Showing posts with label Aditi Singh Sharma. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Aditi Singh Sharma. Show all posts
Shreya Ghoshal sets BKC ablaze with melody: "Mumbai tumhari aur meri love story hai"
8:41 AM
Debarati S Sen (BOMBAY TIMES; May 26, 2025)
Saturday evening turned into a surreal musical celebration as Shreya Ghoshal took centrestage at BKC, delivering an unforgettable performance that was nothing short of electric. Thousands gathered to watch the melody queen live in action, and she did not disappoint, holding the audience in rapturous delight from the first note to the final bow.
As the evening set in and the crowd erupted in deafening cheers, Shreya made a powerful entrance singing “Sunn Raha Hai”, setting the tone for a night of nostalgia, emotion, and celebration. “Are you ready to sing with me, Mumbai? Are you ready to party?” she asked, and the crowd responded with euphoric chants of “Shreya, Shreya!”
“Mujhe iss din ka intezar saalon se tha!”
Brimming with emotion, Shreya expressed how special the Mumbai concert was for her. “Finally the day has come, and I am performing in Mumbai (The same show was to be held earlier on May 10 at the same venue). I am so excited! Trust me Mumbai, mujhe iss din ka intezar saalon se tha!” she said, visibly overwhelmed.
“Bahut gaana hai, it's going to be an incredible night. Sab saath mein gaane wale hain. Hope you are prepared with some moves!” She then set the stage ablaze with chart-toppers like “Tum Kya Mile”, “Jadu Hai Nasha Hai”, and many more, turning the ground into one massive karaoke session with the audience singing in unison.
“Mumbai tumhari aur meri love story hai”
Declaring her eternal bond with the city, Shreya said, “I have a perfect song, because Mumbai tumhari aur meri love story hai. Aisi love story honi hai because Mumbai mera ghar hai, meri Bhoomi hai, mera sab kuch hai.” That heartfelt proclamation was followed by songs that touched the soul, “O Rangrez,” “Piyu Bole,” “O Saathi Re,” and “Deewani Mastani”.
As she sang, Shreya also took time to connect with fans holding up placards. “You’ve travelled 12,000 kilometres to be here!?” she read aloud in amazement. One fan had brought her a painted portrait to which she asked, “Main yeh rakh loon?” A girl from Kota caught her eye, prompting a warm, “You are from Kota! Hello, girl from my place!”
“Singing a Gulzar Saab song is an award in itself”
Shreya paid rich tributes to the lyricists and composers who’ve shaped her musical journey. “Gulzar saab ka koi gaana agar ga liya toh wohi award hai apne aap mein.” Reflecting on her blessed journey, she added, “Mujhe saare composers ne apne best gaane diye hain. Main bahut shukr guzar hoon unn sab ka. Aaj bhi woh sab gaane dil ko chhoote hain… because acche music ki life bahut lambi hoti hai.” She then delivered those very timeless tunes that audiences continue to cherish, proving that good music indeed has no expiration date.
“Aaj sabse surili audience hai. Kasam se”
As the audience harmonized note-for-note, Shreya playfully joked, “Everywhere I perform, I say, ‘I have the best singing audience today.’ I have said this in so many places that iss sentence ka koi trust value nahi raha. Iske toh memes bhi ban chuka hai. But today I really have to say, ‘Aaj sabse surili audience hai. Sacchi main, kasam se.’” Popular Bollywood singers were spotted cheering from the audience including Benny Dayal, Amit Trivedi, Aditi Singh Sharma, and Shalmali Kholgade.
“The reason I became a singer is because of Lata Ji’s voice”
In one of the evening’s most poignant moments, Shreya paid tribute to her greatest inspiration, Lata Mangeshkar. “The reason I became a singer is because of her voice. Her songs inspired me to choose music beyond just a simple passion or a career.” She followed this with soul-stirring renditions of “Lag Jaa Gale” and “Abhi Na Jao Chhod Kar”.
“This is the first time I am singing this verse on stage”
In a surprise, Shreya sang a verse she had never sung live before. “There are so many songs I want to sing but never have the time. But aaj main tayyari karke aayi hoon. This is the first time I am singing this verse from ‘Main Agar Kahoon’ on stage.”
