INTERVIEW: VARUN SHEEL

Boston-based indie-pop trailblazer Varun Sheel opens 2025 with Wasteland, a radiant burst of sonic experimentation that fuses the vibrant pulse of K-pop with the emotive nuance of Bollywood. Known for bridging cultural sounds with heartfelt storytelling, Sheel crafts a track that feels both globally connected and intimately his own.

On "Wasteland", Sheel leans into his pop instincts while expanding his sound with a confident rhythmic flair. Anchored by a punchy bassline and uptempo groove, the track thrives on motion — physical, emotional, and stylistic. It’s a song built for movement: a head-nodder with dancefloor ambition, yet rich in introspection. The production is crisp, playful, and layered, reflecting Sheel’s sharpened sense of arrangement and a growing command over genre fusion.

We sat down with Varun to learn all about "Wasteland", the meaning behind his inspirations and much more, exclusively for FLEX!

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Hey Varun, welcome to FLEX! How are you doing?

Hi everyone! I’m doing great, thank you for asking and thanks so much for having me! It’s been an exciting time. “WASTELAND” just came out and I’m incredibly grateful for all the love it’s been receiving. It’s driven me to feel more inspired, focused and ready for what’s next. 

Sum up your new single ‘Wasteland’ for us in three words!

Dreamy. Intimate. Danceable. 

What drew you to this particular fusion of Bollywood and K-Pop?

I think it’s hard for me not to bring a Bollywood take to whatever I do. It’s just who I am. I grew up listening to (and still frequently listen to) Bollywood music with my family. It’s impossible for me not to pull from those ideas whenever I write. The K-pop idea is actually thanks to my wife! She sent me down this giant BLACKPINK, BTS/Jung Kook rabbit hole one day as all of the solo albums from the BLACKPINK members are coming out right now. One thing that really stuck out to me were the basslines and this really punchy and polished feel that all the tracks had. As a second generation Indian - American, I’m constantly balancing these cultural influences and “WASTELAND” definitely became a sonic expression of that. It paired the grandeur, drama and storytelling of Bollywood, with that same punchy, polished feel of K-pop and it just clicked. 

The track has a real upbeat, danceable energy. Was that always the vision, or did it evolve during the production process?

Absolutely not! The original demo actually had a much more melancholic tone - it leaned into that “wasteland” metaphor pretty hard because I felt I was writing about something heavy, the world falling apart around you. However as I built out the lyrics and fully hashed the song out, lines like “Lets go to hell you and I…oh baby this seems fun to me.” really stuck out. It helped me realise that this wasn’t a sad song, but it was more defiant and somehow more accepting at the same time. Yes, the track is about the chaos around us, but it’s about more than that. It’s about finding joy with someone in spite of it, surrendering to the chaos and getting through it with a smile on your face. The duality is critical. Once I leaned into that, everything - the groove, the retro synths, the disco style guitar and melodic vocals - all just came alive. 

You’ve cited artists like The Weeknd, Jung Kook, and Troye Sivan as inspirations. What specific elements of their music resonate with you the most?

My goal has always been to make music that tells a story, moves you and is stuck in your head for years after. All three of these artists make music that feels immersive and cinematic and that’s a very powerful tool.The Weeknd uses moody production and vocals to really transport you to a specific moment in time , while Jung Kook and Troye Sivan both write about love and identity with a clarity that’s deeply personal but also universal. This is truly inspiring. Being sonically immersive, but simultaneously emotionally sharp. This is also what I aim for in “WASTELAND”. The track overall, sounds like a party, but it's really a fever dream about uncertainty, intimacy and escape.   

The title ‘Wasteland’ is intriguing—what’s the story or message behind it?

“WASTELAND” is about finding paradise in chaos. The world is definitely volatile right now. But beyond this, I think there are definitely moments for each of us where everything keeps piling on and “when it rains it pours”. “WASTELAND” is about submitting and finding peace in that chaos with the right person. The world may feel like it’s burning. But if you’ve got the right person beside you, that fire feels almost beautiful. Yes it’s stressful, but at the end of it all you hold onto the joy of being with each other and making it through it while everything is falling apart. Then you look at each other, and you laugh that you made it through it. It’s that Indiana Jones grabbing his hat at the last second rush and everything including the production and lyrics works to remind the listener of that contrast. Bright, energetic production, paired with “if the world’s on fire, we’re making smores”. It’s a song about escape, defiance and love in the face of uncertainty.

2024 was a breakout year for you, with songs like More Than Friends and Over You receiving major attention. How has that momentum influenced your approach to new music?

This year has been nothing short of humbling. Sharing your art is scary. Each song I’ve pushed out over the last few months has really showcased  a different side of myself. Nostalgia, heartbreak, longing, romanticism and more are all hallmark characteristics of who I am. Seeing these songs connect with people has reminded me that when you’re truly honest with yourself and your art and you put it out there it absolutely works and that’s liberating. In 2025, it gives me the confidence to go deeper. I want to take more risks, I want to experiment more sonically and I want to keep building a sound that expresses who I am and is unmistakably “me”. 

And finally, can we expect more genre-blending experiments from you in the near future? Any hints on what’s next?

Of course! As always, every song that you’re going to hear this year is going to be rooted in a story or moment and I’m going to bring that Bollywood influence to it to really drive it home and make it immersive. On top of that, they’re super catchy and danceable. Everything is set up for it to be a fantastic year and I’m so excited to share them with you soon.

Stream "WASTELAND" now: