Page 60 - Tehelka-May18

q&A ‘I did not train interview
formally but I was
practicing music
all the time. ... I had

requested Indian Army for a per- an interest and collection of poems by late former
formance as I was keen to perform passion in music and President AP J Abdul Kalam that I
for soldiers and their families at turned into songs and Fitoor was
the border posts for ages. I have al- I practised it so my solo commercial album. Both al-
ways felt respect and gratitude for bums were received with great love
the forces and what they do to keep much that I turned and sold very well.
us safe. There was a time when I it into a skill’ All through this, I found my way
wanted to join the Army myself. So, in the film industry. I have been sing-
this January, when I was in Sikkim ing non-stop since 2002 when I first
for the Red Panda Festival, a friend hear my music they are immediately sang for Ram Gopal Varma’s Road.
of ours, Colonel Nitin Shreshtha of transported to the mountains. You In the last 16 years in the industry,
mohit ChAuhAn 11 Gurkhas, met us. I told him about can take me out of the mountains I have had the great fortune to sing
musician my desire to perform for the army but you can’t take the mountains for Rahman (single songs like Ma-
The unplugged and he got it done. There were two out of me! The mountains, forests, sakali and Khoon Chala) and then an
entire album, Rockstar, which really
performances — one in Gangtok for
rivers and wildlife — these brilliant
the Gurkha regiment and another at
creations of God — have shaped and
is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity
version of the musician Nathula. I didn’t have my band play influenced my music and shall be for a singer. In the last decade and
with me for these performances.
a half in the industry, I have been
with me wherever I go and reflect in
honoured with the Filmfare, Zee
Instead, I sang with the army band
whatever I do.
and they are so amazingly talented. Cine, IIFA, Mirchi and many other
I also performed for families of the Even though you never received awards for my renditions in India
Services Selection Board personnel. formal training in music, your and abroad, and it feels fulfilling to
It was so satisfying to be able to bring joined Silk Route (pop) and have come such a long way.
joy to those who sacrifice so much to thereafter moved to Bollywood. Further, I have been an ambas-
Known mostly as the voice behind hits There were people tuning in from as far birds and squirrels. Ever since childhood, keep us hale and hearty. How would you describe your sador for the British government to
like Rockstar and Dooba Dooba, we recently as Canada, Nepal, Australia, US, UK and I loved being with animals. Wherever musical journey? promote music among children. As
discovered a whole new compassionate side New Zealand. Since these concerts are and whenever I could, I would spend You were born in a Rajput family Yes, I did not train formally but I was part of the World Voice Project, I was
to mohit Chauhan. neha kirpal recently absolutely free of cost, no one has to pay a time with animals, because they are the in Himachal Pradesh. Tell us more practicing music all the time. As Skill declared the World Voice Champion
caught up with the Bollywood musician who dime to be able to listen once they log in. only living beings to provide unadul- about your roots and how they India ambassador, I tell people eve- and took music to children. Our pur-
spoke at length about his Himachali roots, For years now, I have been meeting peo- terated, pure love for eternity. We are have influenced your music. rywhere that I had an interest and pose was to create more empathy
the incredible musical journey so far, causes ple who tell me they want to attend my duty-bound to protect and care for these When I look back now, it seems I passion in music and I practised it and love among children for vari-
that are close to his heart and special concerts or booked tickets but couldn’t selfless creatures. I have also done sev- had quite an idyllic start to my musi- so much that I turned it into a skill. ous cultures through music. It was
initiatives that he has been a part of. make it to the event. Some would even eral videos with my pet Labrador called cal journey. My roots were laid down And that passion or skill turned into a very fulfilling role. I am now at a
come from as far as Spiti. Ginger and also has composed a song. and dug deep into the Himalayan a profession which has made me the juncture where it is fun and exciting
edited excerpts from an interview • CoHear was simultaneously aired on From time to time, I share my concerns, soil. My father was working with the person I am today. That’s what I keep to experiment with new genres and
my Facebook page and YouTube channel. thoughts and ideas on animal care and government with regular postings telling the youth in my concerts and try different things at playback. The
It is such a unique concept and I am the have started a tag called #AnimalsAre- to different towns in the state. As a through digital videos — pick up a love I have received in the industry
Not many people know that since only artist in the world doing free con- PeopleToo. Very recently, a friend of ours result, I ended up living my child- passion, turn it into a skill and then and from audiences the world over
February 2017, you have been airing certs like these for music lovers. Towards told us about an initiative that provides hood in various places in Himachal. the sky is the limit. I am a clear ex- is overwhelming and humbling.
free online concerts called CoHear the end of last year, we took a break from florescent collars for stray dogs, so that This constant travel perhaps laid the ample of that.
to reach the far-flung audience that CoHear Season 1, because I had to work they can be seen in the dark by passive foundation for the strong influence I had a band and we did two al- What are you working on
cannot come to your shows. Tell us on my new album and songs which will vehicular traffic and not get killed by of pahadi folk in my singing, which I bums together. Songs like Dooba currently—upcoming records,
more about this initiative. start releasing in June 2018. We will now getting run over. The organisation was effortlessly absorbed. It possibly did Dooba released twenty years ago, concerts, etc.?
My wife, Prarthana, suggested that I start putting together more concerts for looking for funds to cover an area. I was not mean much then, and I wasn’t yet till date, I can’t get off any stage There are film songs coming up —
should take my concerts to people who CoHear Season 2 and will be back on the happy to help and urged others to come doing any planned learning. But it without singing that song. The song some that I have recorded already,
can’t get to my concerts physically and air very soon. forward and help too. became a learning process that re- has found love from here to the rest some that I am recording now. There
that’s how CoHear came in. CoHear flects in my compositions today. of the world. I have to thank my stars is also the new album that I men-
stands for Community Hearing, which You also promote compassion for In January, you performed for free It also gave me that one steady that I could compose a song that tioned previously — the first of the
means all of us come together as a com- animals through online campaigns with Indian army soldiers and their interest that I developed — spend- had a shelf life of two decades. I am songs will be released in June. Then
munity of music lovers and listen to like #Animal for People. Tell us about families at the Northeast frontier in ing most of my time singing or play- a playback singer who composes there are tours and solo concerts.
some good music. It is my way of reach- this. Sikkim. Share your experiences about ing an instrument while most other and has found love and acceptance There’s a collaboration too that I
ing out to all those who can’t attend my In Delhi, there is an entire group of com- such events kids were doing other stuff. Even in both avatars. Our two albums did shall talk about possibly after June.
concerts. We were surprised to find that munity animals that we look after on a I have been appointed as the “Green now, the music that I compose has a extremely well. After the band mem- The ride is on…and I am enjoying it.
every concert we did had 10 lakh views. daily basis, including cows, dogs, cats, Ambassador of Sikkim”. Earlier, I had strong sense of the outdoors. I meet bers went their separate ways, I did
people who tell me that when they another two albums. Kalam was a letters@tehelka.com

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60-61 Q&A Neha Kirpal.indd 2-3 17/05/18 4:01 PM