The magical moment left the audience spellbound. She also performed duets with singers Kinjal Chatterjee and Chaitanya Devadhe, fondly calling him “Chaitu.” They sang some favorites like “Manwa Laage,” “Tere Naina,” “Teri Ore,” “Dagabaaz Re,” and “Saans.”
“Thank you for being with me despite the rain”
Despite a mid-concert drizzle, the crowd stayed rooted to their spots. Organizers swiftly distributed free raincoats to all. Shreya smiled and thanked them saying, “Thank you for being with me despite the rain today.” Towards the end, she warmly introduced every member of her band and background vocalists, showing her appreciation for the people who make the magic happen behind the scenes.
After nearly 40 songs and three hours of pure musical bliss, Shreya closed the night with a powerful tribute to India’s armed forces with “Vande Mataram”.
Satish Kaushik’s birth anniversary was all about music and memories
8:45 AM
Satish Kaushik’s friends from the film fraternity came together to celebrate his birth anniversary
Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; April 15, 2023)
On March 9, actor and filmmaker Satish Kaushik passed away in Gurugram, after reportedly suffering a heart attack. His friends and colleagues from the film industry who remember him as ‘a great artiste and a greater human being’ are still reeling from the shock of his sudden demise.
On April 13, his close friend of many years, Anupam Kher, hosted a musical event to commemorate his birth anniversary. The event was attended by several celebrities who have shared a long association with the late actor. Guests included Subhash Ghai, Shabana Azmi, Javed Akhtar, Anil Kapoor, Chunky Panday, Poonam Dhillon, Rani Mukerji, Neena Gupta, Nadira Babbar, Vivek Agnihotri, Sonali Bendre, Johny Lever, Talat Aziz, Lalit Pandit, Udit Narayan, Shankar Mahadevan, and Papon.
At the event, there were musical performances interspersed by moments where his friends shared heartwarming memories of him. During Aditi Singh Sharma’s rendition of Hawa Hawai (Mr India), Anil Kapoor came on stage, shook a leg and paid a tribute to his dear friend.
The event wrapped up on a highly emotional note when Satish’s wife Shashi and daughter Vanshika came on stage to cut a cake and they were joined by others. Vanshika also read a posthumously addressed letter to her father, which deeply moved everyone. Satish Kaushik would have turned 67 on April 13.
------------------------------------
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; April 15, 2023)
With memories, love, music and laughter, late actor-filmmaker Satish Kaushik’s birth anniversary on Thursday, April 13, was an emotional yet wholesome celebration. A musical night was organised in his memory by his friend of four decades, actor Anupam Kher, with Satish’s daughter, Vanshika Kaushik, and wife, Shashi Kaushik, in attendance. While singer Armaan Malik sang Main Rahoon Ya Na Rahoon, which Anupam said was “Satish’s favourite song that he would hum all the time”, singer Papon sang Moh Moh Ke Dhaage (Dum Laga Ke Haisha; 2015).
Singers Udit Narayan Jha and Sadhana Sargam belted out their classic number Pehla Nasha (Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar; 1991). Ghazal singer Talat Aziz and composer-singer Shankar Mahadevan sang the title track of Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003).
Vanshika reading aloud a letter she wrote to her father was the most emotional part of the evening, and a cake-cutting ceremony came next. A part of the letter read, “Hello Papa, I know that now you are no more but I want you to know that I will always be there for you. If I knew this was going to happen, I would miss school just to spend time with you. I wish I could have hugged you once.”
Another highlight was Satish’s close friend Anil Kapoor breaking into an impromptu dance on stage to Hawa Hawaii, a song from Mr India (1987), which co-starred him and Satish. Actor Shabana Azmi and her husband, lyricist-writer Javed Akhtar, spoke about their association with Satish and left the audience in splits with funny anecdotes. The one thing no person forgot to mention was the late actor’s smile and his positive attitude at all times.
