
Jonita Gandhi—or just Jonita, as she’s known by Jontourage (her loyal fan base)—believes she was at the right place at the right time. Growing up in Toronto, Canada, she had jam sessions at home with her dad and brother, and while still in university, Gandhi started uploading song covers on YouTube. “Those videos unexpectedly found an audience, and one thing led to another,” she reminisces. Coming from a family of engineers, 'The Breakup Song' singer pursued finance and business in school and put music on the back-burner, thinking of it as merely a hobby. “But somewhere along the way, I realised I’d be unfulfilled if I didn’t give singing a real shot,” says Gandhi. Her family’s love for music influenced the decision. “I think it was a mix of the digital era and just following my passion with the support of my parents,” she shares.
In 2012, Gandhi shifted to Mumbai, determined to make a living out of her so-called “hobby”.The move, she admits, was equal parts exciting and overwhelming. “I didn’t know anyone here, so I really had to build my network from scratch,” she recalls, adding: “Mumbai can feel fast and intimidating at first, but it also has this amazing energy that pushes you to keep going.” Without a rule book (or connections) for navigating playback singing versus independent music, Gandhi had to learn the ropes. “Also, as someone who didn’t grow up in India, I had to work extra hard on my Hindi and diction,” she shares. Through all of it, music remained her anchor. “It has helped me embrace the duality of my identity instead of feeling torn between two places (India and Canada). Through music, I’ve created a space where I don’t have to choose—I can be both.” Even with multiple Bollywood hits under her belt, like 'What Jhumka?', 'Gilehriyaan', and 'Ye Jawaani Teri', to name a few, Gandhi still feels more drawn to indie music (not that she thinks any less of Bollywood). “Indie is closer to my personal identity because it’s unfiltered,” she explains.
Moments and milestones
Gandhi’s career took a defining leap when composer, singer, and Grammy winner AR Rahman discovered her covers and invited her to work with him. “That opened so many doors for me in the industry, and gave me credibility as a playback singer,” she reflects. What struck her most about Rahman, though, was his humility. “Despite being a legend, he approaches music with so much openness and curiosity. He treats every project almost like it’s his first, which is such a powerful reminder to stay grounded and keep learning,” says Gandhi. Her latest single, 'Ve Mundeya' is in collaboration with Canadian rapper, Tesher. It is playful, flirty, with a whole lot of sass. “Tesher and I were always looking to work together—so I’m really glad it’s finally happened. The song makes me want to dance, and it’s easy to vibe to no matter where you are,” she says. Gandhi has been representing Indian music on some massive stages, too. She opened for English singer-songwriters, Dua Lipa at the Zomato Feeding India concert in Mumbai last year, and for Ed Sheeran in Chennai, earlier this year. More recently, she performed at designer Manish Malhotra’s first-ever couture party during the India Couture Week in Delhi. “I’ve known Manish and his team for a while now and being a part of it felt like the perfect blend of fashion and music. His vision for that night was larger than life, and it was surreal to lend my voice to such a stunning celebration,” she says.
Gandhi believes that AI can never replicate the human experience in music, even if it might assist with some ideas. “Technology can be a tool for creativity, but it shouldn’t replace the human soul in music. For me, music is about emotion, storytelling, and connection,” she says. That’s why she grounds her work in honesty. “Trends come and go, but emotions don’t... they stay with you. If I’m making something from a genuine place, I’m confident that it’ll resonate beyond just a 30-second clip. Longevity in music comes from the heart,” she adds. And with a couple of singles on the way, and a bigger project she’s keeping under wraps, Gandhi is determined to keep us on our toes.
Images: Toshit &Tanya (Black frames)
This article first appeared in Cosmopolitan India's September-October 2025 print edition.
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