Showing posts with label KK interview. Show all posts
Showing posts with label KK interview. Show all posts
Winning or not winning an award doesn’t affect me-KK
7:58 AM
Soumya Vajpayee (HINDUSTAN TIMES; June 2, 2022)
"It’s been a great journey," KK said with a smile when we sat down for an interview in 2016. The singer opened up about his journey and career aspirations. Excerpts:
You’ve done film music for so long. Tell us about your way forward.
When you sing other musicians’ tunes for 20 years, you tend to get lost as a musician. Now, I feel like exploring myself more as an independent artiste. When you have done a lot of good work, there comes a point when you want to utilise the experience you have garnered to better yourself and your music.
While you’ve been nominated for several awards, you’ve only won a few. Does that bother you?
Winning or not winning an award doesn’t affect me. As a singer, I haven’t felt any lesser by not getting awards. I just like to do my work in the best possible manner. I am happy getting good songs.
You’ve not been singing for Hindi films that often...
I’ve always taken playback easy. I don’t believe in doing something just for the heck of it. I feel kaam aayega toh kar lenge. But, I really enjoy working with the newer Bollywood composers.
In the past, it was believed that it’s difficult to sustain in the industry if a musician doesn’t get enough work. But these days, even reality show artistes manage to do shows and have a good life. Has survival in the industry become easier?
I feel the younger talent getting fame has helped. If you talk about reality show artistes, they start performing at corporate shows and gigs at lower costs and earn more over the years. So no one runs out of work. Talking about survival, it’s subjective. If you’ve come here only to perform and have a good life, it’s fine. But if you want to make a mark as a playback singer, not getting work might become depressing.
I had come to this industry to make music albums, not film songs-KK
8:15 AM
Elina Nayak (BOMBAY TIMES; March 17, 2018)
Krishna Kumar Kunnath, popular as KK, has been mesmerising us with his powerful and soulful voice for over two decades now. Whether it’s Chodh Aaye Hum Woh Galiyan, Tu Ashiqui Hai, Tadap Tadap Ke, Zara Sa, Khuda Jaane, Tu Hi Meri Shab or Tune Mari Entriyaan, his songs are still evergreen in our hearts. The singer shifted to Mumbai from Delhi in the 90s to pursue his dreams of making an album. Little did he know that one day he would end up becoming one of the top playback singers in the country. The singer gets candid in a freewheeling chat about his plans to compose his own music, the dying Indipop scene in the country and more. Excerpts:
We don’t get to hear you often in Bollywood these days. You’ve been very choosy with songs for some time now. Is that a conscious decision?
It’s just that there are plenty of singers out there, so I feel that I should start doing what I came here to do initially. Singing happened to me — all thanks to God, and my friends and family, who pushed and encouraged me. Plus, I got the opportunity to sing some very beautiful songs over the years. However, I had come to this industry to make albums, not films. In 1999, I did Pal, and then Tadap Tadap (Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam) happened at the same time. I couldn’t help it, and I still continued taking up as many of the songs as I could. I thought that maybe if I do films too, it would open up new avenues for me. At the time, I thought I would continue playback singing for a few years before going back to the original plan. However, those few years have turned into 22 years now (laughs). I have come to a situation in my life, where I have to be stingy. Trust me, it takes a lot of time to forget yourself, to forget the artist in you, and to sing songs for another composer. You are always like, ‘chal, I’ll sing Awarapan for you’, ‘I’ll sing Ding Dong Ding for you’, ‘I will do Khuda Jaane for you...’ But this is not me. I’m a music director’s singer. I want to start discovering myself and my own music. I hope I have that vision and focus to compose and write my own songs, and I hope to come up with a single this year. I’m not a mediocre guy, who’ll do something just for the heck of it. I need to live my life. I want to do five to six film songs a year at the most. The time has come, when God is like, ‘chal, now you do your kind of songs’. I’m slowly getting back on my track.
Anybody and everybody is turning into a playback singer today, thanks to auto tune. Though helpful, do you think technology can be a curse too?
