UK-based singer-songwriter Amar's new album, has her collaborating with Sonu Nigam and Timbaland, among other artists. Want to know what this fusion will sound like? WHAT's ON tells you where to drop in to catch a preview
UK-based singer-songwriter Amar's new album, has her collaborating with Sonu Nigam and Timbaland, among other artists. Want to know what this fusion will sound like? WHAT's ON tells you where to drop in to catch a preview
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The 28 year-old daughter of Punjabi singer Mangal Singh, famed for his hit track Rail Gaddi, sheds all pretences and says her upcoming album is a Hindi-Pop compilation that can reach out to everyone. Despite having done loads of fusion collaborations, she doesn't feel the need to brand this one into any pseudo genre. While sitting in the studio dabbling with sounds with Bollywood playback singer Sonu Nigam, she chats about how the Asian Underground movement in London 7 years ago, has in a way, brought her back to India. "The movement involved a lot of hip hop, R 'n' B, drum 'n' bass mixed Hindi vocals and instruments, and yet didn't end up sounding fusion-heavy. It had a natural sound," she says. Talvin Singh was one of the pioneers of the movement, and Amar had a chance to meet him at a club in East London. She went on to collaborate with him on his album Anokha Soudz, where her Hindi vocals feature on track, Jaan. "It was a crazy time in London.
Timbaland wants Amar to be on Bombay
At 14, Amar had sung a Hindi version of Whitney Houston's I will always love you, and 9 years ago fusion maestro Nitin Sawhney produced a bulk of Amar's debut album, Outside, which was strong on Hindi vocals.
Recently, influential hip hop producer in the industry, Timbaland heard some of Amar's work and wanted her to work with him on his albums, Shock Value and a sequel to it. "Timbaland loves old Hindi music. He has a huge collection of Bhangra music and RD Burman classics, and his favourite Indian singer is Asha Bhosle." Amar's sultry vocals featured on Timbaland's remixes of Nelly Furtado's Maneater and Promiscuous Girl, and will soon be on After Shock 2's track titled, Bombay.
Boy band, rapper, and Bollywood singer on new album
Rapper and musician Jim Beanz, Florida-based boy band Rebel, Timbaland, Sonu Nigam and Amar's father, Mangal Singh will feature on Amar's new album, Show it Off, slated to release this May-June. It's going to be a "dancey, fun album with cheeky Hindi vocals", she promises. "The gigs in the city are going to be casual, just to see how the audience reacts to our new sound."
Catch Amar with boy band Rebel and musician Jim Beanz today at Serai, Khar and at Prive, Colaba on March 13, 9 pm onwards.
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