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EXCLUSIVE: Interview with Kailash Kher

Kailash Kher - powerhouse of talent
Kailash Kher - a powerhouse of talent

Kailash Kher is a powerhouse of talent and is known most for his Indian folk inspired style in both his independent albums and Bollywood songs. Kher recently toured with his band, Kailasa, in the UK for the first time. BizAsia had the wonderful opportunity to catch up with Kher about his expectations of the tour and his album ��Rangeele�۪. Read on to find out more about this gifted singer…

You recently brought out your fourth album called ��Rangeele�۪ with your band Kailasa. How did that come about and what can we expect from it?

Our fans globally have been quite angry on Facebook demanding to know why we hadn�۪t released something for a long while. They kept asking for us to come up with new stuff so it was long overdue. Rangeele is my accolade to love in all its forms; be it longing, passion, patriotism, devotion or even hatred.

It is also in my gratitude to all my listeners since this is a reflection of my observation of my fans through my eight-year career journey. I have tried to reciprocate the love and goodness they have extended to me and my band. The listeners will enjoy and fill in the colours of their own expressions but I know that everyone who hears Rangeele will have some songs that they will feel are their own.

You worked alongside the legendary actor, Amitabh Bachchan, on the album. What was that experience like?

Apart from acting, Amitabhji is a great musician and singer because he knows folk music. He comes from a background of music and poetry as his father was a well known poet. I invited him to join us on Dharti Pe Jannat Ka Nazara, a song we were working on for the television show Kaun Banega Crorepati, the Indian version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. I requested him to sing a few lines for that and he agreed. After that, we were all so excited and, to our surprise, he came to our studio and sang. Of course, we had to include this in Rangeele.

You have been stated as being the next Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, which is a hard shoulder to bear. How are you approaching this responsibility?

It�۪s a huge compliment but with that comes responsibility. I don�۪t take it lightly. I don�۪t get carried away with those words because my beginning was very tough and I came through big hardships that made me realise that nothing comes easy. And if it does come easy then you have to give it your best and make the world a better place because of you.

How long have you been involved within the Bollywood playback singing industry?

My career actually started with jingles in 2002. Somebody heard my voice and then I started getting offers for films. I also had my own band, Kailasa, and was working on my own private album. That�۪s where people came across my style of singing. Luckily, the film songs I sang became chartbusters. I have worked with big composers like A R Rahman, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, Vishal-Shekhar, Vishal Bhardwaj, Ram Sampath and Salim-Suleiman. I�۪ve learnt so much. God has been kind to put me through so many variations of work.

You have been involved with Anna Hazare�۪s campaign to rid corruption in India. Do you have a political stance and where does the music fit in?

As a responsible citizen of India, I always grew up listening to great people sacrificing for our country and our voice, so I am very sensitive to these things. When I heard about Anna Hazare and his movement, I really wanted to do something. The best thing I could do was to compose music and so I wrote and performed the song Ambar Tak Yehi Naad Goonjege. The song is very popular amongst the youth and Anna said it was being used as an anthem, especially in his village, to rally support. I composed it in April 2011 when he first went on hunger strike. I�۪ve also recently worked on Gali Gali Mein Chor Hai, a movie about corruption, which remains a hot topic in India right now. It stars Akshaye Khanna and also has a song picturised on me. I am part of the movie and not just a singer this time.

You are going to be touring the UK this April with Saregama Events. What can fans expect from your concerts?

My band, Kailasa, and I haven�۪t been on tour before in the UK so we are really looking forward to coming to Leicester, Birmingham, London and Liverpool. We will be performing crowd favourites like Allah Ke Bandey, Teri Deewani and Saiyyaan, as well as tracks from Rangeele. We will also be including Nusrat classics like Sanu Ek Pal Chain Na Ave. The concerts will be about giving audiences a rocking experience and enlightenment through music. We are very excited and looking forward to a good audience turn out.

Apart from ��Rangeele�۪, what would you say has been your biggest hit to date?

Definitely Allah Ke Bandey, Teri Deewani and Saiyyaan. People just go crazy for these songs.

Kher is a talent that simply cannot be ignored. As was expected, reports of the concerts at the weekend, which took place up and down the country, have been very positive. BizAsia would like to thank Kher for taking the time to speak with us. We hope to see him return to the UK very soon.