"Hello darkness/my old friend,” says Simon Garfunkel as he begins the melodic Sounds of Silence. The opening lines are a reminder of the despair and struggle that is often the realm of every individual. What sets an artiste apart is their ability to crystallise this conflict of emotions into expression. For Wadala-based composer David De Menezes, it has resulted in the production of his latest EP, What I want. Released last month, the four-track EP explores the emotions of an individual coming to terms with the struggle, loss of love, despair and self-acceptance.

“I was going through a really bad time,” the 25-year-old shares over a phone call. It was a period of heartbreak and depression dating back to the start of the year that saw Menezes struggle. “It was hard for me to get out of the house. I would leave to attend a gig, but return half-way,” he recalls. Working from his bedroom, the producer set his mind to the tracks he had in his backlog, and finally put them together.