Big Song Don’t always come from lavish studios, expensive setups or perfectly planned songwriting camps. Sometimes, they start with something as simple as an Instagram DM. This is exactly how the story of Noor and Khan unfolded. The two composers, who had never met, decided to take the risk of composing together and eventually composed for six hours in a hotel room in Delhi. music. One of the songs born from that unexpected session was Arzoo, a track that became a breakout moment for Madhurxo as well as both artists. The song received a massive audience on social media, being streamed over 31 million times across all platforms including YouTube and Spotify and earning a spot on the Billboard Hot 100. board india song chart The song debuted at number 8 on June 27, 2026, before reaching number 4 on July 18.
Now, the duo has also created the perfect moment with a romantic track O Piya featuring Rakib. In conversation with Hindustan Times, producer Noor (Shivam Choraria) and 18-year-old singer-songwriter Khan open up about the unexpected journey behind Arzoo, the making of O Piya, their collaboration with Pakistani artist Asim Azhar, the changing role of AI in music, and how they believe genuine emotions always matter more than following trends.
It all started with an Instagram DM
Noor still finds it funny that the collaboration almost never happened. “Fun story. I actually got in touch with Khan through Instagram. He told me, ‘Hey, I like your music and I make music too.’ At first I was very ignorant. But when I actually saw his music, it was quite interesting,” he recalls.
As luck would have it, Noor was traveling to Delhi a few weeks later. The two decided to meet, and what was supposed to be a casual writing session turned into something much bigger. Working out of Noor’s hotel room, they spent six hours creating three songs, one of which eventually became Arzoo. “We did a session in a hotel room where I was staying. In about six hours, we made three songs. Arzoo isn’t just one song – it’s actually part of an EP. We made it in a random session, fine-tuned it later and introduced it ourselves. Since then it’s only been upward,” he says.
Looking back, Noor believes the song connected because nothing about it felt forced. “It turned out to be very organic and honest. It was a very experimental project for us because before this I was mainly making electronic music. It naturally had a domino effect,” he explains.
For Khan, getting that first reply on Instagram also felt unexpected. At the time, he was busy with his examinations and had little hope that the producers would pay attention to his message. “I wasn’t expecting any reply as my exams were going on at that time. But somehow he replied, told me he was coming to Delhi and sent me some demos. That’s how everything started,” he says.
The song that quietly became a phenomenon
The last few months have been a whirlwind. One moment he was finishing school, and the next he was touring the country, releasing new music and adjusting to a life that changed almost overnight. “I just finished school, now I’m on tour, we released another song, another music video. Everything is happening at once. It’s a little overwhelming, but I have so much more to give,” says Khan, 18.
The song Arzoo gained momentum on Instagram Reels before becoming one of the biggest independent music success stories of the year. However, Khan says living that success has been a completely different experience. He says, “It’s not what people imagine – that you’re enjoying every moment. It’s just work. I’m enjoying the process, but it’s hectic. It’s overwhelming.”
Keeping songwriting simple and honest
For Khan, songs don’t start with a hook or a catchy line. They start from the moments that he has actually lived. Rather than forcing himself to write, he waits until an experience stays with him long enough to turn it into music.
Khan explains, “There are only a few songs in my catalog and they are all based on my life experiences.” “I don’t wake up one day and decide to write. I pick situations that I’ve been through that I think would make a good movie or a good song.”
He says that he does not believe in making the tunes too complicated. The simpler they are, the more likely they are to stick with your audience. He says, “I focus a lot on melodies – something that’s not complicated, something that sticks in your mind even if you only hear it once. Simplicity is the key. You don’t need to make it too complicated.”
For Noor, one of the biggest surprises was to see such a young person write so thoughtfully. “When I sat down with him for the first time, I almost had an inferiority complex,” he jokes. “He was 17 years old and I was thinking, ‘Wow, this guy’s got something.’ “I am still amazed at how mature his writing is for his age.”
oh piya why does it feel different
While Arzoo has captured the pain of losing someone, O Piya has taken a softer path. It’s less about heartbreak and more about finding solace in the small moments that make a relationship special.
Noor laughingly admits that the emotional depth of the song does not exactly match Khan’s age. “It’s so weird because he’s just 17—I’m not sure how much love he’s experienced yet,” jokes Noor. “But as creative people, we can imagine and write situations. Not everything needs to be completely realistic.”
This song felt special for Noor from the beginning. He says the first demo already had everything it needed. He says, “When I heard the first demo, I immediately liked it. What ultimately came out isn’t much different from that first version.” In fact, he believes that O Piya has Khan’s strongest writing to date. He asserted, “Personally, I love the writing on O Piya. It’s deeper and I connect with it even more.”
By joining forces with Noor and Khan on O Piya, Rakib completes a collaboration that is based on warmth rather than grandiose romance. The song reflects on the little things that define a relationship – inside jokes, familiar conversations and the comfort of having someone who feels like home. Rooted in honest emotion and simple storytelling, it reflects the trio’s signature style of making music that feels personal and relatable.
Taking a chance on cross-border cooperation
When Arzoo started finding an audience outside India, Noor and Khan saw an opportunity they didn’t want to ignore. The song’s growing popularity across the border eventually led him to collaborate with Pakistani singer Asim Azhar on a new version of the track, a move he knew might invite mixed reactions.
“There was already a lot of pressure coming from that side of the border,” recalls Noor. “We thought, why not do something that would promote it even more?”
The idea made sense creatively, but the timing troubled him. Before moving on, he found himself reading news reports wondering whether the collaboration might get him into trouble. He adds, “We were scanning the articles thinking, ‘Could we be in trouble, too?'”
In the end, he decided to follow his instincts rather than his fears. He said, “After a time, whatever happened to Arzoo, we felt it was not humanly possible. There were some high level interventions to bring it forward. We thought, let’s not chance it.”
Looking back, Noor believes that she has taken the right decision. The collaboration not only reached more listeners but also introduced them to someone they really enjoyed working with. He says, “Asim has been very helpful and very kind. He has taken the song forward a lot.”
Independent music is entering a new era
For Noor, this is one of the most exciting times to be an independent artist. Technology has made it easier than ever for musicians to create, release, and share their work without waiting for someone else’s approval. He explains, “Now more than ever, it’s easy for anyone to put out music, good or bad. Five clicks on the computer and your song is out. There used to be gatekeepers. Labels were the only way to release music. Now anyone can do it.”
But he also believes that talent alone is not enough. Pursuing a career in music requires patience, smart decisions, and financial stability, especially in an industry where success can be unpredictable. He further added, “You have to be smart about how you position yourself personally and professionally. I keep telling everyone – please secure yourself financially because you don’t know if your music will make money or not.”
What’s playing on their playlist?
Despite spending their days making music, both artists keep their listening habits surprisingly simple. Noor says he turns off his producer brain whenever possible. “I just listen to Karan Aujla. I want to stay away from analyzing what everyone else is doing,” he says.
Khan, on the other hand, is attracted to raga-first artists. He concluded by saying, “There’s a lot of Drake, Hassan Rahim and Ali out there. Mostly mellow music. If it’s good music, I’ll listen.”
