Independent singer, songwriter and composer Jasleen Royal, who started out with her solo song 'Panchi' on the social media, made her Bollywood debut with 'Preet' from Sonam Kapoor and Fawad Khan-starrer 'Khoobsurat'. She then went on to sing 'Badla Badla' from 'Badlapur', 'Raatein' from 'Shivaay' and recently sung and composed 'Nachde Ne Saare' and 'Kho Gaye' from 'Baar Baar Dekho'. In a chat with Shweta Sharma, the 'Love You Zindagi' singer talks about her musical journey — as an independent artiste and a Bollywood singer.
When did your tryst with music begin?
My brother used to take keyboard lessons from his school teacher, and after returning home, he tried to teach me. But he used to run away half way through the classes. I was around five years old then, and was a very restless kid. So I started experimenting by myself and at some point figured out how it works. That's how I got interested in music. And later I started experimenting with other instruments as well.
How did you bag your first Bollywood project?
Rhea Kapoor and Sneha Khanwalkar heard 'Panchi', and co-incidentally around the same time, I had called Sneha to tell her how I loved her melodies in 'Kal: Yesterday and Tomorrow'. She also complimented me back saying she heard my song and loved it. After that everything fell in place and one day Sneha called me up and I ended up singing for 'Khoobsurat'.
So many movies and compositions, which is your favourite?
I don't have a favourite as such and love all my songs. Like, I made a peppy wedding song for 'Baar Baar Dekho', while 'Shivaay' was absolutely different from everything I have done so far. Again, the title track from 'Dear Zindagi' has a fresh feel to it. So I have enjoyed all the songs, but I am really looking forward to the release of 'Haramkhor'; it has the first song I composed for a film...so in a way it's really special.
Does Bollywood give indie singers enough creative freedom?
It depends on whom you are working with. Like films are a collaborative venture and everyone wants to get a good song. So everyone gives you the freedom, but at the same time they also guide you and try to make it better. So no one tries to pull you down. I will continue doing indie music, but I like collaborating with lyricists even there. In the end it comes down to a team of talented people who come together to make a nice song.
What are the key points that you consider while singing or composing a song?
Sometimes the lyrics inspire you; sometimes the melody inspires the lyricist. Sometimes you meet people and their experiences inspire you. So there is no specific process, it comes naturally. There is no formula for it.
What are the challenges of being a part of Bollywood?
It was difficult to get meetings fixed with a lot of people when I had just started. But then there were people who were always nice and encouraging. One of them was Imtiaz Ali, who I just met at one point in time without any agenda. He heard my songs and we had a long chat. Also, Vikas Bahl and Anurag Kashyap met me just after my second song released and Anurag even tweeted about it. All these things really uplift you, so there have been no challenges as such. The challenge lies in getting to work with the right kind of people, and make music which people would love.
Who do you wish to work with?
I wish to work with lot of people including Zoya Akhtar, Imtiaz Ali and Vikramaditya Motwane as I really look up to them and I enjoy their movies.
When did your tryst with music begin?
My brother used to take keyboard lessons from his school teacher, and after returning home, he tried to teach me. But he used to run away half way through the classes. I was around five years old then, and was a very restless kid. So I started experimenting by myself and at some point figured out how it works. That's how I got interested in music. And later I started experimenting with other instruments as well.
How did you bag your first Bollywood project?
Rhea Kapoor and Sneha Khanwalkar heard 'Panchi', and co-incidentally around the same time, I had called Sneha to tell her how I loved her melodies in 'Kal: Yesterday and Tomorrow'. She also complimented me back saying she heard my song and loved it. After that everything fell in place and one day Sneha called me up and I ended up singing for 'Khoobsurat'.
So many movies and compositions, which is your favourite?
I don't have a favourite as such and love all my songs. Like, I made a peppy wedding song for 'Baar Baar Dekho', while 'Shivaay' was absolutely different from everything I have done so far. Again, the title track from 'Dear Zindagi' has a fresh feel to it. So I have enjoyed all the songs, but I am really looking forward to the release of 'Haramkhor'; it has the first song I composed for a film...so in a way it's really special.
Does Bollywood give indie singers enough creative freedom?
It depends on whom you are working with. Like films are a collaborative venture and everyone wants to get a good song. So everyone gives you the freedom, but at the same time they also guide you and try to make it better. So no one tries to pull you down. I will continue doing indie music, but I like collaborating with lyricists even there. In the end it comes down to a team of talented people who come together to make a nice song.
What are the key points that you consider while singing or composing a song?
Sometimes the lyrics inspire you; sometimes the melody inspires the lyricist. Sometimes you meet people and their experiences inspire you. So there is no specific process, it comes naturally. There is no formula for it.
What are the challenges of being a part of Bollywood?
It was difficult to get meetings fixed with a lot of people when I had just started. But then there were people who were always nice and encouraging. One of them was Imtiaz Ali, who I just met at one point in time without any agenda. He heard my songs and we had a long chat. Also, Vikas Bahl and Anurag Kashyap met me just after my second song released and Anurag even tweeted about it. All these things really uplift you, so there have been no challenges as such. The challenge lies in getting to work with the right kind of people, and make music which people would love.
Who do you wish to work with?
I wish to work with lot of people including Zoya Akhtar, Imtiaz Ali and Vikramaditya Motwane as I really look up to them and I enjoy their movies.