Anupam told ANI, “Initially, I’d thought not to do it (the celebration). But around 4-5 days ago, Satish came in my dream and said, ‘Yaar, tu mere liye kuch nahin kar raha hai kya?’ So I decided to celebrate his life today.”
Now, Bollywood’s playback singers get payback thanks to ISRA
8:25 AM
You hear their hit tracks in restaurants, gyms and stadiums but singers say they don’t get a penny of royalty. But things are changing. Now, for the first time, around 700-odd vocalists have got their dues
Mohua Das (THE TIMES OF INDIA; April 15, 2018)
About a month ago, singer Aditi Singh Sharma walked into a recording studio to find the party anthem, Sooraj Dooba Hai, being intensely discussed. She exclaimed instinctively: “Oh, that’s my song!” The music makers in the room corrected her: It’s (the composer) Amaal Mallik’s song. “There was something so wrong with that sentence,” she recounts. “If I’m not entitled to a song I’ve sung, what am I left with? Similarly, a hit track is called a Ranbir-Deepika song. No one calls it the Vishal Dadlani-Shalmali Kholgade song. As long as the issue of royalty remains unresolved, singers will continue to be ignored.”
Singers, they’re known for speaking out on civil rights, politics, climate change and peace. Not so much for activism within their own industry or the disharmony beneath the surface. While film producers and music companies have been getting their share of profit from radio stations, TV channels, and online sites, singers like Aditi feel they are being rewarded less and less.
That may be changing now. After a long battle to secure royalty, the Indian Singers’ Rights Association (ISRA), a copyright collection society established in 2013, was able to collect a sum of Rs 52 lakh and distribute it among 730 singers for the first time.
“This is for 2016-17. For the year ending March 2018, we’ve already collected around Rs 1 crore, which too will soon be distributed,” explains Sanjay Tandon, CEO of ISRA. “What artistes have received maybe a nominal amount but it’s a start.”
Aditi, among the first batch of royalty recipients, says it’s a huge leap for singers. Unlike the previous generation of singers, careers these days are short-lived with new voices emerging every day. And not everyone does live shows where the money is better. “I’d probably have earned more in royalty than my fee for singing the song Dilli Dilli (in No One Killed Jessica) that was played everywhere in Delhi for two years since its release in 2010,” says Aditi.
Singer Sonu Nigam believes it is about giving singers their due respect and a sense of security. “Our fight wasn’t with music labels but what was due to us,” explains the singer, who along with Sunidhi Chauhan, had once walked out of the film Heartless when asked to sign away their royalty rights.
The question of equitable share of revenues dates back to the 90s when someone at a function called singers ‘vocal instruments’. To fix this anomaly, singers like Lata Mangeshkar, Sonu Nigam, Alka Yagnik and Tandon banded together and took up the matter with the government.
In what was hailed as a landmark amendment in the Copyright Act of 1957, ‘Performer’s Right’ came into effect in June 2012. The singer was granted economic rights, independent of the composer and songwriter. This meant that once a singer had recorded an original song, for the next 50 years, everyone except the producer needed their consent and would have to pay royalty to play or perform their song in public. Be it at a restaurant or gym, on radio and television, streamed through internet, or played by DJs.
“Till then it was a zamindari system where the tune belonged to the composer, the song to the lyricist and sound recording to the music company. Singers weren’t considered owners of copyright or entitled to any royalty. Starting June 21, 2012, they were added as a fourth party, entitled to 50% of whatever anyone earned worldwide using their voice,” explains Tandon.
Despite the recent triumphs, Tandon says the struggle to get royalty from television, radio and online streaming platforms still continues. “We can’t get complacent. They are the ones with the lion’s share of the music industry’s total revenue,” he says, pointing at the plight of older singers who have died in penury in the past. “Rajkumari Dubey and Mubarak Begum did not have money to even meet their basic needs. Financial aid by way of royalty could have helped them,” states Tandon.
