16 July,2018 08:40 AM IST | Mumbai | Soumya Vajpayee Tiwari
Rabbi Shergill
Bullah Ki Jaana hitmaker Rabbi Shergill was in the city recently, performing without a charge for a charity event organised by the Genesis Foundation. As he performed the 2005 chart-topper, we wondered why he doesn't release music often, especially when it's believed that the heyday for independent music is back. But Shergill has a different opinion.
"I think it's a good time to be an indie artiste if you are starting out. It's not the same for someone who has been in the field for over a decade. It's a good time to be a rookie, not a veteran," says the singer, as he reminisces about the pop music in the '90s, when a song's success was not limited to the number of views and hits it garnered online.
"I grew up in a simple era, where you would hear a hit song on the radio, on streets and in cars. These days, there are so many niches. You see people raving about a song that has over 400 million hits, [but you don't hear it everywhere]. Only YouTube suggests that the song is a hit."
He agrees that he is selective about the work he does. "I am an artiste, and I like to follow my heart. I only do work that gives me joy. My criteria for accepting or rejecting a number depends on its quality. If I don't like it, I won't sing it. The lyrics, melody and composition should be in sync," says the singer, who still holds Bullah Ki Jaana close to his heart. "The song has a two-fold meaning for me. It is my introduction to the world and it contains the essence of Indian spiritual thought. For me, the song is India."
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The singer is looking forward to releasing a yet-untitled single. "I am also going to tie up with a digital marketing company because I plan to release a bunch of music videos soon."
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