Meet the Indian music artist who grew up in Abu Dhabi and has become a YouTube sensation, racking up millions of hits.
What is your connection with Abu Dhabi?
I was born there in 1984 and lived there until 2002. It’s where I went to school and learned music; classical music training and classic music. It’s where I realised I wanted to become a musician in life, then moved out to India to pursue that.
You’re famous primarily as a ‘playback artist’, can you explain what that means?
In Indian cinema the lead actors used to sing their own songs, but over time a lot of famous singers came into the picture because they wanted professionals to sing for the stars, and that’s what I do. When it’s done, they actually promote the film and promote the song separately.
Did you always want to be a playback artist?
They’re the people I listened to, the inspiration, as a child. If you want to be a successful singer or actor, being an Indian, the best thing is to be a part of the Indian cinema as it’s such a big industry. So you work with as many composers and musicians, and then do your own thing.
Do you have a style that has helped you to stand out?
I don’t just stick to classical, I do a lot of R&B and soul, I love general pop, I do a lot of blues, jazz and psychedelic jazz. I do material like Jamiroquai or Stevie Wonder, that is the independent side away from Bollywood. When you talk about Bollywood it’s just music, but in India there’s a separation between film music and independent music.
So you’re a dual artist?
Bollywood used to be just songs in a traditional sound, but in the 1960s and 1970s composers brought in other genres like Latin. Then came someone like A R Rahman, the composer who won an Oscar for Slumdog Millionaire who I actually started my career with. He brought the digital sound to the Indian music scene. Bollywood’s wide now, it’s opened up to a lot of new things.
Is there a type of music you like singing in particular?
I love singing anything. I acquire inspiration from a lot of artists and listen to a lot of music. You don’t just stop learning, I listen to everything possible that comes my way.
Your YouTube hits are phenomenal and in the tens of millions. How widespread is your fan base?
Indians are everywhere and Indians everywhere know my songs and love my music, so it’s quite wide.
What advice do you have for wannabe artists?
Do what makes you happy. I don’t think it needs to be more complicated. I learned this from my father when I was studying. So when people come to me and ask how they can achieve their dreams I ask them, ‘In your dreams, are you happy?’ They say ‘Yeah, I’m happy,’ so I say, ‘So just do what makes you happy’.
What’s been the highlight of your career so far?
I just did an album in the Tamil language, which is the language of south India, called Vaazhkai DJ. The meaning of the title is ‘Life DJ’. I was nominated for best pop singer at the MTV VMA India awards and Radio City here in Mumbai nominated me as best pop artist for my album, which I won.
Do you ever come back to Abu Dhabi?
Well, I live in Mumbai now but come back to Dubai mostly for a lot of my concerts. I’ve done one concert in Abu Dhabi which was actually last year. There is nothing that’s coming up for me professionally there just yet but I plan to visit my old friends in the future.