HOW THE MUSIC MATH WORKS
Royalty that an eatery has to pay is calculated according to the “least priced drink on the menu card”; for big arena events, the licensing fee is Re 1 per seat; for airports and gyms the annual royalty is Re 1 per sq ft of the total carpet area; and for free online streaming platforms it is 50 paise per song. Thus, a pub where the cheapest drink costs Rs 20, has to pay an annual royalty of Rs 7,300 for any number of songs they play every evening, be it Lata Mangeshkar or Arijit Singh, while Wankhede Stadium which has a capacity of 33,108 would need to cough up the same digits in royalty for any number of songs played at each IPL match.
I never wanted to be a one-hit wonder and then fizzle out-Aditi Singh Sharma
9:03 PM
Aditi Singh Sharma talks to us about her latest track High Heels from Ki & Ka, why she feels it is good to have healthy competition and more...
Debarati Sen (BOMBAY TIMES; March 27, 2016)
There is a certain sensuous
zing in her voice that sets her apart. Aditi Singh Sharma makes you feel
that the actor on screen is actually singing the song, thanks to the
deft voice modulation and lilt she incorporates. In fact, she has often
been referred to as the voice of Katrina Kaif and Kareena Kapoor Khan.
Her repertoire of work includes not just dance numbers like Touch my
body, Sooraj dooba hai yaaron, Dhoom machale dhoom, but also soft
romantic numbers like Bekhudi and Raabta. Having worked with the likes
of Amit Trivedi, Salim-Sulaiman, ShankarEhsaan-Loy, Pritam, among
others, has enhanced not just her range and quality but has widened her
versatility. In a can did interview she talks to us about High Heels
from Ki & Ka, competition in playback singing and why she loves
Pritam so much...
The original High Heels was a popular song. Was making it look fresh difficult for you?
This is my first song with Meet Brothers. I had already heard the original many times. But it is always nice to give a new twist to an existing song, especially when it is already a chartbuster. I was glad to be a part of it. And knowing that I am singing for Kareena again, was special. I met Arjun Kapoor backstage at one of the awards lately, and he said, 'Your voice sounds just like Kareena's'.
You do not have a conventional voice. Did that work in your favour?
I am not sure what a conventional voice is anymore. Most of my contemporaries have such distinct voices. It just helps to make the songs more diverse and fresh. I have worked with so many composers and looking back I am grateful for the variety of songs that I have sung till now.
Do you prepare yourself differently before you sing for certain heroines?
Sometimes I don't know who I am singing for, but a lot of times I do. For Ki and Ka, I did try to swing it just a little bit because I was singing for Kareena. I try to visualise the actor and it helps. But then on the other hand, songs where I didn't know the actors, have also worked well.At the end of the day, it is about your connect with the song. I am sure the actors also listen to the song and then try to do the same.
There is massive competition in playback singing. Does it make it tough to make a mark?
It's always good to have healthy competition.These days there are various platforms like reality shows, social media, among others that are available to showcase your talent. I don't sit back and go 'OMG so much is happening so what about me'. In fact, I feel lucky that I have been able to make my presence felt, despite all this.
You have a special equation with Pritam. Tell us about it.
I have been touring and performing with Pritam for a long time. Travelling with him is incredible; he is such an amazing person and musician. There is so much to learn from him on a daily basis apart from the recordings. I have worked with many music directors but I haven't interacted with them as much. I absolutely love and respect Pritam and feel blessed to be a part of his team.
Who would you like to work with in future?
I have worked with many legends and stalwarts. They are all my mentors and I have learnt something different from each of them. I would love to work with A R Rahman. My deal is that I want to work with everybody - Sachin-Jigar, Sajid Wajid, Mithoon and many more.
It's been a while since Dev D - how has the journey been?
Dev D released in 2009 and it's been an amazing journey. I have worked with the best composers, sung the best songs for the best heroines and performed on the best stages. Success to me is the ability to work with people you love the most. I never wanted to be a one-hit wonder and then fizzle out. I keep trying to be better at what I do.
The original High Heels was a popular song. Was making it look fresh difficult for you?
This is my first song with Meet Brothers. I had already heard the original many times. But it is always nice to give a new twist to an existing song, especially when it is already a chartbuster. I was glad to be a part of it. And knowing that I am singing for Kareena again, was special. I met Arjun Kapoor backstage at one of the awards lately, and he said, 'Your voice sounds just like Kareena's'.
