Akhiyan by Harkirat Sangha, Starboy X

Released as part of MERCURY, Akhiyan announced itself as a standout the moment it reached listeners. What makes Akhiyan musically distinctive is the composition by Harkirat Sangha, Nicolas Marlon Stange, Sahil Bawa, which balances simplicity with depth.

The performance by Harkirat Sangha, Starboy X is the centrepiece here — controlled where it needs to be, open where it counts. a talented ensemble cast are at the heart of MERCURY, and Akhiyan captures their dynamic at its most compelling.

The song dates from 2024, but nothing about it sounds dated — the emotions it captures are not tied to a moment. It fits the playlist for almost any occasion, which is rare — most songs have a narrow emotional window. This one does not.

The 2:34 runtime feels perfectly judged — long enough to develop its ideas, short enough to compel a second play. This is music that holds up — not because it is perfect, but because it is honest, and honesty in a song is irreplaceable.