Nov 24

Nov 24 INTERVIEW: Jonita Gandhi on collaborating with Ed Sheeran on 'Heaven' single: "My goal was to add my personality to the song as it is, and not to completely change its essence"

Single, Jonita Gandhi, Interview, Canada, India

Published: 24 November 2025

Indian-Canadian artist Jonita Gandhi is one of India’s biggest pop stars, with her solo work and multiple Bollywood soundtracks giving her over 17 million monthly streams on Spotify alone.

Working in music for over a decade, she has built an impressive career performing songs for many Bollywood films and her solo career has been equally as notable. Last year she was named Musician of the Year at Harper’s Bazaar’s first-ever Women of the Year Awards, and this year her success continued, with her EP Love Like That nominated for a Juno Award (Canada’s Grammys) for South Asian Music Recording of the Year, as well as being awarded the Powerhouse Performer accolade at the ELLE Style Awards.

Outside of her own work, she is no stranger to major international collaborations, featuring on The Chainsmokers’ hit ‘Addicted’, and more recently ‘Hello’ with Sigala and Leigh-Anne. She has also shared a stage with artists such as Due Lipa, Shawn Mendes, Post Malone and Michael Bublé.

Last month Gandhi was at the forefront of yet another big name collaboration when she teamed up with superstar Ed Sheeran on a remix of his song ‘Heaven’. Originally the closing track on Sheeran’s Play album, the new version stays true to the original, but with Gandhi contributing a verse in Hindi, written by herself, and also harmonising with Sheeran throughout the track. Her intimate vocals and lyrics bring a greater sense of warmth and emotion to the sparse electronic frame of the song.

“I’ve been such a huge fan of Ed’s for as long as I can remember, so getting to collaborate with him on this version of ‘Heaven’ feels really special,” Gandhi says. “After having the chance to meet him and even open for his concert earlier this year in India, I was blown away by how genuine and grounded he is - and how much he truly appreciates the music and culture here. It’s a beautiful love song, and I feel so honoured to bring a little bit of my personality and heart into it. I’m so excited for people to hear this version!”

“I met Jonita in 2024 when I played in Mumbai and then got to do some shows with her the following year when I came back for the tour. In short, I’m a fan. I love her voice - the tone, the softness,” Sheeran adds. “This was the perfect tune for us to do together, and it’s also the first Hindi song I have released. It’s an honour to do it with her - what a talent.”

A special artist who is steadily increasing her fan base around the world, her contribution to ‘Heaven’ proves it is surely just a matter of time before Gandhi is a truly global star in her own right. We recently caught up with her to chat about working with Sheeran and her music career to date.

Hi Jonita, so good to chat to you today. How is everything with you at the moment?
Things are really good, thank you for asking! It’s currently a very hectic but exciting time - lots of travel, performances, and new creative projects. I’m feeling grateful for everything that’s happening and for the love people have been showing my work lately.

You have recently featured on the remix of Ed Sheeran’s song ‘Heaven’, congratulations! Your contribution adds a real beauty to the song. What is the background on your relationship with Sheeran that led to you collaborating on this song?
Thank you so much! It still feels surreal, to be honest. The collaboration came about quite organically - the idea was to create a version of ‘Heaven’ that brought in an Indian influence, and I was asked to lend my voice and perspective to it. I met Ed a couple of times during his visits to India, and I opened for him when he performed in Chennai. I’ve always admired his artistry, so getting to be part of something like this was truly special.

There is always a risk with remixing/reimagining a song that fans already love - those fans may end up not liking the new version. Does that expectation ever feel daunting, and if so how do you deal with it?
It can definitely feel a little daunting at first because you never want to take away from what people already love about the original. But I approached it with respect and authenticity - my goal was to add my personality to the song as it is, and not to completely change its essence. As long as I’m being true to myself and to the emotion of the music, I try not to overthink how it will be received. Music is about connection, and if it comes from a genuine place, it usually finds its audience.

Your verse is in Hindi - how important is it to you to represent your culture on such a massive platform as an Ed Sheeran song?
It’s incredibly meaningful. Singing in Hindi on a song that’s being heard all over the world is something I’m really proud of. I’ve always felt that language shouldn’t be a barrier when it comes to music - it’s such a universal form of expression. Being able to share a piece of my culture on a global stage felt like a big moment not just for me, but for South Asian representation in general.

You are of course not new to collaboration as you work extensively in writing and performing for Bollywood movie soundtracks. How did you get your start in that industry?
My journey started with me uploading covers on YouTube years ago. That’s how some amazing composers and musicians in India first came across my work. Eventually, I got the opportunity to record vocals for A.R. Rahman sir, which was a dream come true and really opened doors for me in the industry. From there, I just kept learning, collaborating, and growing as an artist.

How is the creative process different for you when you are writing for a movie versus writing for yourself?
When you’re working on a movie song, you’re interpreting and servicing someone else’s story or emotion - the song has to fit a specific moment or character. When I’m working on music for myself, it’s much more personal and introspective. There’s no brief or boundary, which makes it both exciting and challenging. I love both processes for different reasons.

You have had an incredible few years in terms of critical acclaim, including a Juno Award nomination for South Asian Music Recording of the Year and Musician of the Year at Harper’s Bazaar’s Women of the Year Awards, to mention just two. It may seem a simplistic question, but how does it feel to get this kind of recognition for your work?
It feels really special. I make music because I love it, but when your work gets recognized in that way, it’s such a beautiful validation of the journey. The Juno nomination especially was emotional because I grew up in Canada - it felt like things had come full circle. It’s a reminder to keep evolving and keep creating with heart.

Excluding Ed Sheeran, what artist would it be your dream to collaborate with?
There are so many artists I’d love to work with! Bruno Mars is one for sure. Jacob Collier would be another dream collaborator; I love the way he works with vocals and harmony. And on the Indian side, I’d love to do something with Diljit Dosanjh.

Pop music has always been a difficult space for female artists due to the unfair expectations placed on them, that are not placed on men, and the sense they have to work twice as hard as men to get half as far. What are your thoughts on gender (in)equality in the music industry, and do you see a similar problem in the Bollywood side of music?
I think gender inequality exists everywhere, including in music. Women often have to work harder to prove themselves and face more scrutiny - whether it’s about their image, sound, or choices. That said, I do think we’re slowly moving in the right direction. More women are finding their voice, supporting each other, and breaking through those barriers. I’ve been fortunate to work with people who value creativity over anything else, and I hope to see that become the norm across the industry.

What creative plans do you have for the rest of the year and into 2026?
I’m working on a bunch of new music. There are also a few exciting collaborations and live performances coming up, both in India and internationally. I’m looking forward to experimenting more, exploring different sounds, and connecting with audiences in new ways. The next chapter feels like a really creative one.