeta and Raag developed from a creative friendship that existed before their relationship. Their shared understanding as musicians helped shape the sound and approach of ‘Phir Se’.

Raag describes their creative relationship as being built on trust and artistic freedom. Their ability to challenge each other creatively while maintaining a shared vision became an important part of the recording process.

That relationship is reflected in the song’s intimate production, which allows the vocals, guitars and organic instrumentation to remain central to the arrangement.

‘Dear Diary’ EP to Explore Love in Four Languages

‘Phir Se’ is the first release from ‘Dear Diary’, a four-track EP that explores different dimensions of love, including losing love, finding it and beginning again.

The project moves across Hindi, English, Bengali and Spanish, with each track drawing from a distinct musical world. The duo incorporates elements of acoustic folk-pop, Balkan folk, waltz, Portuguese fado and Bengali folk while adding their own interpretations.

The EP also grew from Sanjeeta and Raag’s experiences on the road. Some of the songs were developed during their tours and travels, allowing personal experiences and observations to become part of the songwriting process.

From Live Storytelling to the ‘Dear Diary’ EP

The project initially developed from an intimate live format centered on storytelling and a direct connection with audiences. As the concept expanded into an EP, the duo aimed to retain that sense of closeness while giving themselves room to experiment.

The upcoming 2026–27 Dear Diary EP Tour is expected to bring the new music and stories behind the songs to live audiences.

Sanjeeta and Raag will announce the Dear Diary India Tour 2026–27 soon. The tour will follow Sanjeeta’s 11-city Dear Diary Tour in 2025, with dates for the upcoming tour yet to be announced.

Sanjeeta Bhattacharya: Music and Acting Career

Sanjeeta Bhattacharya has built a career across both music and acting. She made her film debut in Shah Rukh Khan’s Jawan in 2023 and performed the Spanish track ‘Mis Chicas’ for the film’s soundtrack with composer Anirudh Ravichander.

She was also part of the Berklee Indian Ensemble, earning a 2023 Grammy nomination. Her music has been featured through platforms including Spotify RADAR and Apple Music Up Next.

As a live performer, Sanjeeta has appeared at international and Indian music festivals, including the Nami Island World Music Festival, Panama Jazz Festival and NH7 Weekender.

Raag Sethi: Producer and Champion of Independent Music

Ahmedabad-based Raag Sethi is a composer, producer, bassist and guitarist and the founder of Compass Box Studio.

Through Compass Box Live Sessions, Sethi has worked with several independent artists, including Sanjeeta Bhattacharya, Hanita Bhambri, Tejas, Kamakshi Khanna, Dot and Aditi Ramesh.

Sethi is also a voting member of the Grammys and has collaborated with A.R. Rahman and Clinton Cerejo as an associate producer. His studio work has also involved Grammy-winning engineers.

As a performer, he has appeared at major festivals including NH7 Weekender, Lollapalooza and Serendipity.

‘Phir Se’ Begins a New Musical Chapter

With ‘Phir Se’, Sanjeeta Bhattacharya and Raag Sethi turn a personal story of reconnection into an intimate musical experience. The song sets the tone for ‘Dear Diary’, an EP built around love, vulnerability, travel, experimentation and the unexpected paths that relationships can take.

As the couple prepares to unveil the remaining tracks and announce their India tour, ‘Phir Se’ offers the first glimpse into a project created not only by two musicians, but by two people whose personal and creative journeys have become closely intertwined.

Sanjeeta Bhattacharya sums up the spirit of the project with an invitation to listeners: “Bring your diary. Let’s write this new chapter together.”