WHEN THE PANDEMIC led several actors and celebrities to try and show their support through songs, Madhuri Dixit's debut English song "Candle" from 2020 was among the more genuine, heartfelt tributes to frontline covers trying to fight the spread of Covid-19. It's an entirely different matter that the track wasn't written during the pandemic.
"Candle" as well as her latest single "Tu Hai Mera" had their origins in 2016 and 2017, when the seasoned Bollywood actor and dancer met with Indian-origin music industry veteran Sat Bisla (best known for his work in radio, A&R and music business). Dixit recalls, "He asked me to sing for him and he said, 'Oh my god, you have a voice. You should sing."" Further back, Dixit says her husband Shriram Nene, was among the first ones to nudge her towards singing as a means of further connecting with her fanbase.
Even as a music team was being put together - one that included rapper and songwriter Raja Kumari, well before she made it to India herself Dixit insisted she didn't just want to sing someone else's previously penned songs. Now, a six-track album, called The Film Star, is expected to release song by song throughout this year. "I wanted to do something that was mine... something original." She began taking vocal lessons from Los Angeles-based coach Ron Anderson before she went into the studio, creating music with Raja Kumari, Narinder Singh and others. "I worked hard for this. It's not that I just suddenly decided to sing one day. There's a lot of thought that went into it," Dixit says.
This story is from the July 2022 edition of RollingStone India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the July 2022 edition of RollingStone India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
yashraj
With chart-topping collaborations with seasoned veterans, this rapper has consistently been in the conversations of industry observers
taba chake
The Arunachal Pradesh-based singer-song-writer discusses how his latest song \"Kahani\" reflects the power of love songs.
ranj x clifr
The Bengaluru singer-composer and producer duo may not be done with hip-hop, but they are venturing into pop, R&B and Tamil songs next
Evnne On 'Un: Seen,' Their 'Seen,' And 'Unseen' Sides
The Band Discusses How A Setback Early In Their Career Spurred Them On And How They Fused Those Experiences With Their Sound In Their Second Mini Album, ‘Un: Seen
kayan
Between fandoms and aesthetic-setting live shows, artist Ambika Nayak talks about wanting to put out an album
mohini dey
The bass maverick and composer on the common ground between fashion and music, plus the move to Nashville
hanumenkind
The Bengaluru-based rapper talks about the work he's putting into his upcoming debut album and how corporatization in music can be a worry
they don't call him king for no reason
Veracity, talent, strategic moves and everything in between
VISHAL MISHRA ON 'PEHLE BHI MAIN', NEW MUSIC AND WORKING WITH ATIF ASLAM
ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S LEADING HITMAKERS RIGHT NOW, MISHRA SAYS HE'D SIMPLY LIKE TO BE KNOWN AS A MUSICIAN INSTEAD OF SINGER, COMPOSER OR ANY SPECIFIC COMBINATION
THE ESSENCE OF CIX
CIX WON’T EVER BACK DOWN FROM BEING COMMITTED TO USING MUSIC THAT WILL STIR FEELINGS OF INTIMACY WITH THE LISTENER, RATHER THAN MIMICKING PATTERNS OR ADHERING TO A CERTAIN PREDEFINED CONCEPT