Melbourne-based songwriter Nimit Rastogi, the creative force behind Infused Muse, is bringing a thoughtful, lyrics-first approach to Australia’s independent music scene. Blending indie, acoustic and dance-pop influences, the English-language project reflects Nimit’s collaborative creative process, pairing his words and melodies with the talents of vocalists, musicians and engineers to bring each track to life.
After releasing more than 10 Hindi songs under his own name over the past year, with his latest work surpassing 5,000 streams, Nimit has now introduced Infused Muse with his debut English single, ‘Sweet and Wild (Melbourne Bee)’, released in January 2026. Inspired by a brief train encounter and the magnetic presence of a stranger, the track offers a glimpse into his gift for turning passing moments into evocative songs.
Drawing inspiration from poetry, sci-fi cinema and his wife Latanngi, a Bharatanatyam dancer, Nimit is steadily carving out his own lane, creating music led by feeling, story and lyrical depth.
I had the opportunity to meet Nimit at Under The Radar in March 2026, and am delighted to share more from my chat with him.
What’s the earliest memory you have of writing or performing, and how did it shape where you are today?
This takes me back to 2007- second year of college. My mates knew I dabbled in poetry, and I was always that bloke who’d geek out over songs with proper poetic, metaphor-heavy lyrics. One day we had a free lecture, and everyone was showing off their so-called talents. I was too shy to recite my own poetry since I’d never done it before, so I thought, “Why not sing instead?”. Big mistake. Even today, thinking about it makes me cringe. Let’s just say I discovered very quickly that my vocal chords weren’t built for singing – not even close! After that disaster, I stayed well away from the stage and stuck to writing. But slowly, life happened. My day job kept me busy, and the hobby just faded into the background.
Fast forward to now – I’m 38, somewhat settled, and I thought, “Why not revive this passion?” But this time, no singing. Never again! I realised I might not be able to perform, but I could definitely create songs that others could bring to life. So I taught myself about lyric structures, meters, songwriting, and even picked up some basics about musical notes and chords. Now here I am – a newbie songwriter and producer, collaborating with session musicians, singers, and sound engineers. It’s been quite the journey, and honestly, I’m loving every bit of it.
If your music was a movie scene, what would be happening on screen?
My music is all about collaboration, so the scene would definitely be about teamwork. Picture this: my character is someone who knows his strengths and, more importantly, his limitations. He’s not the hero who does everything alone – he’s the one who finds the right people, builds genuine relationships, and stitches everyone’s dreams together to make something bigger than any individual could achieve solo.
It’d be one of those feel-good montages – you know, like when a community comes together to build something beautiful, or when a sports team that nobody believed in starts winning because they figured out how to play together. There’s trust, there’s hustle, and there’s that moment when it all clicks and everyone realises, “We actually pulled this off!”.
How do your songs usually come together? Do you start with words, a beat, a melody, or something else?
For me, it always starts with a story or an encounter – something I’ve lived, imagined, or heard from a mate. Sometimes I’ll be watching a film and get fixated on a background character, someone who barely gets screen time, and I’ll start imagining their story. That’s where the lyrics come from.
Once I have the story, I write the lyrics, making sure the structure, syllables, and meter are all sorted. Then I work on the melody, followed by the beats. Once I’ve got a solid draft, that’s when I start looking for artists who can help bring the project to life – vocalists, musicians, sound engineers. It’s all about finding the right people who vibe with the vision and can add their own magic to it. The collaboration is what makes it real.
Outside of music, what inspires your creativity?
My wife, Latanngi, is a huge inspiration. She’s a Bharatanatyam dancer and does craft work as well. We’re constantly motivating each other to keep going with our art, even when life gets busy or we hit creative blocks. Having that support at home makes all the difference.
I’m also a bit of a sci-fi junkie – massive fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. There’s something about those storytelling universes that gets my imagination firing. Beyond that, I’m an admirer of all performing arts – dance, theatre, musicals, even circus acts. There’s magic in watching someone pour their heart into a performance, and it reminds me why I do what I do.