The thing is, everyone wants to sing today, which is good, because singing gives you a high. It relaxes your mind and body, and it make you happy. All this is fine to an extent, but what will you do when you perform live on stage? You can’t just say ‘chalo, main bhi ek video bana leta hoon, because iska koi faida nai hota’. How will it help you? You can look pretty in videos and pictures, but if you don’t sound good live, people will think — ‘OMG, yeh toh model hai... samne kuch aur hi hai’. To actually be a professional in this field, you need a lot of hard work and commitment. It’s not easy.
There was a time when Indi-pop, as a genre, created an alternative fan base that could compete with Bollywood music. Today, it’s almost vanished from the scene. What do you think is the reason behind it?
To start with, I do hope the independent scene grows, because we have so much talent out there. There was a time when we had to get our songs shot, make videos with recording companies, and then release them. Today, we have YouTube. All you have to do is sing and upload your songs, and next thing you know, you are an internet sensation — like Dhinchak Pooja. She is popular, but there’s a difference between being trendy, and being an actual serious musician, who can generate good music and stay here for good. Singing can only happen if you believe in it. It can’t be like, ‘let me have some fun temporarily’. The moment you put your best foot forward, and take it to another level, you become stronger.
What do you do when you’re not singing?
I love to go on long drives. That’s my way of chilling, and it’s my favourite pastime as well. Moreover, I’m a total family guy, who loves cooking, watching movies with family, and sitting and chatting with my wife and two kids. Sometimes, we chat the whole day, about various topics, and end up arguing, fighting and then patching up again (laughs). So, if I’m not working, I’m home.
You’re not active on social media either...
I’m not a social media person, nor am I on any messaging apps, I’m not active anywhere. It takes a lot of time and investment, and like I said, if I’m not working, I’m with family. I’m very selfish about my time, because it’s my time and I’ve been like this for the last 22 years now. I connect with my fans by performing live or when I meet them in person at malls, on the roads, or anywhere else. They come to me with lot of love and passion, and lot of faith in my music, so that’s when I oblige them.
The word 'insecurity' has never been a part of my dictionary-KK
7:27 AM
Powerhouse singer KK opens up about music, its changing world and future plans
Priya Sugathan (BOMBAY TIMES; March 4, 2016)
His reputation as a singer
is as formidable as the fact that he is elusive. Not this time though.
We manage to catch up with Krishna Kumar Kunnath aka KK in his studio, a
place that's bursting in colours - vivid and muted in turns. Just like
the singer, whose self-effacing demeanour can transform completely
behind the mic or on stage. Completing 20 years in the industry, the
46-year-old says that he wants to explore more, even as he watches his
son Nakul (21) and daughter Taamara (17) unleash their musical genes in
their own
studios. Looking back at his journey from Delhi to Mumbai, KK gets
candid about life in the music lane...
Two of your songs have caught on well - Yeh Nasha (Rhythm) and Tu Bhoola Jise (Airlift). Why do we not hear you singing more often now?
In the 20 years that I've been in the industry, I must have hardly done 10-15 songs in a year. I like to pace out my songs. I haven't consciously done anything to reduce my work. I do travel a lot for my shows though - it could be for 15-20 days a month. When I came in to the industry, there were only a handful of artistes. But the playfield is huge now. If you think of it that way, the workload obviously reduces for everybody. So if I was doing 10 songs earlier, I may be doing five now (laughs).
But don't you think the entry of new singers has also put seniors at a disadvantage?
There's a reason they are there. The old always makes way for the new. Besides, music is a universal space, where everyone can co-exist peacefully. If you go abroad, Billy Joel shows sell out fast, even when there are new singers like Adele now. That's how life is - when I came to the industry, there was someone else moving out.
Does live performance come easier to you, compared to recording in a studio?
I expend a lot more energy in recording a song than at a show. It's like food - doing a gig is like eating and having a party, but recording is like cooking, where you're putting all things together and the ingredients need to be right. My wife Jyoti tells me that I come from the studio more tired than I do after a show. I don't take on shows for more than three consecutive days. More shows are often taken up for money or out of insecurity. And the word 'insecurity' has never been a part of my dictionary. God has been kind enough to not overload me with a lot of work.
