The Score Magazine July 2019 issue | Page 16

writing is done, composition comes naturally and then we go to studio to record it. with independent music, I can do what I feel satisfied with, and not feel the pressure of what others expect me to deliver. You're one of the most watched singers (globally) on Youtube. Has any of that outreach permeated into any countries that you did not expect it would reach? Absolutely, the music industry has added a lot of volume to my career. It has helped me and reach parts of world which I didn't knew existed. It is a new experience and I am getting to learn something new every day. It feels top of the world to see people from all around the world dancing to my songs. God has made it all work. How do you think technology plays a role in today’s world especially in the music industry? How do you leverage it to reach out to your target audience? I think technology plays a vital role in any artist’s life. Back in those days, there were very few mediums and the options were limited. Today, an artist can directly upload video/song on Youtube and other streaming sites/apps and can easily reach out audience. Nowadays, people have started following music more seriously. They can directly connect with artist on social media and stay constantly updated about artist whereabouts. It has definitely opened new avenues that didn’t exist before. At the end of the day, all the mediums generate revenue and the number of downloads for a song do matter for an artist. How was the music scene in Punjab when you were coming up? Was music appreciated in households or was it more of an individual pursuit? Honestly, the Punjabi music scene has been vibrant ever since with artist Gurdass Mann, Babbu Mann, Surtaj Singh and may more. I was exposed to music with TV and radio so definitely it was a household scene. In today’s day and time, it has expanded beyond measure 14 The Score Magazine highonscore.com and I am glad so many good talents are coming out from Punjab. Does the presence of prolific singers like Gurdaas Maan give the local scene in Punjab any buoyancy? Yes, absolutely, they are legendary singers and will be remembered for their always. You've said that you enjoy performing at weddings. Do you feel that they give you a more intimate space to meet the fans and do concerts feel any different? Yes, performing at wedding is fun as it is a small intimate close affair. But in comparison to concerts, I love singing for my fans who take out time from their hectic schedule to attend my concerts. Performing for my live is the best feeling. When the audience resonates with my music and sings every single word from the song. the high of performing live is unmatched, the thrill, the love, the energy all makes it an unforgettable experience. Did you experience any difference in the process of working for a Bollywood project in comparison with the scene back home and (now) with international artists? If yes, what? Well, I feel Independent single have an aura of their own and no pressure for the artist in terms of creativity. For instance, before my song 'Suit Suit' was dropped in 'Hindi Medium' movie, it was already reached about 100 million plus views on Youtube. The people who made me reach these numbers like my fan base, subscribers, followers they all pushed the song even further to reach where it is today. This is the magic of Independent music. That's why all true artist enjoy making Independent singles as you can give a part of you to the music. It is a different process to create music for films. I need to know what the film is about and the scene for which I am composing the song. Understanding the mood of the film is also important and there are inputs from directors, producers to keep in mind as well.