Prateek Kuhad became the blue-eyed boy of Indian indie music ever since his EP Raat Raazi came out in 2013. This simple musician with no frills, armed with just an acoustic guitar, not only won the hearts of audiences across India, but soon started garnering success abroad as well. His first full-length album In Tokens & Charms won him the MTV Europe Award for the Best Indian Act in 2016 and went on to become the Indie Album of the Year on iTunes. His massively successful tours across the USA, Australia, Singapore, Canada and France at amphitheatres, auditoriums and landing arena support slots with Alt-J and Mike Posner, were completely sold out.
Now, with his latest album cold/ mess, the artist is embarking on his grandest world tour so far, travelling to eight countries, including the USA, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands and Spain. The 29-year-old singer-songwriter is currently on an 11-city India tour in association with Zee Live’s Supermoon, and will be bringing his lyrical magic to Pune on October 25. We catch up with him about his new music, and his exciting international tour.
How are audiences abroad responding to Indian indie music? What aspects of your music do you think they relate to?
My tour is actually coming up in November. I did tour the US earlier this year in March and it was great. Audiences are quite perceptive. I think they relate to the quality in my songwriting.
You’ve been splitting your time between India and New York. What projects are you working on there and here?
It’s a bit of touring and studio work in both places.
From your debut EP to your second album cold/ mess, how do you think you’ve grown as an artist, and as a person?
I think I have become a substantially better songwriter. I have also grown a lot as a live performer. As a person, I think I am more patient now and less reactive to situations that are out of my control.
Tell us about all the feelings you’re having about this grand tour you will embark on — new cities, new audiences. Which city are you most excited about making a debut in?
I’m having minimal feelings to be honest. I don’t really know why, maybe subconsciously I’m trying to not overthink it — in an attempt at self-preservation — and in doing so I am actually under thinking it. I am excited about all the cities I am playing in!
When on tour, what do you miss the most about home and how do you deal with it?
I miss my room, my bed and my piano the most. You just have to deal with it really, there is no choice. I’m getting to do something I love doing on a daily basis, so I have no reason to complain about a little homesickness.
ST Reader Service
Supermoon ft Prateek Kuhad Winter Tour 2019 will be held at Royal Palms, Koregaon Park, on October 25 at 8 pm
