'Swimming against the current is fun'

In a time when independent music finds it hard to endure, band ‘Kailasa’, founded by singer Kailash Kher, has come up with its new album titled ‘Ishq Anokha’, which comprises nine tracks.

“Bringing out an album today is ‘anokha’ (unique) in itself. There is not much space left for independent music. But swimming against the current is fun. The track depicts a sweet, simple and pure love story. Like our other songs in the past, this album also has the same intensity that can create magic,” Kher tells Metrolife. ‘Ishq Anokha’, which was recently released by Saregama, is the fifth album by the band after they released ‘Rangeele’ in 2012. The album took a year in its making.

The title song of the album features Bollywood actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Miss India Earth 2013, Sobhita Dhulipala. Not many people know but Siddiqui and Kher have been friends for more than two decades. Both of them started their career almost at the same time and went through similar struggles.

“Nawaz and I have come from nowhere to somewhere. And because of this, we both have mutual admiration for each other.”

This is the first time when Siddiqui, who is known for playing grim roles on screens, will be seen in an independent album donning a casual and romantic avatar.

“When a typecast actor plays a different role, it creates excitement among the audience. People love to see his different images. Same is the case with Nawazuddin in ‘Ishq Anokha’. He is playing a totally different role than he has ever played. One day I called Nawaz to my studio to make him listen to the song. And while he was listening to the track, I noticed his face glowing. He was so impressed with it and expressed his desire to feature in the video. We didn’t give it a second thought and picturised the video soon,” Kher notes.

Kher’s numbers like ‘Allah ke Bande’ from the movie ‘Waisa Bhi Hota Hai Part II’, ‘Ya Rabba’ from ‘Salaam-e-Ishq’ and ‘Kaun Hai Woh’  from the National Award winning movie ‘Baahubali’ have made him a popular voice in Bollywood. But when it comes to zeroing on a film, the 42-year singer becomes choosy.

“‘Quality cheez kam ayegi tabhi izzat aur demand bani rahegi’. Sing less but sing songs that are going to be hit. Whether you are an independent singer or a playback singer, you need to be creative. And there is no fixed formula for creativity. You just need to be at your best. No matter how market trend changes or how sensibilities are manipulated by people, let’s be sincere with creativity and art.”

The singer feels that, “shallow and abusive music” is being produced today by simply presuming that youth like it. He believes that one should produce something which is treasurable and can be proudly preserved for the next generation.

“If we talk about musicians of yesteryears, their craft is their identity now. You can forget their names but not their work. They have set examples for us. The songs which they sang are now the formula of our lives. And those songs are treasures for the present generation. There is good music that is made but is not promoted widely. And due to small budget, their marketing can’t get bigger.”

Recalling his earlier days, Kher says, “I came to Mumbai when I was 30. People criticised me and my voice. They said that my kind of voice will not work in the music industry. It somewhere made me have sceptical view towards pursuing this career. But then it all passed by. I sang one jingle then 100 and now it is 800 songs in a career of ten years. And there is a lot more to come.”