You do not have a conventional voice. Did that work in your favour?
I am not sure what a conventional voice is anymore. Most of my contemporaries have such distinct voices. It just helps to make the songs more diverse and fresh. I have worked with so many composers and looking back I am grateful for the variety of songs that I have sung till now.
Do you prepare yourself differently before you sing for certain heroines?
Sometimes I don't know who I am singing for, but a lot of times I do. For Ki and Ka, I did try to swing it just a little bit because I was singing for Kareena. I try to visualise the actor and it helps. But then on the other hand, songs where I didn't know the actors, have also worked well.At the end of the day, it is about your connect with the song. I am sure the actors also listen to the song and then try to do the same.
There is massive competition in playback singing. Does it make it tough to make a mark?
It's always good to have healthy competition.These days there are various platforms like reality shows, social media, among others that are available to showcase your talent. I don't sit back and go 'OMG so much is happening so what about me'. In fact, I feel lucky that I have been able to make my presence felt, despite all this.
You have a special equation with Pritam. Tell us about it.
I have been touring and performing with Pritam for a long time. Travelling with him is incredible; he is such an amazing person and musician. There is so much to learn from him on a daily basis apart from the recordings. I have worked with many music directors but I haven't interacted with them as much. I absolutely love and respect Pritam and feel blessed to be a part of his team.
Who would you like to work with in future?
I have worked with many legends and stalwarts. They are all my mentors and I have learnt something different from each of them. I would love to work with A R Rahman. My deal is that I want to work with everybody - Sachin-Jigar, Sajid Wajid, Mithoon and many more.
It's been a while since Dev D - how has the journey been?
Dev D released in 2009 and it's been an amazing journey. I have worked with the best composers, sung the best songs for the best heroines and performed on the best stages. Success to me is the ability to work with people you love the most. I never wanted to be a one-hit wonder and then fizzle out. I keep trying to be better at what I do.
Shah Rukh Khan charms at the Mirchi Music Awards
8:48 AM
BOMBAY TIMES (March 13, 2016)
Shah Rukh Khan entertained
the music fraternity all the way at the 8th Royal Stag Mirchi Music
Awards powered by Idea. He also launched the theatrical trailer of his
upcoming movie FAN, which releases on April 15. The highlight of the
trailer was the obsessed 'fan' Gaurav. The music artistes also had their
fan moment with SRK. While Nakash Aziz sang the title track of the
upcoming movie for the actor, Antara Mitra, of Gerua fame, played
Kajol's part and danced with him. Aditi Singh Sharma got to sing along
with both Sonu Nigam and SRK. It was a fun-filled evening where King Khan
sang and danced along with the entire music fraternity. At one point,
when singer Sreerama Chandra asked Shah Rukh which musician he is a fan
of, he said he admired a singer whose voice inspired him to put in even
more energy into his songs and performances.
To find out who that singer is, catch the 8th Royal Stag Mirchi Music Awards powered by Idea tonight at 8 pm on Zee TV.
To find out who that singer is, catch the 8th Royal Stag Mirchi Music Awards powered by Idea tonight at 8 pm on Zee TV.
Sooraj Dooba Hain: How a rejected tune turned into a chart topper
7:44 AM
Roshmilla Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 5, 2015)
Three years ago, Amaal
Mallik composed a tune with “okayish“ lyrics and pitched it to several
producers and got the thumbs down. So, he put the melody on the
backburner and only brought it out as an afterthought during a meeting
with Bhushan Kumar after he'd played half-a-dozen love songs to him.
“Bhushanji was in a hurry so I played it for him the next day and his
instant reaction was, 'Superb!' Get Kumaar to work on the lyrics with
you,“ recalls Amaal.Working with the Baby Doll, he cracked the antara in 15 minutes... Matlabi ho ja zara matlabi, duniya ki sunta hai kyun, khud ki bhi sun le kabhi.
