Q&A WITH RABBI SHERGILL
Singer Rabbi Shergill on his newly formed label ‘Odd One Out’, and how compromise would be an affront to the privilege of being an artist
Many singers insist that it is the record companies that force them to sing crass lyrics and move to monotonous beats next to skimpily-clad women. Is that why you set up your own label? Frankly, I wanted to see what happens when I exercise more editorial control. I don’t agree with the assertion at all. The power of an artist far outweighs that of the hordes. We’re the tastemakers, not them.
You grew up with western music and still swear by Springsteen, Sting, U2, Dire Straits, Dylan... They were ‘real’ and authentic artists. Listening to them gave me my voice, taught me to prioritise subject over the audience. What I love about rock ‘n’ roll is the belief that what’s happening to me is worthwhile. I was quite turned off by the inauthenticity of the popular Indian music back then.
You have always been a ‘live’ musician, but have not been performing as frequently of late...
Live pop music in India is a tricky project. You can’t just present your art but need to be an entertainer, a cheerleader and a sweet high all rolled into one. The modern consumer is entitled and impatient. Now I take my ‘high’ wherever I can find it—in new ideas, a receptive audience, a late night solo jam.
There’s a lot of talk about the ‘reincarnation’ of Punjabi music…
We Punjabis love to pretend that there once existed some golden age. Frankly, I see none. We haven’t produced enough music of any universal standard. Take out the adolescent girl, invocations of God, paeans to Punjabiyat and I’d like to see what we have really done.
What are you up to these days?
I have recently shot five new videos. Raj Singh, which is already out, talks about farmers’ suicides.