'Music should be made more accessible'

Known for his high-pitched voice, singer Kailash Kher made soulful Sufi music popular at a time when it was missing from the industry. And with his band Kailasa he even conquered the private album scene, bringing his own rustic touch to songs. During his recent visit to the City, he spoke to Metrolife about Sufi songs, corruption and Bangalore. “The weather here is so great that even if you are angry about something, you tend to forget all about it as soon as you land in the City. The people are a little lazy but if the weather is so nice, you can’t help but relax,” he says.

The singer has sung in many languages. “When I hear my songs in other languages, I am surprised. I don’t understand the meaning but Ireally connect with the music,” he notes. Kailash feels that for a singer, performing in front of a live audience is of utmost importance. “Your performance becomes unique only when you connect to your audience,” he adds.

Kailash is known for his Sufi songs and says that he has been attracted to Sufi music since childhood. “This music is known as niragun sangeet when written in Hindi and Sanskrit. But the word Sufi has been marketed so well that it has become popular,” he says. He also feels that marketing your music, especially for albums, is important. “The mode of marketing should change for private albums and music in various formats should be easily accessible to people,” he says. “Good things should be marketed well and as much as possible,” he adds.

He also opens up a little about the fight against corruption going on in the country. “Our country is very big-hearted. We have never really attacked people but we are still slave to some problems. For things to be different, people need to change their perspective,” he says. He also mentions about a new song that he had sung related to this issue. “We have done a video on Anna Hazare. The song Aao Milke Saath Mein will be released on Youtube soon,” he says.

Kailash seems content with his journey in the industry. “Ihave worked with almost everyone in the past eight years. I feel as if I have lived these eight years in 80 minutes,” he mentions. A music director he mentions is Sneha Khanwalkar with whom he worked in Love, Sex Aurr Dhoka. “She is a very talented musician. Not only is she talented, she is a very sweet girl too,” he says. Is there any one he wants to work with in future? “Ihaven’t worked with Amit Trivedi yet. Hopefully we will work together in future,” he signs off.