“We hadn't got a narration of the film's story at that point because Bhushanji didn't want a situational song which worked within the context of the film. He wanted it to go beyond and connect with everyone, particularly twenty-somethings like me,“ explains Amaal, adding that they didn't even know it was for Roy. But when they sat down with director, Vikramjit Singh, he pointed out that the song was in sync with the film because Ranbir's (Kapoor) character, a carefree soul, tells Jacqueline's Tia to let loose and live life for herself.
The lines, Chale nahi ude aasmaan pe, pata na ho hai jaana kahaan pe, ki be-manzilein ho sab raaste, duniya se hon zara faasle, Kuch khud se bhi ho dooriyan, bring out RK's character eloquently.
The words flowed but the hook line was elusive. “Since it was a club number, we were thinking of sundown parties as the madness begins at night. That's how Sooraj dooba hai yaaron, do ghut nashe ke maaro, raste bhula do saare ghar baar ke came along,“ reminisces Amaal, who programmed and even sang the song himself.
But in retrospect he realised he needed more seasoned voices. Aditi Singh, the Dhoom and Raftaar singer, was the choice for the female vocals. For the male playback he turned to Arijit Singh, surprising even the singer who's not known for his dance tracks. “But the melody has a soft romantic feel, enhanced by his voice,“ he explains.
Amaal himself was surprised when Bhushan opened the promotions with Sooraj Dooba. The song was an instant hit, taking him out of the shadow of his illustrious grandfather Sardar Malik, uncle Anu Malik and dad Daboo Malik.
“This is new-age music, different sound and style, and has given me my identity,“ says Amaal who debuted with Jai Ho last year. “This is the kind of song Pritamda is known for. I'm told Bhushanji was thinking of approaching him when he heard Sooraj dooba, an oft-rejected, lyric-less song and turned it into a chartbuster.“
Pritam Chakraborty recording me had made it so much easier to sing the songs-Aditi Singh Sharma
7:43 AM
Singer Aditi Singh Sharma is on a roll with Sooraj Dooba Hain (Roy) and Touch My Body (Alone)
Kasmin Fernandes (BOMBAY TIMES; January 30, 2015)
How did Sooraj Dooba Hain happen?
Amaal Mallik (the song's composer) called me and said there is a song he needs to record and that he would email it to me before we hit the studio. Knowing that Amaal is an absolute king at EDM, I remember opening the email with immense excitement as he had mentioned it's a dance track. I was even more excited because he had told me it's a duet with Arijit Singh. I instantly fell in love with the track and was grooving in every direction possible, sitting behind the steering wheel. I was literally obsessed with the song and kept listening to it over and over again. When I went into the studio, Amaal's brief was: 'Do your own thing'. After my solo parts were done, we worked on ideas for suitable harmonies for Arijit's lines, for the chorus as well. I also recorded the song by Armaan Malik (whom I lovingly call Justin). Both brothers are so talented they sing, play instruments, compose, produce, dance. It was amazing to work with them.
Tell us about Touch My Body from Alone.
(Composer) Raghav Sachar called me, saying that we need to record a song which is a remake of Dr Zeus's Kangna. I went into Raghav's studio and it literally took us an hour to finish recording the entire song. While I was trying to dress the song up with my style and ideas, he thought of some really cool variations for it. We added layers, spoken bits, harmonies. It was so much fun and so nice to have finally worked with him. It was even better to sing the song live with Raghav, (lyricist) Kumaar, Bipasha (Basu) and Karan (Singh Grover) clapping along at the music launch of Alone where Bipasha said she thinks my voice is very sexy which she also put out in a tweet. That was very nice of her, considering it's the first time I've sung for her.
You also did Blame The Night with Pritam Chakraborty.
I am honoured that Blame The Night (Holiday) is my fourth song with Pritam after I'll Do The Talking, Raabta (both from Agent Vinod), and Dhoom (Dhoom 3). I love going into that studio and trying out a new song for him. It's a new challenge every time. I am fond of Pritam and love being on stage and in the studio with him.Arijit Singh had recorded me for Blame The Night and Raabta when he was assisting Pritam. Him recording me had made it so much easier for me to sing the songs. I can't explain this in words, but whoever has recorded with him would know what I am talking about. He is a huge reason why I was able to sing both songs with such ease. He liked my tone change on the 'na na nana' part in Blame The Night. It's what helped me bring in the right attitude into the song. I was excited about reuniting with team Raabta again.