Independent singer, songwriter and composer Jasleen Royal, who started out with her solo song 'Panchi’ on the social media, made her Bollywood debut with 'Preet’ from Sonam Kapoor and Fawad Khan-starrer 'Khoobsurat’. She then went on to sing 'Badla Badla’ from 'Badlapur’, 'Raatein’ from 'Shivaay’ and recently sung and composed 'Nachde Ne Saare’ and 'Kho Gaye’ from 'Baar Baar Dekho’. In a chat with Shweta Sharma, the 'Love You Zindagi’ singer talks about her musical journey — as an independent artiste and a Bollywood singer.
When did your tryst with music begin?
My brother used to take keyboard lessons from his school teacher, and after returning home, he tried to teach me. But he used to run away half way through the classes. I was around five years old then, and was a very restless kid. So I started experimenting by myself and at some point figured out how it works. That’s how I got interested in music. And later I started experimenting with other instruments as well.
How did you bag your first Bollywood project?
Rhea Kapoor and Sneha Khanwalkar heard 'Panchi’, and co-incidentally around the same time, I had called Sneha to tell her how I loved her melodies in 'Kal: Yesterday and Tomorrow’. She also complimented me back saying she heard my song and loved it. After that everything fell in place and one day Sneha called me up and I ended up singing for 'Khoobsurat’.
So many movies and compositions, which is your favourite?
I don’t have a favourite as such and love all my songs. Like, I made a peppy wedding song for 'Baar Baar Dekho’, while 'Shivaay’ was absolutely different from everything I have done so far. Again, the title track from 'Dear Zindagi’ has a fresh feel to it. So I have enjoyed all the songs, but I am really looking forward to the release of 'Haramkhor’; it has the first song I composed for a film...so in a way it’s really special.
Does Bollywood give indie singers enough creative freedom?
It depends on whom you are working with. Like films are a collaborative venture and everyone wants to get a good song. So everyone gives you the freedom, but at the same time they also guide you and try to make it better. So no one tries to pull you down. I will continue doing indie music, but I like collaborating with lyricists even there. In the end it comes down to a team of talented people who come together to make a nice song.
What are the key points that you consider while singing or composing a song?
Sometimes the lyrics inspire you; sometimes the melody inspires the lyricist. Sometimes you meet people and their experiences inspire you. So there is no specific process, it comes naturally. There is no formula for it.
What are the challenges of being a part of Bollywood?
It was difficult to get meetings fixed with a lot of people when I had just started. But then there were people who were always nice and encouraging. One of them was Imtiaz Ali, who I just met at one point in time without any agenda. He heard my songs and we had a long chat. Also, Vikas Bahl and Anurag Kashyap met me just after my second song released and Anurag even tweeted about it. All these things really uplift you, so there have been no challenges as such. The challenge lies in getting to work with the right kind of people, and make music which people would love.
Who do you wish to work with?
I wish to work with lot of people including Zoya Akhtar, Imtiaz Ali and Vikramaditya Motwane as I really look up to them and I enjoy their movies.
When did your tryst with music begin?
My brother used to take keyboard lessons from his school teacher, and after returning home, he tried to teach me. But he used to run away half way through the classes. I was around five years old then, and was a very restless kid. So I started experimenting by myself and at some point figured out how it works. That’s how I got interested in music. And later I started experimenting with other instruments as well.
How did you bag your first Bollywood project?
Rhea Kapoor and Sneha Khanwalkar heard 'Panchi’, and co-incidentally around the same time, I had called Sneha to tell her how I loved her melodies in 'Kal: Yesterday and Tomorrow’. She also complimented me back saying she heard my song and loved it. After that everything fell in place and one day Sneha called me up and I ended up singing for 'Khoobsurat’.
So many movies and compositions, which is your favourite?
I don’t have a favourite as such and love all my songs. Like, I made a peppy wedding song for 'Baar Baar Dekho’, while 'Shivaay’ was absolutely different from everything I have done so far. Again, the title track from 'Dear Zindagi’ has a fresh feel to it. So I have enjoyed all the songs, but I am really looking forward to the release of 'Haramkhor’; it has the first song I composed for a film...so in a way it’s really special.
Does Bollywood give indie singers enough creative freedom?
It depends on whom you are working with. Like films are a collaborative venture and everyone wants to get a good song. So everyone gives you the freedom, but at the same time they also guide you and try to make it better. So no one tries to pull you down. I will continue doing indie music, but I like collaborating with lyricists even there. In the end it comes down to a team of talented people who come together to make a nice song.
What are the key points that you consider while singing or composing a song?
Sometimes the lyrics inspire you; sometimes the melody inspires the lyricist. Sometimes you meet people and their experiences inspire you. So there is no specific process, it comes naturally. There is no formula for it.
What are the challenges of being a part of Bollywood?
It was difficult to get meetings fixed with a lot of people when I had just started. But then there were people who were always nice and encouraging. One of them was Imtiaz Ali, who I just met at one point in time without any agenda. He heard my songs and we had a long chat. Also, Vikas Bahl and Anurag Kashyap met me just after my second song released and Anurag even tweeted about it. All these things really uplift you, so there have been no challenges as such. The challenge lies in getting to work with the right kind of people, and make music which people would love.
Who do you wish to work with?
I wish to work with lot of people including Zoya Akhtar, Imtiaz Ali and Vikramaditya Motwane as I really look up to them and I enjoy their movies.