Singer-songwriter Aditya Rikhari is looking forward to his stint as a mentor on the upcoming *I-POPSTAR Vol. 2*. For Aditya, the show is not just about finding technically strong singers but about discovering artists whose music can genuinely connect with listeners.

Talking about the kind of contestants he would want on his team, Aditya says the first thing he will look for is music that makes an emotional connection. “Personally, I would look for artists whose melodies and writing touch your heart. At the end of the day, what do we want? We want a song that touches your heart and that you genuinely like,” he says.

Aditya feels that a listener does not always break down a song to understand exactly why it works. Sometimes, the overall feeling is enough. “You don't necessarily sit down and analyse exactly what was good about it or why you liked it. You simply hear the song and feel that it is good,” he explains.

For him, this is also how he plans to approach his role as a mentor. “I am going to keep it very simple. If the song feels good to your heart, then the artist feels good to you,” he says.

Aditya also sees the growing number of music reality shows as a positive development for artists because they are giving new musicians more opportunities to be heard. He believes platforms like *I-POPSTAR Vol. 2* can help audiences discover artists they may not have otherwise come across.

The second season will also challenge contestants to create new songs within a limited time, something Aditya feels will make the competition more interesting. With original music at the centre of the show, he is excited to see how the artists respond to the pressure and bring their own sound to the stage.

For Aditya, the strongest artist may not necessarily be the one who is technically perfect. It will be the one whose music makes people stop, listen and feel something. That emotional connection, he believes, is what can make an artist truly memorable.