Music Room: Hriday Gattani

You grew up watching great artistes as your father Deepak Gattani managed music concerts for A R Rahman. Could you tell us about this? How did your music journey start?

I have been very fortunate - every artist needs a muse, something to inspire them and stir the fire within. At a very early age, I was exposed to the world of live entertainment and music. My dad and mom inculcated in me the love for some great music from all over the world - bands like CCR, The Doors, The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Pink Floyd - and those became my influences. I started off my journey young, for me it was initially about the thrill of performing. I remember very vividly; most Indian households have a charade when we have guests at home and your parents say, “Beta Kuch gaa ke/dance karke batao” - for me that was the best part of my week. I’d have an entire performance planned where my dad would be instructed to turn on the living room lights as I made my entry with a plastic guitar hung on to me and a fake microphone.

I had recently seen an MJ concert on TV and had the idea of doing a knee slide while entering. I never actively thought I would be a musician or go on to learn music but my heart was definitely with being on stage. Being around some of the greatest musicians of our country like Asha Bhosle Ji, Daler Mehndi, Hariharan and A.R. Rahman definitely imbedded a good musical taste and instinct in me and that being in my formative years, I’d say was my way of getting trained in having a musical ear. It was later on when I started my band in school that my true tryst with music began. A few of us friends decided we wanted to sing some songs that we all liked. We performed Bryan Adams ‘Summer of 69’ in the assembly and that’s where it all began. We went on to perform at the Pogo Amazing Kids Awards and a couple of local events that gave me the experience of everything I was enacting back at home. I still didn’t know if I wanted this to be an occupation or I was just a kid enjoying the moment, smitten with the aura and brilliance of music.

As I grew older, my aptitude for music became more evident to me and my parents. My parents were ever so supportive and helped me pave a way into becoming the musician I am today. I learnt to play the Guitar all by myself, watching Youtube videos and figuring what sounds right and what doesn’t. I wanted to learn the piano and without any hesitation, my parents bought me one and I did the same, learnt it by myself and with the help of the internet. I think all these signs made it very clear to me and my parents that I should pursue my dreams and become a musician.

Tell us about your relationship with A R Rahman – I believe you consider him your mentor?

It’s really surreal - it means the world to call A.R Rahman sir my mentor because to be honest, he’s been an influence to each and every musician in the country. It’s an honour and a huge privilege to be mentored by him. I remember it was in 2005 that Rahman sir was working on a song for Children’s Day. The song was written by India’s then President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Sir. Rahman sir wanted a few children to sing the song titled “One Vision” and I was selected as one of the six. I went to Chennai for the recording and we dubbed all day with the group. Once every one had completed the recording, I stayed back waiting for my Dad to accompany him back to the hotel. As fate would have it, there was a verse that had been added to the song and sir wanted me to try it solo. We went on to record and I think it went of pretty well, somewhere all my influences of music paid off. In 2007, I started putting a few videos on Youtube with a friend from College, we were just having fun, it was mostly my friend playing the guitar and me singing into the camera. But eureka struck in 2012, when we put the video for my cover of ‘The Beatles- Let It Be’ feat Suchismita Das. Once we put this one out, I sent it to Rahman sir not sure if he’d even get a chance to view it but he did. And he replied saying “Nice voice, should train more.” This email response changed everything and I packed my bags and made my way to KM College of Music and Technology to get Vocal Training. It so happened that I got a chance to perform in front of him a few times and then slowly, got a chance to intern at his Studio.

He has always been very encouraging and more importantly very involving. As a 21 year old I was asked about my ideas on things. In my head I’d be thinking, “What do I know, to give ideas to the greatest musician ever?” But he wanted perspective and it was so motivating and refreshing because it made me believe in myself. Rahman sir would give me a task that I had no clue how to do and once I was in the deep end, I had figure it out. Those are the learnings I can never forget. I’ve also always been super inquisitive so I would stand quietly in the room while he’d be working and try to observe/dissect and understand why and how he came up with something that sounded and felt so brilliant. Rahman sir is a child at heart, He has the most energy in any room he gets into and is the most eager to learn and try new things. That’s one of the things I try to learn from him. When we were kids, there was no ulterior motive, it was the sheer excitement of trying something new - this in-turn becomes some of the best stories and pieces of art. Apart from music, Rahman sir himself has been a beacon of humility and kindness and that’s what I strive to learn from.

How did you enter Bollywood?