You don't have formal training and yet you came into your own with a difficult song like Tadap Tadap Ke from the film Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam.
From the beginning, I was able to earn a song by just hearing, it is something that I've been blessed with. My father was very fond of music, my mum was a performer and her mother was a music teacher. So I think all that has passed on to me. My teachers told my dad to put me in a music school, so I went to one for exactly two days. I later learnt that Kishoreda had never learnt music, so I had even more reasons to not go to a music class.
Do you now regret not learning classical singing?
I have friends and colleagues who are into classical singing, but I don't feel any less for not having learnt it. Maybe I can't do the alaaps, but I am called to do light classical. In fact, when I first heard Tadap Tadap, it was a completely different song for a rocker boy like me. It made me delve within me. Another factor was that Ismail saab (Darbar) and Mehboob had a lot of faith in me as a singer. Today, when I do shows, there's not been a single concert where I have not sung this cult song.
What do you think of actors turning singers?
Some of them can hold a note.
Like?
Farhan (Akhtar) is a good singer. He's got an unconventional voice. If an actor who can sing wants to have a go at it, he must. Irrespective of sycophants, he will realise it sooner or later if he is cut out for it or not.
What about singers turning actors?
Shekhar (Ravjiani) did a good job recently. If an actor can try singing, then why can't singers try acting?
Would you?
No. I'm good behind the mic.
Which actor do you think is best suited for your voice?
I have never understood how my voice can suit anybody. I just go and sing my song - whether it's Tu Jo Mila (Bajrangi Bhaijaan) or Ajab Si (Om Shanti Om), Tu Hi Meri Shab Hai (Gangster) or Ding Dong (Kucch Toh Hai), or Awarapan (Jism) or Alvida (Life in a Metro) - there's never been a conscious decision to sound like anybody else.
What are you listening to now?
A lot of silence. My father passed away last month, so I've been in a different frame of mind. I am listening to a little bit of classical now and it helps me calm down. Also, I am trying to work on my own album - not exactly an album, but on some material that I am writing. I feel that what I have done till now is just a little bubble in the music world. This feeling has been there for some years, but it's leading to something definite now (smiles).
Two of your songs have caught on well - Yeh Nasha (Rhythm) and Tu Bhoola Jise (Airlift). Why do we not hear you singing more often now?
In the 20 years that I've been in the industry, I must have hardly done 10-15 songs in a year. I like to pace out my songs. I haven't consciously done anything to reduce my work. I do travel a lot for my shows though - it could be for 15-20 days a month. When I came in to the industry, there were only a handful of artistes. But the playfield is huge now. If you think of it that way, the workload obviously reduces for everybody. So if I was doing 10 songs earlier, I may be doing five now (laughs).
But don't you think the entry of new singers has also put seniors at a disadvantage?
There's a reason they are there. The old always makes way for the new. Besides, music is a universal space, where everyone can co-exist peacefully. If you go abroad, Billy Joel shows sell out fast, even when there are new singers like Adele now. That's how life is - when I came to the industry, there was someone else moving out.
Does live performance come easier to you, compared to recording in a studio?
I expend a lot more energy in recording a song than at a show. It's like food - doing a gig is like eating and having a party, but recording is like cooking, where you're putting all things together and the ingredients need to be right. My wife Jyoti tells me that I come from the studio more tired than I do after a show. I don't take on shows for more than three consecutive days. More shows are often taken up for money or out of insecurity. And the word 'insecurity' has never been a part of my dictionary. God has been kind enough to not overload me with a lot of work.
You don't have formal training and yet you came into your own with a difficult song like Tadap Tadap Ke from the film Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam.
From the beginning, I was able to earn a song by just hearing, it is something that I've been blessed with. My father was very fond of music, my mum was a performer and her mother was a music teacher. So I think all that has passed on to me. My teachers told my dad to put me in a music school, so I went to one for exactly two days. I later learnt that Kishoreda had never learnt music, so I had even more reasons to not go to a music class.
Do you now regret not learning classical singing?
