Shabiha Nur Khatoon
After the rip-roaring success of his latest song ‘Udan Choo’ Hriday Gattani, who is also a songwriter and composer, is freely experimenting with offbeat styles. The singer has trained under AR Rahman and is eager to work with leading music directors
“I feel everyone has a unique voice and style and it’s important for me as a vocalist to rely on my strengths. I strive to attain perfection in my individual style,” says Hriday Gattani who is riding high on the success of his latest song “Udan Choo” from ‘Banjo’ which is currently topping the chartbusters.
Hriday says he grew up watching the music industry from close quarters as his father was a part of the industry producing musical events. It was, therefore, not very difficult for him to obtain access to musicians. The musical energy of live concerts and the experiences of several such concerts urged him to seek a place in the world of music.
Born and brought up in Mumbai, Hriday completed his schooling from Jamnabai Narsee in Mumbai and graduation in mass media from the National College. The singer has trained under AR Rahman as part of a vocal course at the KM School of Music and Technology in Chennai.
“Singing was always my passion. I enjoyed singing so much that I formed a band during schooldays, making videos and participating in college festivals. Eventually, music became a professional choice. I started training in Hindustani Classical under Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan and am still training under Sanjay Mishra ji. I also did a vocal course in Western Classical from KM in Chennai and currently working with Joshua Alamu, a voice coach from London,” he says.
Hriday’s latest track ‘Udan Choo’ is already a hit and the singer says he is enjoying the latest success. “It’s a dream come true to sing for Vishal-Shekhar. They are amazing people and I had a great time working on the track. The best part about the composer duo is that they give total freedom to the singer to explore his individual style in the context of a composition. This is just amazing. ‘Udan Choo’ has got brilliant melody and I am glad that I got the opportunity to sing it. The song has generated good response and I couldn’t have asked for more,” he says.
In the first project of his life he got the opportunity to work with AR Rahman. When the singer was just 13, he sang a song with four other kids for a single written by former President APJ Abdul Kalam called ‘One Vision’ for Children’s Day. His excitement was limitless when he the song at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi in front of several delegates including the former president himself.
The young singer shares a special bond with Oscar-winning composer AR Rahman. “I look up to him as an icon so I am always on guard when he is around, but whenever he does get some free time he shares bits of new technology he has acquired or discusses things related to music. He has a great sense of humour and its fun being around him. I am blessed that I had him as my mentor in the initial days of my career,” says the young singer.
Apart from singing, Hriday also writes lyrics and composes music. “I have been working on independent material as a singer/songwriter since the last three years and have been performing with my band at independent music festivals and events. Vishal Dadlani has been a huge support. He has encouraged independent musicians for a long time and I am glad he signed me into his label (called VLT) and I got the chance to produce my own music under his guidance,” he says.
The singer-cum-songwriter shares one of his memorable moments which was a turning point in his career. During his college days he got an opportunity to collaborate with Suchismita Das, the lead artiste, for a YouTube single which his father was producing, and released ‘The Beatles Indian Connection – LET IT BE’. Guess what! The singer received a huge compliment from his mentor and role model who told Hriday that he had huge potential.
Hriday thanks his parents for their constant support and motivation. “My parents have been very supportive from the beginning and as they too were a part of the industry they guided me at every turn,” the singer says.
“I think I would’ve surely stuck around in the live entertainment business knowing my love for it and would have produced/directed live concerts and events had I not ventured into singing,” says Hriday who is currently working on his singles which shall be out soon. Other collaborations too are under way. The singer wants to work with music directors like Pritam, Amit Trivedi, Salim-Sulaiman and Shankar-Ehsaan Loy in the near future.
Sneak peek
Favourite actors: Ranbir Kapoor, Shahid Kapoor and Robert Downey Jr.
Favourite movie: ‘Andaaz Apna Apna’
Hobbies: Playing the guitar or piano, dancing and watching TV.
Role models: AR Rahman, The Beatles, John Mayer and Coldplay.
