New-Delhi based musician Prateek Kuhad is a man of few words, but his music definitely makes up for it. Born and raised in Jaipur, Prateek is known for his skilful guitar work, clear voice and graceful (mostly romantic) bilingual lyrics. After the release of his debut album in January 2015, In Tokens & Charms, this 27-year-old firmly established himself as one of the frontrunners in the country’s independent music scene.
Apart from releasing his single "Tum Jab Paas" this year, Prateek also composed a song for the Bollywood film, Baar Baar Dekho, starring Sidharth Malhotra and Katrina Kaif. Ahead of his performance in Hyderabad, we catch up with the singer and songwriter for a brief chat.
Excerpts:
What is the set you will play in Hyderabad?
It’ll be a varied mix of old and new songs.
Tell us what you think of the listeners in Hyderabad.
I have a few times before. I honestly think all cities, in India at least, have a very unpredictable vibe and scene. It’s more about the venue. There are certain venues in India that know how to host a concert and you can predict the scene and the vibe there.
What is your songwriting process like?
There’s no set timeline for my writing. I write when I feel like writing. Some weeks I’ll write a lot and sometimes weeks will go by and I would’ve written nothing. There is no set process to my songwriting.
Are your love songs inspired by moments in your life?
Yes, for the most part, those moments are personal and I wouldn’t want to get into the details.
Who are some of the musicians you listen to and feel inspired by?
My early songwriting all comes from Elliott Smith, Nick Drake, some of John Mayer, some Led Zeppelin. Lately, it’s been a real mush. I listen to a lot of different kinds of music and I’m not quite sure how’s it is all converging in my head.
How do you think has your music evolved over the last few years?
I think since Raat Raazi, both harmonically and melodically my music has evolved a lot. The thing that hasn’t really changed at all is my lyrical content which pretty much remains constant. As of now, I’m not quite certain if that’s a good or a bad thing.
How important are gigs/live performances, in terms of building a brand and creating an audience base?
Depends on what kind of musician you are, but for someone like me, shows are very important. People who like my songs feel this sort of connection (I think) that can not be replicated by just listening to my songs on the radio.
How different is it to produce/compose music for films from composing music in general?
For me, it’s pretty much the same production wise. What is different is the songwriting aspect. I usually write without an agenda or a pre-conceived situation in my head when I’m writing for myself. When I’m witting for films then you have this situation that’s in your head already and you write your songs around it.
What are the projects you are working on?
A new EP for the most part.
Entry: Rs. 699. 8 pm onwards. At HCC Kondapur, Hyderabad. Details: 040 2355 5003.