So picture this…an artist whose fan base is so varied that it breaks the common rule that no teenager can possibly share the same musical taste as their parents! B4U Music introduces…Navin Kundra! The Bi-lingual singer has been the talk of the Asian music industry for the past few years and he has a little something for everyone! His latest track Mehbooba is already hit and his long awaited album is in the pipeline. So I catch up with Navin to find out more about his successful musical journey…
How did your musical journey begin? Has music always been apart of your life whilst growing up?
I’ve always been drawn to music since I was a young kid. I don’t quite know why but it’s just something that I’ve always connected with. I started off as a dancer, then did lots of acting and finally settled for my passion of making music and singing. My journey into the professional world of music began with performing at talent shows and then I started to write my own songs.
 A lot of people may not know this but you actually represented Britain in a world series of a Sa Re Ga Ma Pa. Did this lead to any key opportunities?
Representing the UK in the World Series of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa is one of the most memorable experiences of my life. I got to perform in front of stalwart figures such as Ghulam Ali, Zakhir Hussain, Jagjit Singh, the late O.P. Nayyar and even got to sing with Shaan – one of my favourite playback singers! It was a real eye opener for me in terms of realising that anything is possible if you put your mind to it and work on making your dream come true. In terms of opportunities it didn’t really lead to anything major, but being the youngest singer to represent my country and music on that show made people take me more seriously as a singer.
Your music covers a wide spectrum of genres and styles! You must have a varied fan base too! How has your background influenced your music style?
Varied fan base…hell yeh! I love the fact that my music can be enjoyed and appreciated by 16 year olds as well as 60 year olds. My roots are in Punjab, India and growing up here in the UK has allowed me to develop with a progressive outlook on life whilst still retaining and respecting my South Asian Culture and values – I have my beautiful family to thank for that. In terms of music, I’ve been exposed to many different styles from R&B to Indian Classical and from Jazz to Bollywood, so naturally I like to put those influences back into my music to create a new sound with a Universal appeal. You may have noticed that I can’t decide between singing in Hindi, Punjabi or English which is why I tend to sing in all of those languages – sometimes all in one track!
What would you say has been the biggest challenge in your music career?
The biggest challenge so far has been stepping into an industry which is dominated by urban Bhangra and independently establishing myself as an artist with a different sound and style. I think it wouldn’t have been as much of a challenge if I had family ties in the industry or the backing of a major label, but that’s destiny. Hopefully I’ve shown and inspired a new generation of talent that you can achieve your goals with hard work and dedication.
You have been fortunate to perform worldwide, where has your favourite performance been?
Every performance is different. I’m thrilled that my music is taking me around the world now and it still trips me out when I see crowds singing along to my songs halfway across the world. I think my most memorable performance was at the Burj-al-Arab in Dubai – that was awesome because I remember filming my intro to Sa Re Ga Ma Pa there and I said to my dad, ‘one day dad, I’m going to perform in there’…it finally happened! More recently, I really enjoyed performing at the London Mela where I also took my guitar on stage and stripped a few songs down acoustically. It felt like I was carrying the audience with each strum of my guitar and that’s an amazing feeling!
You have worked alongside many artists in the industry, any artists in particular that have stood out for you?
There’s a lot of great talent out there but I haven’t actually had the chance to work with many artists – it’s been mostly producers. Mushtaq and Rishi Rich have been awesome to work with. I would love to work with A.R Rahman and Robbie Williams!
Your Ballad Tere Liye did extremely well in the charts! Was this a big achievement for you?
I think one of the biggest compliments any artist can receive is having their song reach number 1 in the charts – for me this was a huge achievement and to stay there for around 11 weeks across the UK has been surreal. People have shown the song a lot of love and support and I’d like to thank them for that – their votes make all the difference and I’m glad they went out and represented and still continue to do so.
After the sad and shocking passing of Michael Jackson, you released a tribute to him called ‘Fade Away’. Was he a big inspiration to you?
Of course – he was the complete entertainer. An amazing singer, songwriter, musician, dancer, actor, person…everything. I was deeply saddened by the news that one of my biggest inspirations had passed away which is why I had to pay tribute to him. ‘Even though you’re gone, I won’t let you fade away’ seemed the most fitting words for how myself and millions of people across the world felt. Incidentally, ‘Fade Away’ was going to be an exclusive collaboration on my album as it features Rishi Rich and Jay Sean, but I put it out online before the release in tribute to the legend Michael Jackson.
What’s your favourite Michael Jackson track?
Billie Jean
Any future collaborations that we should look out for?
Yep, but I’m not going to say any more! Hehe!
 They say never say never so could we expect a Navin meets Girls Aloud track in the pipeline?
I would absolutely love that! I mean which guy would turn down the opportunity to get in the studio with Girls Aloud???
So tell us about your latest track Mehbooba? What is it about?
Mehbooba is about a guy who has fallen for this girl big time and wants to dance with her! Nothing too serious! Honestly, it’s a fun dance track…as soon as the beat drops, it lifts you up. I wanted to switch up my style with this single and make it very different from Tere Liye. Mehbooba has a Middle Eastern dancehall feel with a catchy chorus – I always get the audience to sing the song during my live performances!
So when can we expect the long awaited album?
Very soon – it’s nearly ready and I’m really looking forward to releasing it. It’s a diverse album and as it’s my first offering, I want to make sure that I’m happy with it which is why I’ve been taking my time. Hopefully, everyone will think it’s worth the wait!
Any future surprises we can look out for?
I’m always full of surprises! But if I told you now then they wouldn’t be surprises would they?
Thank you for all your love and support. Feel free to check out more of my music at www.navin-online.com |
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