Indo-Canadian music star, Raghav, who has made everyone groove with tracks like Angel Eyes and Let’s Work It Out has so much to say about his latest single release, So Much. “It is a collaboration with Canadian hip-hop megastar Kardinal Offishall. The song is a hit in the Canadian charts and I hope it does well here too,” says Raghav enthusiastically. The Neo-desi version of the track is with Punjabi star H-Dhami who is from the renowned band, Rishi Rich.
“More than that, the making of the video was awesome fun. It was exciting to work with the biggest starts of the music industry. It was a great learning experience,” he continues.
It has been a tough ride for Raghav ever since he started and had to initially face a lot of criticism for his unique style of music. “Critics and people have the right to think whatever they want but that doesn’t pull me down because I am confident about my music and work,” he continues.
While his earlier album ‘Storyteller’ had a mix of some of the greatest oldie tracks like Kabhi Aar Kabhi Par, So Much misses the Indie touch. Raghav clarifies, “My next release is full of Hindi tracks and has some of the greatest music numbers.”
The musician has always kept in touch with his Indian roots. “Like any other NRI, I have grown up listening to Bollywood music. My parents had a tape deck in our Ford Granada back in the early days, that played the same songs over and over again. May be that’s the reason I have learnt so many old Bollywood tracks.”
Just when Raghav started to compose, he also began to write songs of his own. “I always wanted to write songs with stories. I didn’t want to restrict myself to the‘Hey gal, you got a nice body’ kind of rap, but narrate a series of events in a song. My songs have a beginning, middle and end because people can get bored of the music, rhythm or voice, but they can’t get sick of the story and the lyric,” he smiles. Maybe this is the reason why Raghav calls himself a ‘Storyteller’.
The music-maker has shared stage with tinsel town biggies like Preity Zinta and Amitabh Bachchan during the ‘Unforgettable Tour’. So is Bollywood calling anytime soon? “Yes, there is something bada that will happen in 2011. The project will have me doing a small bit in a Hindi movie. I can’t say anything more than that,” says the ‘Storyteller’.
Without any formal training, he has managed to be on the top of music charts since his debut album. “I had no family backup or didn’t have any formal training. Undoubtedly, it was difficult to break into showbiz, but it was sheer passion for music that helped me reach where I am today,” he says modestly.
Talking about the music reality show mania, he says, “I have turned down offers to judge reality shows because I believe that it’s passion that matters the most.” Currently in India to give a performance in a model hunt show, Raghav says, “I’m excited and looking forward to the performance. I love performing on stage as it’s not about just singing, but entertaining too,” he smiles. Raghav is worried about the dying pop culture. “I’ve grown up listening to Micheal Jackson and Madonna and it is disheartening to see the fading era of pop music. I would like to see more and more singers reviving the culture,” he says.
Raghav hopes to create more versatile music in the longer run. The artist doesn’t believe in restricting himself creatively. “I will always puruse music and chase all my dreams. But, I am open to any other kind of creative calling,” he ends on an optimistic note.