For singer Armaan Malik, Bengaluru is a city that always opens its arms to him. Each visit brings with it the warmth of listeners who have embraced not only his Hindi chartbusters but his Kannada songs as well. The singer was in the city recently for a private performance, and sat down with Bangalore Times for a heartfelt conversation. He spoke about his love for Kannada music, collaborating with AR Rahman on Ramayana, finding his footing in the age of AI, and how married life has changed him. Excerpts from a chat:‘Kannada has always been very close to my heart’Songs like Sariyaagi, Ondu Malebillu and Neenaade Naa have made Armaan a regular on Kannada playlists. He doesn’t speak the language, but believes there is something about the language that works well with his voice. “I feel like my voice sounds really good in Kannada. There’s something so sweet about the language, and when there’s a melody to it, it sounds beautiful,” he says.“Hindi, Telugu and Kannada are my top three languages. Kannada has always been very close to my heart. Whenever I’ve performed in this beautiful city, I’ve received so much love, not just for my Kannada songs but my Hindi songs too. Even though I don’t speak the language, I know I speak a universal musical language with listeners here,” he says.
Even though I don’t speak the language, I know that I speak a universal musical language with the Kannada listeners
Armaan Malik
‘I blindly walk into the studio while working with Rahman Sir’One of Armaan’s latest projects has brought him back with AR Rahman in Ramayana, for which he has sung the Kannada version of Mangal Rang. While the song has drawn much online criticism, Armaan says he doesn’t weigh public reaction while choosing work. “With Rahman sir and projects like Ramayana, I blindly go into the studio. I don’t need to check which song it is, because I know it will have quality and substance,” he says. He adds,“We don’t know which song will become a blockbuster or what reaction people will have. The best way is to do your work, put it out in the universe with your best energy, and hope people like it.”‘AI can start an idea, not replace the artiste’Technology is changing the music industry, and Armaan sees real use for AI, especially for independent musicians without access to studios or costly mixing and mastering. “It can be an idea starter. You could brainstorm using AI to kick-start an idea,” he says.However, he draws a clear line between using AI to support creativity and allowing it to replace the people behind the music. “If AI has made the full composition and lyrics, what’s the point of us doing the song? Then let an AI artiste put out an AI song. I’m not against it, but it has to be used within limits, as a tool that enhances what you do, not the be-all and end-all.”
If AI has made the full composition and lyrics, then what’s the point of us even doing the song?
Armaan Malik
‘Live performances demand more than just singing’With concert culture booming, singers are expected to travel constantly, perform at high energy and keep up to recording schedules. Armaan grew up admiring performers like Sonu Nigam, who sings for three hours non-stop and dances with unbelievable energy, so for him “being a performer was non-negotiable.” But he admits he has felt burnt out at times and is now choosier about shows. “As an artiste, you should never push yourself to a point where you can’t perform for four or five months. I don’t like doing anything that compromises my vocal condition,” he says.‘Marriage has made my music deeper’Away from the stage, Armaan says marrying Aashna Shroff last year has made him see a new side of love. “I’ve grown up in the last couple of years as I went from a boyfriend to a husband. Responsibilities have increased. Now I think not just about my life, but our life together. When I look at it from that lens, life looks very different,” he says. That, he feels, shows in the words he chooses in his songs. “My music has gotten deeper. I feel there’s been a profound impact on me and discovered more about myself than ever before. I feel very, very loved and inspired to write more beautiful love songs now,” he adds.
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