It was while I was in KM College of Music and Technology that I was interning at the studio ‘Panchathan Record Inn’. I’d hang out, observe and take notes, can’t say I was helping much because I was still learning and figuring things out. But yes, I never got in the way of work and carried out the tasks I was told to. In this period, Rahman sir had seen a growth in my voice and liked how I was doing at the Institute, so he gave me an opportunity to start singing at his concerts. My dream was finally coming true. My first appearance as a professional singer was in a concert in Kolkata, the tour was titled ‘Rahmanishq’. The stadium was huge… I had never performed in front of a crowd this mammoth. But I had rehearsed for this from when I was very little. I sang ‘Nadaan Parindey’ with Rahman Sir and ‘Nazar Laaye Na’ with Neeti Mohan. It was an experience beyond compare. We did a four city tour and were back to Chennai. During this phase is when one day sir asked me if I could try out one song in the studio. I pinched myself to check if I wasn’t dreaming but it was true. I went on to try out the song called ‘Tu Shining’ from the movie ‘Lekar Hum Deewana Dil’ that marked my debut in Bollywood. It was the golden ticket and I have the utmost gratitude to Arif Ali sir, Dinesh Vijan sir, Amitabh Bhattacharya sir and Rahman sir for having the faith in me and giving me the opportunity. The rest is History.

Could you tell us a bit about your songs in Hindi film industry, which is your personal fave? And could you share your experience while recording it?

I don’t know if I could really pick a favourite. Each and every one of them have a special place in my journey. ‘Tu Shining’ and ‘Maloom’ from Lekar Hum Deewana Dil by AR Rahman sir are always going to be the most special because they were the first and also there is something really carefree and rebellious about the songs. I still remember Amitabh Bhattacharya sir saying that I sounded like ‘Michael Buble’ and it made my day.

Then came ‘Udanchoo’ from Banjo by Vishal/ Shekhar, this song had a huge impact on my life because I was starting off my independent music career with Vishal Dadlani sir at the same time and somewhere it was a very special time in my life. The melody of this song is so beautiful and the amount of love and belief I got from Vishal sir and Shekhar sir was fantastic. But if I had to pick a project that was super special and close to my heart, it would be this one. In 2019 I walked into the studio and sir had made tons of tunes for a new film. I remember he gave them to us and asked us to develop a few and that was the first time I heard ‘Main Tumhara’ and ‘Taare Gin’. I didn’t realise that I was going to be a part of an iconic film that would be surrounded by emotions and maybe it came to me because I was in a similar space too. I was battling a lot of emotions and it wasn’t the best time of my life in terms of my mental health and this film helped me became a part of my daily life for two years not just as a singer but I was given the role of a music supervisor. ‘Main Tumhara’ was a journey, I knew it was at the core of the storyline of the film and spoke so deeply to the two characters in the film. Rahman sir, Mukesh sir and Amitabh sir guided me to find the right emotion and record the song. It was definitely very, very heartwarming and in some ways a rollercoaster of emotions

Your song Maskhari was very popular… tell us about the making of it?

When Rahman sir composed the song, the feeling of ‘Maskhari’ was already embedded in it and it had a really chirpy, fun energy to it. We all had a lot of fun working on it and the lyrics added to the hustle and bustle of the energy, Amitabh Bhattacharya sir (lyricist of Maskhari) has a beautiful knack of using pop culture references and making it sound beautiful in a song. It was so refreshing to see how he approached the song . But most importantly when Rahman sir wanted Sunidhi to sing it I was overjoyed. I have always looked up to her versatility and her stage persona. She is one of the best performers I have ever seen. She brought an energy to the song like no other; it was infectious. I was very excited to sing alongside her and even more excited as I got an opportunity to play a bit of guitar on the song and be a part of the production team on it. Sunidhi ma’am was so kind and supportive, Working on this song together led us to collaborating on a song of our own that has recently released called ‘Ishq Tera Mera’.

Which music directors have you worked and bonded with?

I’ve been fortunate enough to work with some of the nicest and most accomplished music directors like Rahman sir, Vishal and Shekhar, Amit Trivedi, Salim-Sulaiman and Mithoon sir to name a few. Working closely with Rahman sir has taught me a lot. Also Vishal Dadlani sir has been monumental in my Independent Music. He’s the one who gave me wings to fly and helped me release my Independent music I started writing music while I was in Chennai, once I got back I formed a band and started playing local venues like ‘Blue Frog’ and ‘Hard Rock Cafe’ in Bombay only to lead up to playing festivals like ‘Nh7 Weekender’ and ‘Stage Forty two’ where incidentally in Pune at Weekender, Vishal sir spotted my act. That led to him releasing my music and us working on ‘Udanchoo’ together for the Duo. He has been a huge help and great guide to me as well.

