When London-based singer Raghav debuted in 2004 with his hit track Can’t get enough, Indian audiences were floored by his blend of English lyrics in Kabhi aar kabhi paar laaga teereh nazar. Five years later, the singer is back with his

second studio album titled Identity that features a collaboration with American rapper Redman.

“This album is my gratitude to people who have supported me, especially the Indian community. Identity is my way of connecting to my audiences,” says Raghav, whose 10-track compilation spans everything from acoustic melodies to love ballads.

There is also an up tempo club track, My kinda girl, which features rapper Redman who has rapped on singer Christina Aguilera’s song Dirrty in the past. “Working with Redman was one of the coolest experiences of my life. He is a very funny guy and he asked me what I wanted him to do in the song. I just wanted him to be funny, be himself, like he was in Christina’s song.”

Raghav is also a songwriter, who has penned the lyrics to all 10 songs in the album, most of them in English except two, including Humrahee, which are in Hindi. “I write songs in English, but when it comes to Hindi I express the thoughts but it is my mother who pens the Hindi lyrics for my songs,” smiles the 28-year-old singer, who recently performed at the Hard Rock Café in the city as part of the VH1 express music tour.

While Raghav travels every six months to Mumbai, Bollywood is still not high on his agenda. “There have been some Bollywood offers but I’d like to take up something that allows me to write, rather than simply arranging music to what someone else has written,” he says. “In six months my new album, which might call New Man, will be out.” For now, it’s Identity that is the priority for him.