You sound different in each of your current songs - Sooraj Dooba Hain, Touch My Body and Blame The Night. How did you manage it?
Working with a different music director on a different song, picturised on a different actor in three different movies. How can you play the same role in all? I have always wanted to be a versatile singer and I'm fortunate to have got songs on which I have been able to sound a little different (based on what the audiences say). I have absolutely no control over who calls me to sing which song, but once I'm in the studio, I make sure I give it my all, no matter what the genre.
What style of music do you enjoy singing the most?
I am loving them all. I have just crossed 30 songs as a playback singer. I wait every single time to go into the studio and try something new. I hope to work with every single person possible. With this ambition, it is hard to choose one style as I want to attempt them all.
Who are your friends in the industry?
Singer Apeksha Dandekar is my closest friend here. Lyricist-singer Amitabh Bhattacharya has been a dear friend since we met while recording for Dev D. They are both a phone call away if I need them. Music producers Sunny Sanour and Abhijit Vaghani have been like big brothers who have endlessly given advice. Their respective better halves Jenny and Suriya have always welcomed me into their loving homes. I am lucky to have so many friends here. It's a blessing!
What next?
I have done some recordings for Amaal Mallik and Ram Sampath. I am concentrating on gigs, film songs, travel, mom's health and mine as well.
Amaal Mallik (the song's composer) called me and said there is a song he needs to record and that he would email it to me before we hit the studio. Knowing that Amaal is an absolute king at EDM, I remember opening the email with immense excitement as he had mentioned it's a dance track. I was even more excited because he had told me it's a duet with Arijit Singh. I instantly fell in love with the track and was grooving in every direction possible, sitting behind the steering wheel. I was literally obsessed with the song and kept listening to it over and over again. When I went into the studio, Amaal's brief was: 'Do your own thing'. After my solo parts were done, we worked on ideas for suitable harmonies for Arijit's lines, for the chorus as well. I also recorded the song by Armaan Malik (whom I lovingly call Justin). Both brothers are so talented they sing, play instruments, compose, produce, dance. It was amazing to work with them.
Tell us about Touch My Body from Alone.
(Composer) Raghav Sachar called me, saying that we need to record a song which is a remake of Dr Zeus's Kangna. I went into Raghav's studio and it literally took us an hour to finish recording the entire song. While I was trying to dress the song up with my style and ideas, he thought of some really cool variations for it. We added layers, spoken bits, harmonies. It was so much fun and so nice to have finally worked with him. It was even better to sing the song live with Raghav, (lyricist) Kumaar, Bipasha (Basu) and Karan (Singh Grover) clapping along at the music launch of Alone where Bipasha said she thinks my voice is very sexy which she also put out in a tweet. That was very nice of her, considering it's the first time I've sung for her.
You also did Blame The Night with Pritam Chakraborty.
I am honoured that Blame The Night (Holiday) is my fourth song with Pritam after I'll Do The Talking, Raabta (both from Agent Vinod), and Dhoom (Dhoom 3). I love going into that studio and trying out a new song for him. It's a new challenge every time. I am fond of Pritam and love being on stage and in the studio with him.Arijit Singh had recorded me for Blame The Night and Raabta when he was assisting Pritam. Him recording me had made it so much easier for me to sing the songs. I can't explain this in words, but whoever has recorded with him would know what I am talking about. He is a huge reason why I was able to sing both songs with such ease. He liked my tone change on the 'na na nana' part in Blame The Night. It's what helped me bring in the right attitude into the song. I was excited about reuniting with team Raabta again.
You sound different in each of your current songs - Sooraj Dooba Hain, Touch My Body and Blame The Night. How did you manage it?
