Is non-film music the way forward?
Non-film music has slowly become the space for musicians to create their own mark and form an independent identity. And it has only gained further importance since singer Sonu Nigam accused music labels of forcing composers to choose singers signed up with the labels.
Rapper Raftaar feels that the film industry is just like any other business, and its end goal is to make money. He says, “While doing work for films, someone else is hiring you for something that they have created. They will have that creative freedom and the right to choose.”
Citing examples of musicians who made it big using social media platforms, he stresses on the importance of making independent music. “Aap film walon ke pass jaa hi kyu rahe ho…? Why can’t you do it yourself? You have your voice, so many avenues where you can release your music, and people will listen. There are so many examples, like Darshan Raval, who became big on social media first. They don’t need Bollywood to sustain themselves,” he adds.
Echoing similar sentiment, singer-songwriter Neha Bhasin feels that non film music gives everyone the chance to stay away from the film music-record label politics. “I realised that working with big labels and singing in films was not my cup of tea. It’s so competitive and judgemental… I am making music for myself; it is my expression, and I want people to listen and relate to it,” Bhasin says.
Singer-songwriter Arjun Kanungo, too, doesn’t direct his efforts towards singing songs in films, primarily to protect his mental health and maintain own identity. “I want to be known for the good work that I do. I don’t want to be a part of the rat race and this entire politics, because it’s never ending,” he says, adding that non-film music gives him space to “grow and work on his own terms”.