KK PITCHES HIGHER
Ahead of his concert in Dubai this Saturday, ace Bollywood singer KK, famous for his soulful ballads, lets us in on his secret to longevity in the music business, and why the time is right for him to cut an independent album
“How’s the weather in Dubai now,” inquires KK, as he speaks to us over the phone from Mumbai, perhaps concerned about the recent rains and windy conditions here. More so, because the Bollywood singer, is preparing for his performance at Hard Rock Café Dubai this Saturday.
The veteran singer, however, seems unfazed by the climatic conditions, as he brushes the topic aside to tell us how he’s preparing for the concert.
“This time it’s going to be a different experience. It’s going to be a more up close and personal session with my fans in Dubai. I have not prepared a set list, but you can expect to hear some of my popular songs. At the show, I will also be open to requests from fans. Perhaps I’ll do some songs that have not been on people’s playlists so much,” says KK, who has been in the music industry for over two decades.
Krishnakumar Kunnath, fondly known as KK, possesses one of the most versatile voices in Bollywood. The singer who got his first break in Bollywood with the Gulzar written anthem, Chodh Aaye Hum Woh Galiyan (from the film Maachis) was thrust into the limelight after singing Tadap Tadap in the Salman Khan starrer, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. And since then, he has sung nearly 500 songs in Hindi and more than 100 songs in various other languages like Telugu, Tamil and Kannada, not to mention his fabulous record in the jingles industry.
Longevity in music business
For KK, who has performed quite a few concerts in the UAE over the years, it’s his connection with the audience that’s kept him going. “I’ve been singing for nearly 23 years now. It’s been a long time in the music business. Almost two generations of people have been listening to my music.
“When my songs first came out in 1999, it connected with the college crowd then, even now, youngsters connect to my new music easily. Isn’t that incredible? I think that is the mainstay for any artiste in the music business. You should always be connected with your audience, your time (in the industry) does not really matter, it’s how you connect with your fans, and that I guess has been my plus point and has worked very well for me,” explained the singer about the secret to his longevity in music business.
Though KK holds a commerce degree (from KM College, Delhi), he always aspired to be a singer. “I won my first singing competition when I was in school. I was an average student and wasn’t much interested in academics, but I was a involved in a lot extracurricular activities in school and college, and singing was part of it. I got a lot of exposure and won some competitions. My teachers used to encourage me, and it made me feel good. Then after college, I took up a 9-5 job. I was married and had to work. But one day, I felt, ‘why am I doing all this, this is not what I actually want to do (in life)?’ I used to feel down. I then realised that music was my true calling. Everyone around me, my family and friends, wholly supported my decision.
“But it was my wife (Jyothy) who gave me a major confidence boost when she told me, ‘you must do what you believe in’. And that’s how it all started.
“I then quit my job in Delhi and started doing jingles, I also sang in clubs (filling in for a friend). A while later, I moved to Mumbai. Once there, I got very busy in the ad world doing jingles (KK’S done nearly 3,500 jingles) and my singing career took off. I guess that was God’s plan for me, all I had to do was go in the right direction.”
KK is a self-taught musician and had no formal singing lessons. “But I could sing from a very young age. I remember my sister bringing home Bee Gees and ABBA albums and I would happily sing along to the records. I was also a huge fan of Kishore Kumar. But my tastes changed during my teens. I became a rock music fan. Bands like Mr Big, Deep Purple, Uriah Heep, Jethro Tull, Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin had a major influence on me. I also used to listen to Billy Joel and Sting, from whom I learnt the essence of songwriting and storytelling.”
Talking about his Bollywood experiences, KK said, “My journey started with AR Rahman in the movie Sapnay. Looking back, at this point of my life, I’m glad I took up playback singing because the music directors explored my talents and brought out something in me, which, perhaps, I would not have been able to do as an independent artiste. I learnt a lot from different music directors and also explored various genres. They helped hone my skills and open up spaces within me!”
