Striking all the right notes

Tochi Raina is known to lend a soul to his songs with a mesmerising voice. The artist who has belted out some blockbusters like Kabira and Gal Mitthi Mitthi Bol is all set to regale music lovers in the city today, along with his Band of Bandagi.  Indie Route Band, featuring Aabhas and Shreyas Joshi, will open Tochi’s gig this evening. He shares, “I will be singing a mix of my Bollywood chartbusters like Saibo, Kabira, Iktara, Gal Mithi Mithi and some compositions of the legendary Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Sahab. The evening will also feature some songs by my own Band of Bandagi, which includes Dooriyan. My band will also feature guitarist and rabab player Chintoo Singh Wasir.”

Coming from a musical family in Patiala, Tochi was inclined towards music since a young age and decided to come to Mumbai to compose songs. However, he found his calling in singing instead. “My wife gave me a train ticket, and Rs 500 to come to Mumbai and follow my dreams. I used to sleep at Aksa beach during my initial struggling days. Today when I look back at all this I thank God for all the success I enjoy today. I had come to Mumbai to become a composer but got recognition as a singer first,” he reminisces.  

The audience plays the most significant role in any of his performances on stage, “A good audience always gets the best out of an artiste, I feel. Once after a concert in Udaipur, a lady came to me and suddenly hugged me saying ‘Your song reminded me of my husband, who’s currently not in town’ and started crying in front of me. I was really overwhelmed,” Tochi shares.

The versatile singer, also shares that he has named hisdaughter Saibo, after she was born on the night he was recording the romantic number from the film Shor in the City. When not composing or singing, Tochi reveals he loves spending time with his children. “As an artiste, it becomes really difficult for me to spare some time from shows and recording. So, whenever I have free time, I love to spend it with my children Saibo and Simmran.”

Watch him perform live, Today, 7 pm onwards At Dublin Square, Phoenix Marketcity Kurla Tickets: Rs 500.