Another year, another trip around the sun. Just like last year, my heart is full of gratitude for the people in my life. Thank you to everyone who continues to make this journey worthwhile.

If turning 35 has brought one major reflection, it’s a strong, undeniable pull towards my Malayalee roots. The older I get, the more I feel this desire to reconnect. It's time to go back to Mom's place -- I vaguely remember visiting, but it's been far too long. I miss those familial connections, and I truly need to catch up with my cousins; we haven't properly talked in ages. Right now, I'm caught up in the beautiful chaos of life here in China. But I'm actively working on turning these wishes into reality. My hope is to take a proper, long break soon -- not just a few weeks -- so I can set up a way to stay longer back home and fully immerse myself in the place and the culture.

And. I'm happy to share that my new album, Chill South, Vol. 1, is out now. This is a late-night project born out of my bedroom studio sessions. It's a collection of chill, atmospheric instrumentals, with most tracks re-imagining classic Tamil and Malayalam songs that hold a special, nostalgic place in my heart. Think of it as a soundtrack for quiet hours -- dreamy, deeply personal, and a little piece of my own south Indian identity set to a new rhythm. For the cover art, I used some beautiful photographs of Smita Patil from G. Aravindan's film Chidambaram. That movie isn't exactly "chill," but it features some of the most charming, magical frames captured by the legendary Shaji N. Karun. I hope you'll give it a listen!