Likes and dislikes
When it comes to work, KK knows how to keep his likes and dislikes aside. “When you work with others you have to put your personal preferences aside and work as a professional. You have to be accepting when music directors advise you and you have to work hard at it, and after some time, you tend to like the music. In all these years in the industry, after singing 600 songs, I may have disliked a few, but I’ve sung them. I have never come across a situation where I would ask myself ‘why am I doing this song?’ My journey has been fantastic. I feel special and blessed because they (music directors) believed in me and I have done likewise. I can say that playback singing helped me understand my potential.”
How Bollywood happened
The hitmaker had no intention of becoming a playback singing when he came to Mumbai. “I didn’t much care for the music of the 90s. I wanted to cut my own album. I initially worked in the jingle industry, for five years, and during that time, I made lots of friends in the music world. My confidence grew, then my album Pal happened, it was a culmination of all my dreams. It was Leslie (Lewis) who offered to produce Pal. We were great friends and I used to do a lot of work with him. Coincidentally, both Pal and Tadap Tadap happened at the same time and I was at a crossroads. I had to choose between independent music and playback singing.
So, I decided to give Bollywood a shot for a few years and then do my own stuff? Little did I know that the few years would turn into decades. I guess how you think is not how life pans out for you!”
Though KK is famous for his powerful, rock renditions and soulful ballads, he doesn’t want his style to be to be typecast into any particular genre.
“But if you want to broadly categorise my style, then I would say it’s more kind of pop rock,” he says.
“For me, singing is all about feelings. I can’t sing in one style of music all the time. I may be listening to different genres of music, but when I’m singing, I have to bring out the feel and emotions of the track. Sometimes, when I do a rock song, I feel this tremendous energy within me, I just can’t hold on to that and have to bring it out in the rendition. At the same time, if I’m doing a softer song or a ballad, it evokes a different type of emotion in me. And through that, I connect with my audience. I don’t like to be restricted. It depends on the time and the kind of mood I’m in. There are no parameters for me, I like to live freely and that’s the way I like my music to be – give it wings to fly,” KK adds.
Hinglish lyrics
When asked why more Hindi songs areincorporating English lyrics these days, he says: “Yes, I agree a lot of English lyrics are creep ing into Bollywood songs. But it could perhaps be to connect to urban audiences. More and more younger listeners now speak English, so I guess that could be a possible reason. But having said that, English lyrics don’t take away from any song, it basically adds a differ ent flavour to the track. End of the day, it’s the music director’s call – how he wants the shape and feel of the song to be.”
Family tune
Music runs in KK’S family and both his chil dren are stars in their own right. “My daugter already has couple of songs out on Apple Music. My son is studying right now and once he finishes he’ll be scoring music. I have often thought about the three of us coming together and doing some music, but that may take a while because my kids are still finding their footing. They want to do things on their own, they don’t want to ride on my fame. I like their
I really don’t want to be typecast into any particular genre. But if you want to broadly categorise my style, then I would say it’s more kind of pop-rock.” KK
thinking because as a kid I too was a bit like that – fiercely independent. I would never ask my dad for money or other stuff. I would do jingles or some show and provide for myself. I think this (self sufficiency) is something all parents should inculcate in their kids. They should never be too dependent on you.”
When asked why India doesn’t produce Grammy winners, with perhaps the exception of AR Rahman and a few classical musicians, KK says, “We (Indians) look mostly at making it big in our own country, we don’t look outwards. In the West, artistes make music not with an intention of winning a Grammy, they do it because they strongly believe in their music. Once you have that in place, all you have to do is follow through and connect with the audience. Their appreciation will take your music places.”
Success story
The success of a song has never mattered to KK. “I’ve never thought about my song being a hit or flop. It doesn’t really matter for me, it never did. It’s not me who makes the song a hit, it’s the audience. They are the ones who will connect with your song and make it successful. I have survived for the last 23 years because of my connection with the audience. That’s all that matters.”
Having given his all to Bollywood over the years, the singer says he has reached a stage in life when I feel I has done enough (commercial music) and needs to do something for himself. “I have to make the best of my time now. So far, I’ve done only two albums in the last two decades – that’s not good for me. But having said that, I’ve also been busy doing other things, like travelling for concerts, recording etc. But now that I have the time, I’m inclined to get into the studios and do some independent material.
“This year, I’ve planned to work on a single. I owe it to my fans and friends. High time I did something for them. God has given me the space now so I should do it!” KK signs off .