Success always comes with a price tag

The persona one sees on stage is sometimes quite different to the artist off stage. The genre of music does not matter; being in the public eye and regularly facing the pressures of concerts is a daunting task. On-stage, one sees a very polished performance, honed after years of internalisation, a perfectly turned out artist, totally in control and personable. Off-stage, an artist has to deal with the logistics of coping with everyday life and its many pressures.

Sufi singer Hansraj Hans (from left), Grammy winner Ricky Kej.

It was interesting to speak to 4 leaders in their fields — Ghazal King Pankaj Udhas has ruled the world of ghazal and playback singing for nearly 40 years. Hansraj Hans is today the face of the Punjab; the Sufi singer par excellence who has effortlessly traversed genres of Sufi music, pop, and Punjabi folk.

Amaan Ali Khan represents a 6 generation old tradition on the sarod; he is today easily recognisable on classical music stages worldwide. Grammy winner Ricky Kej’s music defies being slotted; his passion for the environment which translates into his Art is laudable; he has recently become Earth Day’s Ambassador. Despite their busy travelling schedules, one was able to quickly chat on a few topics. Their take on some subjects:

On holidays and more
Ricky Kej: I haven’t taken a holiday in the last 10 years; if I don’t have access to my studio to execute any idea that comes to me musically, I feel trapped. I need to work then and there; I can’t plan out in advance.

Pankaj Udhas: Hazaaron khwaishishen hain (I have thousands of desires) — I love tennis, golf cricket, I love travelling, I have been wanting to travel to South America, to the Antarctic…

Amaan Ali Khan: I have never been on holiday only with friends; I feel guilty! I feel you are as good as your last concert; you have to constantly on your toes. My father told me early on, your sarod will be your best friend and will never let you down, if you spend time with it. Earlier I used to want to go out more; today I am perfectly comfortable alone at home.

On how music is today sold
Ricky Kej: Streaming, Saavn etc are the best channel to sell the music when 99% of music is controlled by an industry that does not care about privacy. Private artists don’t have a chance at all. Abroad, people still do buy music, streaming services are far more principled there and the money does reach the composer. Here, though Youtube is controlled too, the royalty does not find its way to the musician.

I must have travelled to around 15 countries in 2017 for Live concerts, they are a huge source of income.

Pankaj Udhas: I can do a separate interview just on the subject of this!! The whole business model of the music industry has changed totally. One of my earliest albums “Afreen” remains one of the highest sellers to date – the revenue the company earned from this enabled them to promote three other new ghazal singers. Today digital sales are not in that league, so no money is being made on record sale, no money is being spent to promote the younger generation. Songs are downloaded free, so incomes have shrunk.  I am optimist so I hope digital sales soar.

Your idol
Ricky Kej: An idol is Peter Gabriel as he has complete respect for every genre of music he has ever worked in. Another is Rie Cooder; the album in which he worked with Vishwamohan Bhatt is just brilliant. Vishwamohan Bhatt is another idol; he is such a cool guy to hang with. I am so happy about a concert I did in Bangalore earlier, where he played my music and I accompanied him on stage.

Pankaj Udhas:  Begum Akhtar and then Mehdi Hasan. She was iconic, her style, her “andaaz”. Unfortunately I never got a chance to meet Begum sahiba; by the time I was entering college she had passed away. Mehdi sahib I interacted with many times — I cherish an incident around 1994 when he borrowed my harmonium as his had got broken in transit. This harmonium was the DS Ram Singh brand which was quite rare; I had two and I asked him to come home and choose one. Even after his tour he asked me if he could keep it — he said “mera haath baith gaya hai iss par” (my hands have got used to this now)

Hansraj Hans: My Guru, Ustad Lal Chand, foremost. Also Ustads Salamat Ali and Nazakat Ali Khan, Mehdi Hassan, Jagjit Singh, Ustad Shaukat Hussain tabla nawaz. I love Bade Ghulam Ali Khan and Ustad Amir Khan. Jagjit Singh had done a lot of work in voice production. In today’s generation, Shankar Mahadevan and Sukhwinder have lovely voices.

I consider myself a listener in this “janam”, I don’t consider myself a true singer. I am so humbled that even with the little singing that I do, I have been so feted – Padma Shri, goodness know how many lesser State level awards, Peace Ambassador at the UN.(Kenya chapter)

Amaan Ali Khan: My father Ustad Amjad Ali Khan. My father has always said to get into Raga in depth, hear more vocalists, so I do.