‘Hope for more fearless English music from India’

After delivering chartbusters like Main Pareshaan (Ishaqzaade; 2012) and Baby Ko Bass Pasand Hai (Sultan; 2016), Shalmali took the path less travelled. Today, she is one of the few mainstream singers to have ventured into English music.

But this decision didn’t come easy. “It took me a while to listen to my heart because I was apprehensive that there will be little or no audience for it,” she remarks, adding, “An Indian doing English music does witness a lot of resistance from the immediate circle. I really hope to listen to more fearless English music coming out of India because all said and done, English is one of the two official languages of India.”

With songs like Here Is Beautiful,

Just Like A Crush and You Got Me in her kitty, she plans on pushing the horizon to cater to the millennial generation. She says, “It is only when you’re consistent with any kind of work that you can have the audience grow. I went through a lot of talks with myself about setting the right expectations.”

As she looks forward to releasing the second part of her English album, 2X, the singer hopes that pop music garners more listeners. “I can only hope that pop music in India isn’t all about film music. Independent pop music is making a strong comeback and I’m definitely going to be a part of that movement,” she ends.

Independent pop music is making a strong comeback and I am definitely going to be a part of that movement. SHALMALI, Singer