I have friends and colleagues who are into classical singing, but I don't feel any less for not having learnt it. Maybe I can't do the alaaps, but I am called to do light classical. In fact, when I first heard Tadap Tadap, it was a completely different song for a rocker boy like me. It made me delve within me. Another factor was that Ismail saab (Darbar) and Mehboob had a lot of faith in me as a singer. Today, when I do shows, there's not been a single concert where I have not sung this cult song.
What do you think of actors turning singers?
Some of them can hold a note.
Like?
Farhan (Akhtar) is a good singer. He's got an unconventional voice. If an actor who can sing wants to have a go at it, he must. Irrespective of sycophants, he will realise it sooner or later if he is cut out for it or not.
What about singers turning actors?
Shekhar (Ravjiani) did a good job recently. If an actor can try singing, then why can't singers try acting?
Would you?
No. I'm good behind the mic.
Which actor do you think is best suited for your voice?
I have never understood how my voice can suit anybody. I just go and sing my song - whether it's Tu Jo Mila (Bajrangi Bhaijaan) or Ajab Si (Om Shanti Om), Tu Hi Meri Shab Hai (Gangster) or Ding Dong (Kucch Toh Hai), or Awarapan (Jism) or Alvida (Life in a Metro) - there's never been a conscious decision to sound like anybody else.
What are you listening to now?
A lot of silence. My father passed away last month, so I've been in a different frame of mind. I am listening to a little bit of classical now and it helps me calm down. Also, I am trying to work on my own album - not exactly an album, but on some material that I am writing. I feel that what I have done till now is just a little bubble in the music world. This feeling has been there for some years, but it's leading to something definite now (smiles).
The first time I recorded Tadap Tadap Ke Iss Dil, I loved it right away-KK
8:25 AM
Singer Kay Kay speaks to fan Sonali Goswami about what keeps him going on stage
Deepa N (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 14, 2014)
It's late afternoon when
Sonali Goswami, 22, a student at the Tata Institute of Social
Science, arrives at the plush suburban home of playback singer
Krishnakumar Kunath, aka KK. We settle down in his studio. The
room's serene mood set by the pale
olive and navy interiors is pierced with Sonali's excitement at meeting
her idol. She insists on being called 'Sonali KK Lover' since she claims
to be his biggest fan. Going by the number of his concerts she has
attended, it's difficult to counter her claim. In fact, KK recalls
seeing her at a couple.
Sonali's list of questions runs into three pages. For his part, KK
plays a good sport,
indulging Sonali, even as the interaction stretches into the second
hour.
Sonali wants to know the singer's daily routine. “I wake up early and practise yoga for an hour - it keeps me calm and helps me focus on my work. I love feeding people, so I prepare breakfast for everyone at home,“ he says. His speciality - an inside-out egg sandwich.
When KK is not travelling on concerts or in a recording - he looks forward to spending his day staying at home with his wife Jyothi. “I am a lazy guy,“ he says, laughing.“I like to stay home and watch thriller films and read. I like the tranquility that comes with solitude.“ The peaceful expanse of lush mangroves, visible through the French windows of the Andheri studio complements his needs.
Incidentally, KK, who is known as the Kishore Kumar of our times, is a big fan of the legend. Both were not trained in classical music. Even so, KK says he is surprised by his career trajectory. “All I really wanted to create was jingles. Though I loved the era of films when I was growing up, in the '90s, I was not particularly interested in film music. I didn't really care for the industry. Then, I came to Bombay in 1994 with no 'contacts'.“
This was 20 years ago. Today, if you have a contact, you can request them to arrange a meeting so you are heard, he says about how knowing the right people can be an inroad to the industry. “Beyond that, I don't think anything more than your own talents and belief in yourself can help you go further.“
How long did it take him to get a foothold? “It took me about three months to get a break, though it felt like longer,“ explains KK. He holds his two strengths; perseverance and patience, accountable for his success.