Working with a different music director on a different song, picturised on a different actor in three different movies. How can you play the same role in all? I have always wanted to be a versatile singer and I'm fortunate to have got songs on which I have been able to sound a little different (based on what the audiences say). I have absolutely no control over who calls me to sing which song, but once I'm in the studio, I make sure I give it my all, no matter what the genre.
What style of music do you enjoy singing the most?
I am loving them all. I have just crossed 30 songs as a playback singer. I wait every single time to go into the studio and try something new. I hope to work with every single person possible. With this ambition, it is hard to choose one style as I want to attempt them all.
Who are your friends in the industry?
Singer Apeksha Dandekar is my closest friend here. Lyricist-singer Amitabh Bhattacharya has been a dear friend since we met while recording for Dev D. They are both a phone call away if I need them. Music producers Sunny Sanour and Abhijit Vaghani have been like big brothers who have endlessly given advice. Their respective better halves Jenny and Suriya have always welcomed me into their loving homes. I am lucky to have so many friends here. It's a blessing!
What next?
I have done some recordings for Amaal Mallik and Ram Sampath. I am concentrating on gigs, film songs, travel, mom's health and mine as well.
I went straight from the airport to the studio to record Offo-Aditi Singh Sharma
7:48 AM
Aditi Singh Sharma, who has sung Offo from 2 States, on music, Mumbai and her friends in the industry
Kasmin Fernandes (BOMBAY TIMES; April 4, 2014)
We hear you’ve lived all over the place...
I was born in New Delhi, lived in Warsaw (Poland) during my kindergarten years and in Moscow for five years after that, since my dad was working there. I joined high school in New Delhi, and later went to Sri Venkateswara College.
Chart your musical journey.
I trained in Hindustani classical music when I was four years old before moving to Moscow. I tried taking piano lessons there, but soon got bored. Back in Delhi, I sang at various intercollege competitions. I fronted two rock bands, Crimson and Level9, after college and did a few jingles. I met Ehsaan (of Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy) at an awards ceremony I was hosting. He played my songs to Shankar (Mahadevan) and that’s how I landed Chhoti Si in High School Musical 2. Amit Trivedi once attended my gig in Mumbai and called me to his studio to try out my voice for a song, which turned out to be Yahi Meri Zindagi from Dev D.
Which songs are you happy with?
It’s a battle between Raabta, Dhoom Machale, Dhat Teri Ki, Choomantar, Main Heroine Hoon and Dilli.
How did Offo from 2 States happen?
I had just landed in Mumbai after a three-city tour with rock band Parikrama and Friends, when I got a call from Ehsaan asking me to test a new song. I went straight from the airport to the studio. I heard Offo there and loved it, it’s very me.
What challenges do playback singers face today?
All of us have our own battles. I had to work on my diction and accent, balance out my western style of singing and adapt to a more Indian style. I’m still working on it. Living in a city you have never even visited before becomes challenging. Mumbai is not an easy city to live in all by yourself, however once you work hard and are slowly able to make a home here, it keeps you going.
We’ve seen you cheering other singers at gigs. Who are your friends in the industry?
I am all about the love and support. It’s what keeps me going. Whenever I get a chance to show my support, I take it to the next level. I make sure I stand right in front when my friends are performing on stage. What’s the point of going to a gig to show your support if the artiste is on stage while you are chilling outside the venue? That doesn’t make any sense to me. I’d rather not show up! The truth is I have a one-on-one relationship with almost all the singers. With all fellow playback singers, I have either shared stage with, travelled for gigs, cooked for, shopped, watched movies and partied with. It feels great that I can actually call anyone from my phonebook and say, ‘Hey, how you doing?’ Among close friends who know about my personal life, struggles and achievements, ups and downs, there is (lyricist) Amitabh Bhattacharya, (singer) Apeksha Dandekar, and music producers Sunny Sanour and Abhijit Vaghani and their families.
Would you rather be known for chartbusters or songs you believe in?
Out of the 25 songs I have sung, some are chartbusters and some are really good tracks that just didn’t get noticed. The kind of songs you get called to sing are out of your control because that’s something the music directors take a call on. But I would love to sing the songs I believe in and hope they all become chartbusters.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)