‘FAVOURITISM EXISTS, BUT YOU HAVE TO DO YOUR WORK’
Singer Sonu Nigam’s video calling out favouritism in the music industry has kickstarted a debate, with many weighing in. Talking about how the industry responds to singers, especially newcomers, singer Jasleen Royal admits that instances of favouritism do exist. “If labels have signed up artistes, they will favour them. After all, the labels are getting business because of them. Favoritism toh hota hai; it’s a setback but you’ve to do your work,” she says.
Known both for her Bollywood compositions and independent music, Royal, 28, prefers to maintain a positive outlook. “For how long can talent be suppressed?” the Kho Gaye Hum Kahan (Baar Baar Dekho; 2016) singer asks, and adds, “If you believe in your song, put it online; it’ll reach people. It takes time...
Kuch logo ke sath galat hua hai. I acknowledge that.”
She also feels that being an independent artiste is the best. “There are only four or five people who get work because they’re backed by a label. Now, thanks to social media, you can make a song and release it. That’s how I started,” she shares.
Meanwhile, she recently dropped a new song — a rendition of singer Lata Mangeshkar’s classic Lag Jaa Gale — wherein she has collaborated with actor Radhika Madan, who is making her first professional appearance in a musical showcase playing the keyboard. “Radhika is a friend… I’m a fan of her work. She’s very inclined towards music and poetry. That’s how I got to know how she has a good musical ear... Actually, she tells me to act and I tell her to sing,” shares Royal.