SWATI'S MUSICAL JOURNEY
THE ASIAN AGE (June 2003)
By Skimmy Gupta
Swati Natekar, London based singer and composer is creating waves in the western world of music with her magical voice. Swati, daughter of Dr Sushila Pohankar, renowned Hindustani Classical Performer is a textile-designing graduate from Sir J. J. School of Arts, Mumbai and an expert in Classical, Light Classical, Ghazals, Folk, and Devotional music. After settling down in London in 1990,Swati has given live performances at prestigious venues in London, Paris and Brussels. She was in town to promote her recently released solo Ghazal album “Dhanak – The Rainbow”.
Skimmy Gupta spoke to her about her musical journey from Mumbai to London
Q. Is your first ghazal album a dream come true?
A.I love ghazals and used to render them on radio and TV since my teens. Ghazal singing is one of the most delicate and difficult domains of light music requiring chaste Urdu pronunciation and an understanding of the emotions projected by the lyrics. One needs a natural flair for Ghazal recitals with immaculately controlled delivery of lyrics. I have tried to keep the composition and lyrics very simple for the common man to listen and enjoy the same.
Q.How did your musical career develop in London?
A. After concentrating on private Mehfils and Concerts during the initial settling phase in London, renowned Tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain approached me to record a track in Naiki Kanada published on the album "Little Buddha, The Secret Score". Later, I recorded a remix of "Raghupati Raghav" for James Asher's album "Tigers of the Raj" and a track with English singer Kiki Dee for album "Where Rivers Meet". My big break was recording two songs "Nadia" and "Beyond Skin" for UK based musician/composer Nitin Sawhney which received positive reviews and the album was nominated for the prestigious Mercury 2000 Music Award in U.K.
Q. Foreign filmmakers have also used some tracks in their films. What are these foreign projects?
A. One of my tracks from album "Paigham-e-Mohabbat" by Muzaffar Ali, eminent Film Director has been used in Hollywood Movie ‘In-laws’ starring Michael Douglas. There are talks going on with a Canadian production team to use my two tracks in their film. It is a great honour to be associated with foreign film industry.
Q. Does your music have western influence?
A. I was always fascinated listening to western music. Being exposed to popular fusion music in London, I explored various possibilities of introducing Indian sound to the western world. People in west are passionate about the unique Indian sound and genuinely appreciate it. The amazing blend of western tune and Indian tune inspired me to sing tracks, which were well received by them. My track Jakatta – American Dream figured in the U.K main charts 2001 and was subsequently nominated for World Dancestar Award. Last year, a track co-written with Craig Armstrong (who wrote the Music score for Moulin Rouge) was released in the album “As if to Nothing”.
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By Skimmy Gupta
Swati Natekar, London based singer and composer is creating waves in the western world of music with her magical voice. Swati, daughter of Dr Sushila Pohankar, renowned Hindustani Classical Performer is a textile-designing graduate from Sir J. J. School of Arts, Mumbai and an expert in Classical, Light Classical, Ghazals, Folk, and Devotional music. After settling down in London in 1990,Swati has given live performances at prestigious venues in London, Paris and Brussels. She was in town to promote her recently released solo Ghazal album “Dhanak – The Rainbow”.
Skimmy Gupta spoke to her about her musical journey from Mumbai to London
Q. Is your first ghazal album a dream come true?
A.I love ghazals and used to render them on radio and TV since my teens. Ghazal singing is one of the most delicate and difficult domains of light music requiring chaste Urdu pronunciation and an understanding of the emotions projected by the lyrics. One needs a natural flair for Ghazal recitals with immaculately controlled delivery of lyrics. I have tried to keep the composition and lyrics very simple for the common man to listen and enjoy the same.
Q.How did your musical career develop in London?
A. After concentrating on private Mehfils and Concerts during the initial settling phase in London, renowned Tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain approached me to record a track in Naiki Kanada published on the album "Little Buddha, The Secret Score". Later, I recorded a remix of "Raghupati Raghav" for James Asher's album "Tigers of the Raj" and a track with English singer Kiki Dee for album "Where Rivers Meet". My big break was recording two songs "Nadia" and "Beyond Skin" for UK based musician/composer Nitin Sawhney which received positive reviews and the album was nominated for the prestigious Mercury 2000 Music Award in U.K.
Q. Foreign filmmakers have also used some tracks in their films. What are these foreign projects?
A. One of my tracks from album "Paigham-e-Mohabbat" by Muzaffar Ali, eminent Film Director has been used in Hollywood Movie ‘In-laws’ starring Michael Douglas. There are talks going on with a Canadian production team to use my two tracks in their film. It is a great honour to be associated with foreign film industry.
Q. Does your music have western influence?
A. I was always fascinated listening to western music. Being exposed to popular fusion music in London, I explored various possibilities of introducing Indian sound to the western world. People in west are passionate about the unique Indian sound and genuinely appreciate it. The amazing blend of western tune and Indian tune inspired me to sing tracks, which were well received by them. My track Jakatta – American Dream figured in the U.K main charts 2001 and was subsequently nominated for World Dancestar Award. Last year, a track co-written with Craig Armstrong (who wrote the Music score for Moulin Rouge) was released in the album “As if to Nothing”.
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Labels: Music
posted by Skimmy @ July 10, 2008
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