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BizAsia meets Sonu Nigam at London press meet

Sonu Nigam is indeed a living legend. He is loved, admired and looked up to by many fans worldwide. Although Nigam has graced stages around the UK many a time, the cancellation of his attendance at last year’s ‘Dhamaka 2012’ means that this time round his live performances are all the more sought after. The singer was in London a couple of weeks ago and BizAsia were lucky enough to be present at a press conference to mark his upcoming concerts (scroll to end for details) which take place this coming weekend in the UK.

Sonu Nigam attenda London press conference
Sonu Nigam attenda London press conference

Nigam entered the room with a hearty smile and after some short introductions, upon being handed the microphone, he began to jokingly explain why there was a delay in his arrival. He went on to speak about the best thing about singing to a live audience, “Lately I have thought that the best thing about singing live is that there is no medium to prove… there is no critic to tell the audience whether a song is good or not good. There is noone to say whether the singer has sung it correctly or not sung it well. It’s just me and the audience and that’s the best part about performing on stage. Before a concert, you have to have done your vocal exercises which I do everyday”.

Talking about what formula he has to connect with his audience, Nigam said, “No formula is the formula. If you start seeing yourself in them, you’ve done your job. Before a concert, I pray that please God please give me the strength to keep the people happy… There are people who want to be entertained so He’s got to give me strength so that I can really keep them happy so that they go back home enthusiastic. That is how I connect with the audience, I pray to God”.

Nigam also spoke about the most cherished song in his career being the title track of ‘Kal Ho Naa Ho’ (2003) but he went on to explain that Abhi Mujh Mein Kahin from ‘Agneepath’ (2012) became the best song of his career. “I really people would make more songs like this,” he stated.

On being asked a question about what happened and why he had pulled out of the ‘Dhamaka’ event last year, Nigam was quick to respond, “Acha hua aap ne sawaal pooch liya… We had told the organisers that visa nahin hua. We had told them but they keep saying ho jaayega. Sirf mera visa huwa but what would I do coming? Not a single member in my band’s visa was done. If I don’t have my band, what would I do? We go to concerts with full preparation about how are songs are going to be, this is how the sound is going to be and this is what we’ll be singing… so if I don’t have my band with me then what am I going to do? That was the whole case.”

Nigam spoke about the forthcoming concerts and what the fans should expect, “Sachi bataoo? I feel that every six months, I change. I evolve as a person. In some way, I am not the same person I was six months back. I would say what my shows were six months back they are not that anymore. We try to have the inclusion of new songs, the way we express to the audiences… in fact, after this concert, there is another concert which I am doing called ‘Close to me heart’ in America and Dubai. There is a different level of music we want to give in this concert and we also have something different planned for you. None of my shows are the same”.

Having been a reality TV show judge many times before, Nigam expressed whether he would do it again, “Oh every show comes to my door first. All the shows that you watching today first come to us and I decide whether I want to be over-exposed or not… At this point in time, after so long and after doing so much in my life, I have the luxury to choose what to do and what not to do. If I feel like doing it next year then I will do it but right now I was too bored of being a judge and always finding faults”.

Nigam also described his experience of interacting with fans on Twitter, “Good question. I have to now tell you my analysis of social networking. First of all, once must not try to change the world… If I believe in something, a personal thing, I don’t need to convince everyone. If I believe in something I will keep shut. When I’m interacting with people on Twitter, my duty to them is that of an entertainer. What I do on stage is what I should be doing on Twitter. Second thing is that anyone can say anything to you. I don’t take any kind of negative behaviour. Anybody can abuse, anybody can express opinions without having the credentials to say it.”

When asked about who he thinks his voice suits best, Nigam’s answer was prompt, “I will say two names: Shah Rukh and Salman.”

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Sonu Nigam in London
Sonu Nigam in London

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Sonu Nigam in London
Sonu Nigam in London

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Sonu Nigam in London
Sonu Nigam in London

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Sonu Nigam in London
Sonu Nigam in London

Photo credit to��Crystal Images�ʉ�� Capturing your treasured memories

For further details about Sonu Nigam’s UK tour this weekend and information about how to buy tickets, please visit��Chilli Tickets website here.

UK concert dates

Friday 16th August

O2 Apollo

Manchester

Doors open at 18:00 / Show starts at 19:00

Saturday 17th August

Wembley Arena

London

Doors open at 18:00 / Show starts at 19:00

Sunday 18th August

De Montfort Hall

Leicester

Doors open at 18:30 / Show starts at 19:30