We have been hearing a lot of you in Hindi films of late. Will this streak continue?
I have recorded two songs for Anu Malik - a duet with Anushka Manchanda for Ugly Aur Pagli - this will be the promotional video of the film - and a song with Shaan, Mahalakshmi Iyer and Anushka again for Maan Gaye Mughal-E-Azam. I will be its choreographer too. I have sung in Fight Club, Pyaar Ke Side/Effects, Dhoom:2 and Race for Pritam and have recorded with Salim-Sulaiman and Sajid-Wajid for films to come.
Which was your first film song?
I was one of the singers of Shaadi jo kiya tumnein, where I am also in the song sequence from the 2005 film Barsaat. The music was by Nadeem-Shravan.
Ishq Bector- is that your actual name?
Well, yeah. That’s the name of my passport that’s been issued in Canada, and as per Canadian law the passport name must be the same as that on my birth certificate. My name is Amitabh Sunil Ishq Bector, the Bector coming in because my dad’s great grandfather was a German. I am born and raised as a Punjabi.
Still, why do you have three first names?
Well, I was the first boy in my family. I have two elder sisters and when I was born everyone was very, very excited and everyone wanted to give me a name. I believe even my neighbours gave me one of my names!
How did a Canadian get into a career in Indian music?
Well, main Bollywood music sunkar badaa hua. I also was drawn to hip-hop back in Canada. At the age of 12, I was a professional hip-hop dancer. I later began writing lyrics, playing the drums, doing programming and making compositions. We would do battles on rapping and dancing with others.
Hip-hop is not a musical genre but basically a lifestyle.
You are absolutely right. I lived the way the hip-hop guys lived before I began writing lyrics and music. Dad and I were at war then! He said that I should complete my studies.
And did you?
Yeah, I graduated in Sports Medicine.
That’s some departure from what you are doing!
Well, there are a lot of medically-oriented people in my family - we have a dentist, a psychiatrist, a chiropractor and others. I have remained in touch with my field - I had the privilege of treating Yuvraj Singh when he had a knee problem before the World Cup.
What was the Bollywood music that you listened to in your growing years?
I listened to old classics, especially the songs of Amitabh Bachchan. I still do that.
How do you assimilate diverse influences like Hindi film music and hip-hop?
I feel that these genres naturally ek doosre se milte hain and can be mixed easily. Bollywood’s music is very diverse and the songs could be called international melodies.
What do you think about today’s film music that has a lot of such influences?
I think that aaj gimmicks zyaada hain - that’s a problem with my generation - they have a low attention span, so we need attention-grabbing stuff and do not pay much attention to content. My approach too is very eda-tedha (twisted) but I am sure that my music will be memorable. My final goal is to compose for films.
How would you define your own music?
It is always concept-based. I will not have a sampler saying “Put your hands up!” in the middle of a love song! I do not think that you can put in a dhinchak just anywhere!
Are you doing any album?
I came out with Ishq De in 2003 and now with Dakku Daddy on Times Music. My first album was not marketed well, and I could not exploit it well as I was dividing my time then between India and Canada. Now I am based here.
Who are your inspirations as a singer?
Mohammed Rafi and Sonu Niigaam, who is today’ Rafi.
Your name Ishq is a part of every song. How does that feel?
I am bored of that! That’s why my website is calledVijayakar