I PREFER SINGLES OVER ALBUMS: NEHA

Musicians can’t invest huge sums in each song of an album, says singer Neha Kakkar

Singer Neha Kakkar, popular for her Bollywood numbers Sunny Sunny (Yaariyan, 2014), Manali Trance (The Shaukeens, 2014) and Kala Chashma (Baar Baar Dekho, 2016), has joined the list of musicians who prefer to release singles over albums. Out with her single, Oh Humsafar, whose music video features rumoured boyfriend, actor Himansh Kohli, Neha says that releasing music albums is not a feasible idea for musicians, as it requires a lot of money. The 29-year-old feels that unlike the film industry, which can afford to put in money to promote each and every song in their film, a musician doesn’t have that financial capability. Other musicians such as Raftaar, Badshah, Arjun Kanungoo and Jay Sean, too, have spoken in favour of working on singles rather than albums.

“Film budgets are huge. They can afford to promote each and every song in their album. When it comes to independent music albums, you cannot put in 50 lakhs or a crore in each and every song, to first make a video, and then even promote it. It’s not possible for a musician or a singer to promote each song. It’s not possible for musicians to do that independently,” she says, adding that unlike film albums, independent music videos don’t have the luxury of featuring big Bollywood stars every single time. “A film album has these big stars — like a Shah Rukh Khan or a Salman Khan. Independent music videos don’t have that luxury, and you cannot feature big stars in all the songs of your album. So, from that perspective as well, albums won’t work,” she says.

“I mean, in an entire album, you will have to focus on only one or two songs, and invest in them and promote them. Then, the other songs in the album don’t get the attention they could or should have got. That’s why I think musicians prefer releasing singles over albums,” adds Neha. While Neha understands that a Bollywood star featuring in a music video helps an independent song reach a wider audience, she prefers that the musicians feature in the music videos themselves. “I am not saying Bollywood actors or actresses should not feature at all. But, if musicians aren’t good performers themselves, then it makes sense to have them, or they can be in the video along with the musician. People love me when I do selfie videos, so I know they like me in music videos as well. Otherwise I would have just been a playback singer. If the musicians are good and can be presentable, then why should they give their voice to someone else?” she quips.

In an entire album, you will have to focus on only one or two songs, and invest in them and promote them. Then, the other songs in the album don’t get the attention they could or should have got. NEHA KAKKAR SINGER

PHOTO: AMAL KS/HT Neha Kakkar says that musicians should be the face of their own music videos, unless they’re uncomfortable in front of the camera