MALKIT SINGH

The Original ?

He’s one of the pioneers of bhangra pop and a big time hit in Britain. He’s the recipient of many awards including The Recognition of the City of Los Angeles and the best bhangra band 1997-98 award at the Asian Music and Media awards in the UK. He has performed in more than twenty-six countries including Japan, Phillipines, New Zealand and Greece. And now, when desi bhangra pop has become synonymous with Daler Mehndi, the golden voice of Punjab, Malkit Singh, is back to claim his position with Greatest Hits - Malkit Singh Remixed. An interview...

What is Greatest Hits - Malkit Singh Remixed all about?

There are totally eight tracks in the album of which six comprise my old hits including Tutak tutak tootiya and Gori nal ishq meetha. The other two are new songs.

Why are you releasing your old songs instead of coming out with new numbers?

Most people identify Tutak tutak tootiya as a film song. They are not aware that it was originally composed and sung by me. And even if a few of them know about it they are not familiar with my face because at the time when I released the album, music videos weren’t in vogue. To remedy that I am initially releasing the old songs with a music video for Tutak tutak... and later in June I will come out with a completely new album.

Don’t you think it would have been better if you had entered the market earlier, considering that you are the original king of bhangra pop?

Yes, I do think so. But when I started blending bhangra with pop music the Indian music scene was not yet ready to accept it. I firmly believe that Punjabi music has gained popularity only because of the music videos which keep doing the rounds of music channels. In the late ’80s and early ’90s Doordarshan was the only television channel and the concept of music video was unheard of. Also, by then, I had carved a niche for myself in London and my songs regularly featured in the UK charts. I didn’t see any reason to give up my flourishing career there and come down to India.

So, what brings you to India now?

As I said earlier I want people here to know me as well as they do abroad. Earlier I did make some efforts to enter the Indian music scene but I couldn’t find a good music company which is very important for marketing an artiste. I was looking for a company in India with an international base. Virgin Records has its base in London which makes it easier for me to get a release worldwide.

However, let me make it clear that my entering the Indian shores now, does not mean that I have no work in London or that my popularity there is on the wane. Even if I succeed in India I have no plans of shifting to India permanently.

What will Malkit Singh offer that others haven’t?

Right now, whatever is selling in India in the name of bhangra is not bhangra at all. Balle balle does not qualify for bhangra. There’s no bhangra without the dhol or tumbi. It’s amazing that none of the bhangra singers including Daler use the dhol. All of them concentrate on heavy drums. Even my song Gori nal ishq meetha which was re-mixed by Bally Sagoo did not have a dhol. I must confess that even my forthcoming album is a little westernised with reggae and rap to suit people’s taste but I promise that my next album will be completely traditional with a few bhangra numbers and light romantic songs featuring in it. I will also be recording one Hindi song in it.

Tell us how did you manage to sway the goras with your folksy Punjabi tunes?

After passing out from college in Jalandhar, where I earned accolades and awards in various singing contests, I went to London. There I would occasionally sing at parties and other functions. My friends suggested I record my songs. So, with only two musicians who had come to London to participate in a cultural festival, I went to a recording studio and recorded 15 songs in seven hours flat. The sound engineer in the studio was laughing at the speed with which we were recording the numbers. When we approached the music company Oriental Star Concern with the cassette, they liked it the way it was and released it right away. I realised that they liked those songs which have traditional music and simple wordings. I have released 14 albums till date of which Midas Touch and Forever Gold were the best selling ones.

Since you have performed in so many countries can you recollect your memorable performance for us?

I will never forget my show in Italy. You will be surprised to know that out of the total audience, around 12-13,000 people were Italians. I was a little apprehensive about how the show would progress because they won’t understand the language. But they just loved it. I was given an English intepreter to convey what I said. But seeing the audience’s reaction to my songs I started communicating with them directly in Punjabi. But language was no barrier as I continued doling out one hit after another with the crowd lappping it up excitedly.

Do you have any plans of performing in India?

Yeah. After the release of my music video I will be performing during Baisakhi in Punjab and Mumbai.

Is there any singer who’s had a lasting impression on you?

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. I consider him my guru. I have learnt a lot from him. Since he also had signed up with Oriental I got the opportunity to work with him closely. That man had amazing vocals. He would reach the highest and the lowest pitch with equal ease.