Born to Asit Kumar Das, a music teacher at St. Xavier’s, Satyanagar, and an All-India Radio artiste Manisha Das, Ankush Das is the latest singing sensation in streaming sites. After the completion of his graduation in engineering, the talented artiste has decided to pursue music wholeheartedly. Orissa Post interacted with him to delve deeper into the craze of streaming platforms and his future plans.
Why are streaming platforms so popular these days?
If you want people to notice your talent, you must record a cover and upload in Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Prime music, Saavan and YouTube. The advantages of these platforms are that you get instant recognition and it’s not restricted to any single country. All you have to do is record a song and upload it on these online platforms. Many artistes have become overnight sensations in this way.
Why is it so important to sing covers?
Covers are the preferred way to become popular amidst young music lovers as well as with record labels and music producers. At my place, I have created ‘Midi’, a virtual instrument that plays on your computer. It looks like a Casio, but when connected on computer it can play any kind of instrument using the software.
Would you say that currently music is more dependent on technology rather than talent?
It all depends on the singer or the genre of music that is chosen. However, depending on genre of songs, technology plays a greater role and it makes easier on the part of the singer to record and upload. In simple words one don’t need a 40-man orchestra to play background music as technology does it.
What is your opinion of tuning one’s voice to sound like a professional?
That’s true as ‘Auto Tuner’ is new software where one has to just select the scale and the tech does the rest. This software has actually helped the careers of many non-singers. However, they are fake. That’s why singers like me are trying to follow real singers like Shankar Mahadevan and Sonu Nigam who sing live on stage without faking.
What is the role of youngsters in the current music scenario?
I would say that youngsters are emerging as the new path breakers in the music industry with new concepts and ideas. Overall, today’s music is more youth friendly as young singers are more accessible. The technology felicitates us to connect with our audience.
Where do you see yourself in the near future?
The audience is from across the globe. Hence, I don’t stick to any genre of music. That’s why I sing Western, Hindi as well as semi-classical songs. My first music video was ‘To Haath Dhari’. My cover on ‘Kitne Bhi karle tu Sitam’ has also earned me great appreciation from senior singers of Odia music industry like Rojalin Sahoo.
What are your upcoming projects?
I want to sing covers for ‘Tuhi Re’ and ‘All of me’ by John Legend. I will sing my own composition in English version soon.
