What inspired you to begin a career in the music industry? Â
I’d always had a love for music from a young age. It was when I went to University that I started to associate with more Asian people and I developed a love for Punjabi/Folk music. The artists that inspired me the most were Kuldeep Manak and Surinder Shinda. I wanted to follow in their footsteps and make some soulful Punjabi music. Â
How do you feel about your new song DAMN DAMN reaching over 5 million views?Â
It feels great. The track is international and a commercial song. It’s very different to the songs I started making in my early days. I’m delighted that it’s had the success it has. Just hearing all the positive reviews from the fans and their Tick-Tock videos coming through, it feels really good! Â
What motivates you the most when releasing a song or working on a new project?Â
I think what’s motivational to me the most is that I want to be able to express myself. I get a lot of satisfaction from creating music. I enjoy the whole process; from selecting a song to recording the song, seeing the song being transformed with the backing track, the story evolve into a music video and then a commercial campaign. I very much enjoy the journey and seeing a project from start to finish and then the audience reaction at the end. Â
What would you say stands out about your music?Â
I think it’s the versatility I can offer. I’m very proud of the fact I can switch tracks and switch genre effortlessly and seamlessly, rather than being pigeon-holed into one genre. I’ve got the knowledge, appetite and the desire to different things. Â
Who is your role model in the music industry?Â
I would say my role model is Gurdas Maan. I think he’s an amazing human being. He spreads a great message through his music. He’s also a great performer, writer and a singer. The way that he conducts his personal life and public image as a respectable and honourable human being is fantastic. Â
For people who haven’t heard your music before, how would you describe your signature style, or would you say you had one at all?Â
I would always say that my roots are traditional Punjabi Folk music. I would argue that I can’t really be categorized into a single style, purely because one factor that’s typical of me as an artist is that I like to try new things, and dip into different varieties and genres. Â
What are your long term goals?Â
I have another four tracks being released this year – they’re all Punjabi/Bollywood style songs. I will also be releasing a 10-12 track album at the end of this year. I’m hoping I’ll continue to make good music and I also want to pursue my goals into a career in acting as well. Â
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Interview Script – Tauseef AsifÂ
Conducted by – Manisha Bhanot Â
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