On the writing side, I follow a bunch of poets and poetry curator accounts on social media – Instagram, Threads, X. The more poetry I read, the more I learn about different writing styles, wordplay, and how to pack emotion into a few lines. It’s been invaluable for my lyrics writing.
What’s something you’ve just released or are about to share with the world?
I just released my debut English single – “Sweet and Wild (Melbourne Bee)” – about a week ago, on the 15th of January. Though I should mention, I’ve actually been releasing Hindi songs under my real name, Nimit Rastogi, for over a year now – 10+ songs done using the same collaborative process. My most recent Hindi track came out about two months back and has already crossed 5,000 streams, which has been really encouraging. But “Sweet and Wild” is my first venture into English lyrics, hence the new artist name, Infused Muse.
The story behind this song is a bit random, actually. One day, I found out that one of my colleagues is a beekeeper and super passionate about it. We had this long chat about honey bees, and on my train ride home that evening, I noticed a girl with a tattoo on her upper arm, just below her sleeve. At first glance, I thought it was a bee. Could’ve been a butterfly, honestly, I’m not sure – but in that moment, I convinced myself it was a honey bee, haha!
But it wasn’t just the tattoo that stayed with me – it was her entire presence. She had this aura about her, you know? Strong, independent, confident, like someone who was ready to take on the world and own it. Free-spirited but grounded. The kind of person who walks into a room and you just notice that buzz. So the song became about that – the tattoo, yes, but more about her energy, that impressive vibe she carried. The sweetness and wildness of someone who’s unapologetically themselves and leaves a mark on you – pun intended!
For this track, I worked with Martin Trevox, an incredibly talented vocalist and mixing engineer I found on SoundBetter. He really brought the song to life in ways I couldn’t have imagined.
What’s next for you? Any big dreams or goals you’re chasing?
For “Sweet and Wild (Melbourne Bee),” I collaborated with Martin Trevox – found him on SoundBetter, and he’s based in the US. He’s brilliant, but moving forward, I really want to work with local Australian artists for both my English and Hindi projects. Melbourne has such a vibrant, multicultural music scene, and I’d love to build more connections here.
I’m keen to find some local vocalists who can bring their flavour to my Hindi work as well. There’s a strong Hindi and Urdu-speaking community here, and I’ve been connecting with poets, musicians, and singers through open mic events and poetry gatherings. Those connections have been invaluable.
For Infused Muse, my English project, I’ve got this rough idea brewing for an album or EP – a proper collaborative effort with multiple independent artists. Different singers, musicians, engineers – each bringing their own touch to the table. After a few more singles and once I’ve saved enough budget, I’ll start reaching out properly. If I can sort the funding earlier, I might even kick things off sooner. I’m targeting to commence within next 15 months or so, but it really depends on when the lyrics are ready and the budget comes together.
Either way, I’m in no rush – I want to do it right, you know? Build something meaningful with the right people, whether that’s in English or Hindi. The collaboration is what makes it special.
What’s one thing about you, as a person or artist, that your listeners might be surprised to learn?
I don’t play a single musical instrument – not even a MIDI keyboard (I have realised I need to learn one to be better at this muse). Everything I create is through collaboration and technology. I write the lyrics, craft the melodies, arrange the sounds, but I rely entirely on talented musicians and singers to bring the actual instrumentation and vocals to life. Some might find that odd for someone calling themselves a songwriter and producer, but to me, it’s about knowing your strengths and building a team around your vision. Music doesn’t have to come from your own hands on an instrument – it can come from your heart and your ability to connect the right people together.
Are you the vocalist Infused Muse has been chasing? Go discover his music now on Spotify (he is across all streaming platforms) and connect with him on Instagram if you think you’re the right fit! For more about our rich musical tapestry here in Australia, keep reading TAGG – The Alternative Gig Guide.
