The curious title, Untitled. Why did you name it so?
We have been working on the album for 30 months, without fixing a deadline or any conditions. I had approved 18 compositions, even recorded some of them and scrapped them later, which can look like a waste of resources like time and money. But the idea was to choose the best, so finally Universal Music and I chose the eight best and made 2 remixes.
You see, when my last album did not work, I was fortunate that the music label remained loyal to me and even gave me complete liberty about what to do in my next album and when to do it. The first thought that came to me was that “Yeh album aram se banayenge.” We are not out to prove anything, not bent on being different, or claiming that we are out with something sensational or chowkaa dene wala. But there are no fillers after one or two great tracks - every song is equally good.
So to answer your question in a roundabout way, we decided that we should just let everyone give his own name to their favourite song here. But the idea was sparked off by so many people asking me, “Why have you not come out with an album for three years?” So when I would tell them that I was working on one, the next query was about its name and I would say that the album is still untitled.
Is there a theme running through the album?
No, but these are 10 children of mine that are all equally dear to me. The album does not have any pop-rock feel because to be honest there are only kinds of albums made in Hindi - film, and non-film. This is a non-film album. The music directors are mostly new, the lyricists are known names, and the arrangers and programmers are fresh but among the best in the business. Every song is melody-oriented and there is a tinge of melancholy in some tracks.
In your last album you had composed two songs. Why have you not used a single composition of yours this time?
The reason is simple: We selected the best and this time the composer in me did not come out with anything remarkable. I am a singer first and primarily I love singing great compositions.
We are not hearing much of you in films.
I agree completely. But these things happen. My biggest career lull was not before my Kaho Naa...Pyaar Hai breakthrough or even afterwards but strangely after a whopper hit like the title-song of Hum Tum, And the lull lasted for 18 months. But I am a positive person so I do not look at such negative aspects. Last year I had zaraa gungunaale chalo in Laaga Chunari Mein Daag.
But we are watching so much of you on television.
Yes, and my two shows and my album have really kept me busy for months now.
One can understand your hosting K For Kishore as a Kishore Kumar fan, but what made you take up Dhoom Macha De?
I took the best from what came to me. Honestly, these reality shows have one element that is a great attraction, and that is that singers get a chance to sing those songs that we personally love but otherwise have no chance of singing. Where else, for example, could I have presented a ghazal, a bhajan or a folk song? As for K For Kishore, I have always wanted to host a show in my own way. Sonu Niigaam and Shaan have hosted a music show, but the difference is that they did it when they were struggling and still making a mark respectively.
And can I be even more honest? Television is a terrific deal - we actually get paid fantastic money for actually getting into every home! And this is indeed a great motivation, because in India the most high-profile people are film stars and cricketers. We singers rank somewhere further down, so I hope that one day we can move up the scale and become brand ambassadors in demand of big products, concepts and events.
The trend today is for new voices, even if they are mediocre singers. The days are gone when topline and second-rung singers recorded dozens or hundreds of songs every year. What is your take on this?
Well, I do not agree that music is going to the dogs. Today, one can be negative and complain that non-singers are singing. But as I said I am a positive person. The technology of pitch correcting a besura (off-key) singer or a non-singer can be called a boon - or a curse. I prefer to call it a boon!
Now why do I call it a boon though today every famous singer cannot sing, every hit song is not necessarily a good song and vice-versa too? It is because in today’s film music you don’t need a singer but only a presentable voice? And the sur element (knowledge of musical notes and pitch) is all science.
There was a time when every human being wished he could fly - and one day aeroplanes were discovered and now we can! Similarly every human being likes to sing. And today everyone can - even professionally! And honestly I do enjoy many of the songs sung by non-singers today, and they have become huge hits too!
So every age fulfills its own demands. There are new challenges for us singers today. Our egos are hurt becuase of the realisation that singing is no longer meant for singers alone! So such competition is going to bring out the best in us!