“What are your favourite songs?“ Sonali wants to know and this is a question KK mulls on. “Pyaar Ke Pal from my album Pal and Tadap tadap from the movie Hum Dil De Chuke, Sanam are two songs that I invariably sing at every concert. I have a special bond for the lyrics of Pyaar Ke Pal, and I seem to find a new layer to it every time.“
This has special relevance for the singer. He calls it “glue“. “No matter what happens to the band through the concert, the wear and tear of travel. This song brings all of us together.“
So it is with Tadap Tadap. “The first time I recorded it, I loved it right away. But it was perhaps the most unevolved of my renditions of it. Every time I have sung it since, I have only grown with it.“ It is apparent that music is not just a fix for Kay Kay, or a means to an end.
As the interview ends, Sonali is keen to know when KK's next album would release. “I am working on it, and I even plan to compose it, so there might be an English number in it like Cineraria in Humsafar,“ he says.
Sonali wants to know the singer's daily routine. “I wake up early and practise yoga for an hour - it keeps me calm and helps me focus on my work. I love feeding people, so I prepare breakfast for everyone at home,“ he says. His speciality - an inside-out egg sandwich.
When KK is not travelling on concerts or in a recording - he looks forward to spending his day staying at home with his wife Jyothi. “I am a lazy guy,“ he says, laughing.“I like to stay home and watch thriller films and read. I like the tranquility that comes with solitude.“ The peaceful expanse of lush mangroves, visible through the French windows of the Andheri studio complements his needs.
Incidentally, KK, who is known as the Kishore Kumar of our times, is a big fan of the legend. Both were not trained in classical music. Even so, KK says he is surprised by his career trajectory. “All I really wanted to create was jingles. Though I loved the era of films when I was growing up, in the '90s, I was not particularly interested in film music. I didn't really care for the industry. Then, I came to Bombay in 1994 with no 'contacts'.“
This was 20 years ago. Today, if you have a contact, you can request them to arrange a meeting so you are heard, he says about how knowing the right people can be an inroad to the industry. “Beyond that, I don't think anything more than your own talents and belief in yourself can help you go further.“
How long did it take him to get a foothold? “It took me about three months to get a break, though it felt like longer,“ explains KK. He holds his two strengths; perseverance and patience, accountable for his success.
“What are your favourite songs?“ Sonali wants to know and this is a question KK mulls on. “Pyaar Ke Pal from my album Pal and Tadap tadap from the movie Hum Dil De Chuke, Sanam are two songs that I invariably sing at every concert. I have a special bond for the lyrics of Pyaar Ke Pal, and I seem to find a new layer to it every time.“
This has special relevance for the singer. He calls it “glue“. “No matter what happens to the band through the concert, the wear and tear of travel. This song brings all of us together.“
So it is with Tadap Tadap. “The first time I recorded it, I loved it right away. But it was perhaps the most unevolved of my renditions of it. Every time I have sung it since, I have only grown with it.“ It is apparent that music is not just a fix for Kay Kay, or a means to an end.
As the interview ends, Sonali is keen to know when KK's next album would release. “I am working on it, and I even plan to compose it, so there might be an English number in it like Cineraria in Humsafar,“ he says.
I’m happy if I get to sing five songs a month-KK
10:09 AM
In an industry where competition is growing by the day and his
contemporaries are getting to sing lesser number of songs, singer KK
speaks to Deepali Dhingra about staying free of insecurities and fears
Deepali Dhingra (MID-DAY; May 25, 2014)
When KK was in school, one of his teachers advised to send his son to a music tutor to learn the craft as he had a good voice. “I went for exactly two days and gave it up,” laughs the singer, who
has crooned some of the most melodious numbers in Bollywood, including
Yaaron from Rockford, Koi Kahe from Dil Chahta Hai, Tu Aashiqui Hai from
Jhankaar Beats, Aashayein from Iqbal and Khuda Jaane from Bachna Ae
Haseeno. Pal, that beautiful number, which became a love anthem for
many, was also delivered by this talented singer in 1999.
When we catch up with the musician at his Yari Road studio, it’s almost like meeting an old friend — he knows how to put you at ease. Guess the whole ‘media- shy’ image is a bit of a misnomer, although the Delhi-born singer does admit that he prefers to go unnoticed in crowds. “I’m not reclusive, but I feel that there should be something substantial for me to talk about,” he adds.
