I am not ready to give up and walk away: Shaan

I am not ready to give up and walk away: Shaan

Singer-actor Shaan, who has sung the title track for Gajendra Singh’s latest music reality show Suron Ka Eklavya, says that he isn’t being choosy about his work in films rather he’s not being offered the kind of work he used to get earlier

His melodic voice has won innumerable hearts. Though the singer-actor Shaan is not doing a lot of Bollywood playback singing nowadays, he is engaged in other projects like he is busy composing music, making independent music and judging reality shows.

Recently, the singer, along with Anwesha Dutt, recorded the title track for Gajendra Singh’s Saaibaba Telefilm’s new music reality show Suron Ka Eklavya. The show, which will be aired on DD National from month end, pays tribute to the three music legends — Mohammed Rafi, Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar. It has been designed with the motto ‘Andaaz Wahi, Awaaz Nayi’.

Shaan says that he is fortunate enough to have interacted with all the three legends. Here’s catching up with the ace singer about the show and the current music scenario:   
 
Was it very special for you to record the title track of Suron Ka Eklavya, which pays tribute to the three legends of the music industry?  

Yes, singing the title track of Suron Ka Eklavya has been an honour for me. It’s my way to get a chance to pay my tribute to the three greatest singers ever and it’s a great opportunity and like I said, I’m privileged.

How would you describe your bonding with the three music maestros?
I was very lucky to be born in an era which was dominated by the three stalwarts amongst other great voices of course. Listening to their songs and voices has influenced me more than I can tell or whatever I sing today is an amalgamation or influence of all these great artists. Of course, I’m just a fan and you cannot compare anyone to them and I’ve only picked up 1-2 per cent from them and that is what I sing.

Do you think that the younger generation relates to yesteryear songs?
I think ‘yes’, as the new generation grows towards a certain age we all go back to the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s and listen to those wonderful songs but while you’re still a teenager you’re connected to the music going on at the moment. I don’t see them listening or connecting much to the yesteryear songs but it’ll happen to them. It happened to us.

How do you react to the numerous remakes of old songs?
There are a lot of remakes these days but I would rather listen to the original. Besides, some of the better songs are not being remade. The songs that didn’t have great melodies or weren’t respected enough in those times are now being remade so that’s disappointing.

There’s a host of music reality shows on television and you are also judging one. Do you see the emerging talent from these shows making a mark for themselves not just as playback singers but in independent music?
Yes, I feel participating in reality shows gives these youngsters a chance to discover themselves, and other talents as well. They have to compete with others and push themselves to reach a higher level in terms of singing but then of course to become a successful playback or independent singer is another journey altogether.

Are you becoming choosy about your projects in films or is composing music keeping you busy?
Honestly, I am not being picky. I am just not getting the kind of work that I used to get earlier and I guess everyone has their phases and the important thing is that I still believe in myself and I am not ready to give up and walk away, so I’m doing independent music and things that keep me in the game as a singer. Hopefully, you will listen to more independent music in the future.

The Bollywood music scene has become corporate driven, songs are created keeping hits on social media. How are you coping with the changing scenario?
It is true that there’s a lot riding on Bollywood music. They are made keeping the hit quotient in mind and very often the casting of singers is also made based on who’s trending at the moment and with whom people are connecting with the most, so it’s something you can’t change because it’s always been that way. The only thing is that a ‘great’ and not ‘any’ song should be a hit.

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