Any challenges you’ve faced as a singer?

Music comes with its challenges too but it makes it easier to ride the storm because music itself keeps you sane and inspired. The Biggest Challenge in the Modern World with Music is being relevant and the fierce competition. The Internet has made it easy to upload a song and have it reach people and also empowered more talent which makes the competition a lot more cut throat. Instant gratification has become the name of the game with social Media and comments on your work and varied opinions; taking that positively has been something I have learnt to do over the years. Also as a singer, you are at the beckoning of Music Directors which gets difficult as you have to be relevant and in the minds of the artists 24/7. I have been fortunate to great opportunities but also there have been times where work was slow. I worked towards writing my own music and being Independent so I always have my voice out there and get an opportunity to pass on my message at all times.

What do you think of the remixes which are so popular these days?

With the plethora of talent that is available today, there should be a plethora of genres as well. Remixes are one thing that has been around for decades but there is a lot more that artists have to offer. Music was always used as a tool for revolution and remixes are a rehash of the past. We need new messages, new thought and ideas to be delivered to the new audiences out there. It is our duty as artists to keep putting our best foot forward using music that was popular as a benchmark and case study. While remixes can strive and keep exciting audiences, it should be paired with a larger influx of original music which I see happening.. So I am of the strong belief that while remixes are inevitable, the focus shouldn’t be on why remixes are popular but instead should be on the brilliant new music being created by artists all around the country.

What are your thoughts on politics in music?

Music is one of the most powerful tools of communication. No one can ever have a monopoly on music, it’s too sacred to be taken into any one’s control. While politics exists in every field, if media houses stay out of the politics and stay true to their purpose of entertaining their audiences, politics can never affect music. There are a lot of major Radio Stations, TV Channels and Streaming platforms that are supporting independent talent and that is wonderful to see. I think in the larger scheme of things, politics is too small an aspect to be worried about as a musician, if you have the drive to entertain and an honest story to tell no one can stop you from being heard.

You are also a music supervisor and producer, could you tell us about this aspect of your life?

Music Supervision is a newer concept in Indian Cinema, since the making of music has moved to being digital there are a lot of new avenues that have opened up to making music. Things are done offline and at different times and places on one single time. A Music Supervisor is like an Assistant Director who helps the Music Director execute his vision for a song. I was excited to take up this role on the film ‘Dil Bechara’ and a few other projects in the last few years. It was one of the most wholesome experiences for me because apart from being a part of something way bigger than me it taught me a lot. I worked

alongside Rahman sir, Amitabh Bhattacharya (the Lyricist) and Mukesh Chhabra sir and got to learn so much from all of them. I started dabbling with production when I started writing my own music. I got the opportunity to learn Production from every musician I’ve ever worked with because everyone has a unique style and tone of playing music and A R Rahman sir has always been on the forefront of production with his unique sound and Interesting arrangements, I was very fortunate to learn a lot from him is this field What I have learnt and urge every singer out there to do is to learn another instrument too and to dabble with Production a little as it empowers you to become independent of others and give your imagination wings as an artist. Production has helped my singing and vice-versa.

You have worked on iconic projects such as the band U2s collaboration with A R Rahman, could you tell us about this and the other projects you have been involved with?

It has been a dream come true to associate with some of the best in the business, with Symphonic orchestras from all over the world to the biggest band in the world U2, I have had great opportunities. ‘Ahimsa’ a song by U2 and A.R Rahman sir was one of those projects. Rahman sir wanted to talk about something he truly believed in with everything going around us in the world and so did U2, they came up with the profound idea of talking about Ahimsa and Non Violence. The song is a sheer masterpiece and I was just ecstatic to be involved in the conversation around it. I had a chance to interact with ‘The Edge’ (the Guitarist of U2) over some emails. We shared some initial lyrical ideas and then Rahman sir and the rest of the band Jammed and ‘Ahimsa’ was born. I also got to be a part of and sing a song called ‘For You My love’ in Gurinder Chadha’s film ‘Blinded By The Light’ and “Hands around the World’ a project that is being made by the people that made the iconic ‘We Are The World’.

What’s next in terms of future projects?

I am working on an English EP and some Hindi Singles. The English songs are very close to my heart as they are some of the first songs I ever wrote. The EP comes out next month and one Hindi single too. I am collaborating with some artists and writing new material. The focus is mainly independent music and I continue to compose, produce and music supervise on some projects for others. All in all I want to be immersed in the world of Music and the future looks like some interesting avenues could open up. Some surprises are in store for my listeners and me too.