Anjana Padmanabhan is bringing her own stories into focus with Yes No Maybe?, a five-track debut EP released under the artist name ANJANA.
Apple Music lists the pop release as arriving on October 15, 2026, with a running time of approximately 16 minutes.
For the Bengaluru-born singer, who won the first season of Indian Idol Junior in 2013, the project marks a move towards expressing herself through original songwriting. In an interview with The New Indian Express, she discussed how her relationship with music developed from performing as a child to wanting to create songs of her own.
Musical ideas took shape in Dharamshala
Anjana told The New Indian Express that she had been saving melodies on her phone before a songwriting camp in Dharamshala helped give the project direction.
Working with friends, she explored short musical ideas and different sounds. Rijhaaun became particularly important in helping her identify the artistic space she wanted to pursue.
Speaking separately to Indulge, she described the process as an opportunity to develop melodies without becoming preoccupied with their eventual outcome.
Five songs explore different emotional questions
In her Indulge interview, Anjana explained how the tracks approach love, insecurity, separation and acceptance.
| Track | Theme described by Anjana |
|---|---|
| Hai Pyaar Kya? | Questions about love and its different meanings |
| Naseeb Tu | Finding someone and imagining a shared future |
| Rijhaaun | Insecurities and their effect on relationships |
| Kaise Main Kahun | Separation |
| Azaad | Self-acceptance and confidence |
The sequence moves from uncertainty about relationships towards becoming more comfortable with oneself. These descriptions reflect Anjana’s explanation of the songs, rather than an independent review.
Bengaluru roots find a place in the music
Anjana told Indulge that Azaad includes a Kannada verse, connecting the project to the city she considers central to her identity.
She also discussed the use of kazoo in Naseeb Tu and konnakol in Azaad, crediting Shivaraj Natraj’s vocal contribution to the latter.
Rolling Stone India’s release coverage similarly highlighted the EP’s combination of contemporary pop, classical elements and a Kannada passage. That blend places different aspects of her musical background within the same project.
Songwriting brings a more personal perspective
The EP also gave Anjana an opportunity to perform stories she had helped shape. She told Indulge that expressing deeper emotions on camera was unfamiliar and initially challenging, while describing songwriting as a freeing experience.
Her stated hope is that listeners connect with the songs and become kinder towards themselves.
Where to listen to Yes No Maybe?
Yes No Maybe? is available on Apple Music, while Rolling Stone India’s coverage also links to the EP on Spotify.
For listeners familiar with Anjana through television performances, the release offers an introduction to her work as an independent singer-songwriter.
