Sky Force marks yourfirst ever album as a solo composer…
Dinesh Vijan, the producer of Sky Force, placed his trust in me. I had worked with him previously on Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya, and he encouraged me to create original songs for his new project. He told me, ‘You might be great at recreations, but I believe your originals are much better.’ He said that my original work would earn me respect and help me establish my position in the market. Before Sky Force, I had never done an album on my own. I really wanted to create an entire album. Now that Sky Force is out, people have realised that I’m capable of pulling off a complete album by myself.
How do you maintain a sense of individuality with each track?
My goal has always been to immerse myself in the world of film, embracing the unique essence of each script and the vision behind the film’s design. I am also deeply intrigued by the actors and their craft. Every film has its own distinct palette, and I make an effort to understand its nuances. Being a romantic at heart, my melodies tend to have an emotional depth to them, which allows me to resonate with the audience. Even in dance numbers, I infuse a particular emotion, ensuring that each piece reflects the sentiment of the moment.
How do you choose the singer to work with for a particular track?
When it comes to romantic songs, I always prefer Arijit Singh. He has a unique ability to connect with the music. Interestingly, I’ve never had to give him any specific briefs for the songs we’ve collaborated on. He just understands the emotions and brings them to life with his voice. The same goes for B Praak. He excels in patriotic songs. His voice is perfect for that genre, something many modern singers lack. Most singers today have a softer, husky tone, which caters to a specific audience. But I needed a bold voice for Sky Force and B Praak was the ideal choice. Vishal Mishra also has a wonderfully deep voice, which made Kya meri yaad aati hai such a memorable song. Working with Satinder Sartaj on Rang was Dinesh sir’s idea. His collaboration with Zara Khan turned out beautifully.
What’s your pick between peppy dance tracks and romantic songs?
Honestly, I love romantic songs. I enjoy the emotions they convey. When I listen to romantic tracks, I really take my time to absorb them. Dance songs, on the other hand, are something I create for the audience. I don’t listen to a lot of dance songs myself; my preference is always for romantic numbers.
Which are your favourite romantic compositions that you’ve done till date?
I like Le aaunga from SatyaPrem Ki Katha. I love Baarish from Half Girlfriend.
You’re popular for your remixes. But what about the criticisms that they bring?
I’ve faced both criticism and appreciation over the years. A lot of people have said that I’m hurting sentiments, and it all started with Ok Jaanu’s The humma song. After that, many people began asking me to recreate songs, but I became more selective about it. The songs I’ve recreated have generally been well-received and have done well for the films. They also work well in party spaces. Aankh maarey is played at many weddings. People really enjoy my recreations. But now, I’ve found a balance where I’m doing both recreations and original tracks simultaneously.
What do you usually keep in mind while doing remixes?
First, let me explain why I felt recreating songs was necessary. Even though some songs are considered popular, I was surprised to find that many singers didn’t even know about the original Dilbar dilbar. I believe remixes played a huge role in making these songs evergreen for the youth. I was able to give retro sounds a fresh, new-age twist. That’s why I did Tere Mere Sapne’s Aankh maarey These songs never really made it to clubs. But thanks to remixes, the newer generation is discovering them. That was my purpose, to create a bridge for people of all generations to experience these songs.
So what’s more difficult, making an original song or a remixed version?
Both recreating and creating original songs have their own challenges.But I’d say recreating a song is more difficult. I have to rebuild the track from the ground up, reprogramming it while maintaining its essence. It takes a lot of time and effort. Also I have to make sure I don’t alter the original too much. I’m just adding to its appeal. Originals are easier for me because they are entirely mine. They come from my emotions and creativity.
What is your X factor as a musician?
I don’t make two similar songs. Every song of mine is different on its own. The Sky Force songs are all different. I have done patriotic songs in Yodha and Kesari. But both the songs are different.
What is your process of penning lyrics or a romantic song as opposed to a dance track?
Composers use nonsense lyrics while working on scratch tunes but I always focus on conveying the right emotions even in my scratch lyrics and that’s what drives me to write more. When I started writing Raatan lambiyan, I didn’t plan for it to be a romantic track. Initially, I thought I would turn it into an R&B song. But as I started shaping the track, I began to feel the emotions behind it. Once I understood those emotions, the words just flowed naturally. It was with Raatan lambiyan that I really discovered my lyrical abilities. I’ve also written Baarish, Vaaste and more. Writing lyrics was never something I had planned to do. It just happened.
Which is your favourite composition so far?
Raatan lambiyan. It’s the simplest melody. It works with everyone, GenZs, youth and even older listeners.
Take us through your memories of winning your first Filmfare Award.
I won the Filmfare Award for Raatan lambiyan. I somehow knew that the song would receive appreciation. The movie itself was so beautiful. Films like these really give me hope and faith in myself as a composer. My parents, Nand Kumar Bagchi and Sharmistha Dash, are both musicians. Everything I am today is because of them. They were my first teachers in music. My mom and dad were overjoyed when I received the Filmfare award. All my awards are dedicated to them.
Apart from them, who have been your musical inspirations?
AR Rahman sir and Madan Mohanji.
Have you cracked the code on how to sell your music better?
I think social media is great for artistes because it gives them a platform. When I was starting out in music, there wasn’t really a platform like this. It was all about CDs and cassettes and it was difficult for artistes to break through. Today, things are definitely easier. There are so many songs on social media that may not be great but they still sell. With so much content available online, it’s hard to differentiate between what’s good and what’s not. There’s too much output, which I think is causing the quality to decline. Many talented, original artistes are getting lost because they don’t know how to promote themselves. They need guidance but when agencies or managers get involved, they often don’t focus on the artiste; they only focus on how to sell something.
Do you think India is progressing in terms of iits independent music scene?
Bollywood is not the only form of Indian music. India is a versatile country with diverse styles and sounds, but only a limited range of ideas seem to reach the world. A lot of people try to sell specific kinds of music, that’s where the problem begins. Even when some of those songs chart, you can tell they’re not necessarily the best. When Arijit and I create music, we don’t think about how big a hit it might become. We just make the music. Bolna and Raatan lambiyan are still on the charts, even though they’re no longer being actively promoted. No one’s putting money into them. Look at Hanumankind. He had been struggling since 2016, but now he’s getting his break. The issue is, we’re missing good promoters, producers labels and platforms. Most of them don’t promote the right artiste or the right song.
Also Read: “Rahman Sir tweeting about Humma was the best compliment I received” – Tanishk Bagchi