For somebody who admits to never being a prolific singer, KK says that he doesn’t know how he’s managed to survive for so long in the music industry. “People say one should be visible, but I haven’t done anything else besides singing. I’m happy if I get to sing five songs a month,” he says. He is grateful that music composers understood this side of his personality and cast him for their songs.
The year 2014 has been good for him, with songs such as Tune Maari Entriyaan from Gunday and Dil Aajkal from Purani Jeans getting a lot of attention from cine-goers. “Then there was a lovely song that didn’t get noticed from Parathe Wali Gali called Tere Bin Ho Na Sakega Guzara and Meri Ma from Yaaryian,” he adds to the list.
Unlike some of his contemporaries who sound bitter about the current musical scenario, KK has a different take. “As an artiste, I have only gained over the years, so I have only good things to talk about. Why would I want to say anything bad about new singers? One should appreciate what some of the new singers are doing and learn from them,” he adds. His focus has always been his music. “When I enter a recording studio, it’s like I have blinkers on. I keep my slate clean — I don’t think about what anyone else is doing,” he says.
Over the years, he admits to changing his approach towards his career, in some ways. He’s recently made his presence felt on Twitter, and is enjoying the feedback that he’s getting from his fans. “I think I kept KK, the singer, behind KK, the man for too long. I have started opening up now,” he says. There’s an added sense of rejuvenation, as the talented artiste, who has two albums to his credit, believes this is the right time for him to create some independent music again. “It might be just a single, but I feel like delving into my abilities as a musician,” says KK. Needless to say, his fans will be waiting to see what he comes up with.
Deepali Dhingra (MID-DAY; May 25, 2014)
When KK was in school, one of his teachers advised to send his son to a music tutor to learn the craft as he had a good voice. “I went for exactly two days and gave it up,” laughs the singer, who
has crooned some of the most melodious numbers in Bollywood, including
Yaaron from Rockford, Koi Kahe from Dil Chahta Hai, Tu Aashiqui Hai from
Jhankaar Beats, Aashayein from Iqbal and Khuda Jaane from Bachna Ae
Haseeno. Pal, that beautiful number, which became a love anthem for
many, was also delivered by this talented singer in 1999.When we catch up with the musician at his Yari Road studio, it’s almost like meeting an old friend — he knows how to put you at ease. Guess the whole ‘media- shy’ image is a bit of a misnomer, although the Delhi-born singer does admit that he prefers to go unnoticed in crowds. “I’m not reclusive, but I feel that there should be something substantial for me to talk about,” he adds.
For somebody who admits to never being a prolific singer, KK says that he doesn’t know how he’s managed to survive for so long in the music industry. “People say one should be visible, but I haven’t done anything else besides singing. I’m happy if I get to sing five songs a month,” he says. He is grateful that music composers understood this side of his personality and cast him for their songs.
The year 2014 has been good for him, with songs such as Tune Maari Entriyaan from Gunday and Dil Aajkal from Purani Jeans getting a lot of attention from cine-goers. “Then there was a lovely song that didn’t get noticed from Parathe Wali Gali called Tere Bin Ho Na Sakega Guzara and Meri Ma from Yaaryian,” he adds to the list.
Unlike some of his contemporaries who sound bitter about the current musical scenario, KK has a different take. “As an artiste, I have only gained over the years, so I have only good things to talk about. Why would I want to say anything bad about new singers? One should appreciate what some of the new singers are doing and learn from them,” he adds. His focus has always been his music. “When I enter a recording studio, it’s like I have blinkers on. I keep my slate clean — I don’t think about what anyone else is doing,” he says.
Over the years, he admits to changing his approach towards his career, in some ways. He’s recently made his presence felt on Twitter, and is enjoying the feedback that he’s getting from his fans. “I think I kept KK, the singer, behind KK, the man for too long. I have started opening up now,” he says. There’s an added sense of rejuvenation, as the talented artiste, who has two albums to his credit, believes this is the right time for him to create some independent music again. “It might be just a single, but I feel like delving into my abilities as a musician,” says KK. Needless to say, his fans will be waiting to see what he comes up with.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)