DIFFERENCES’
John Legend is in awe of Indian culture and wants to work with artistes from the country
John Legend’s recent visit to India helped him understand how music has the power to transcend boundaries. The Grammy-winning singer was here for a musical tour with rapper Raja Kumari, his collaborator on the song Keep Walking .“Ihada great time in India. It was a quick trip, but I really enjoyed performing in the country for the first time,” says Legend, who took the stage in Mumbai and Delhi recently. He also indulged in some “wonderful food” while in India.
Legend’s association with the country isn’t new. In fact, he collaborated with Academy Awardwinning composer AR Rahman in the past, which he considers an enriching experience. “I’ve met some artistes and creators from India, and worked with AR Rahman. I feel there is so much to learn from Indian culture and music. We all can learn so much from each other. The wonderful thing about music is that it really connects us. It has a way to talk despite cultural or linguistic differences, which, I feel, is really special,” says the 44-year-old.
Ask the musician if he is still in touch with Rahman and the EGOT winner tells us, “I was in touch with him for a while, but I haven’t talked to him in the recent times. I want to catch up with him again, and collaborate with other Indian artistes, too.”
Legend goes on to talk about the importance of working with artistes from different countries. “Since the world is getting smaller, people realise how much we have in common and music helps us learn that. We all grew up in different cultures, but music is available everywhere. We all listen to and learn from each other,” the singer ends.
We all can learn so much from each other. The wonderful thing about music is that it really connects us. JOHN LEGEND,
Singer