Within a relatively short span of time, Madhur Sharma has become a fan favourite with both renditions of covers as well as his original songs. Recently, the singer and his band headlined Zomaland — a food and entertainment carnival organised by Zomato — in Pune, and then took some questions from t2.

What would you count as the highlights of the Zomaland experience for you this year?

I need to mention what an epic experience it was to perform at Zomaland. It is, without a doubt, one of the best organised festivals in the country. Personally, the highlight of the entire experience was the fact that we got to perform for such a big crowd. Also, we got to share the stage with some really big and talented names in the industry. I am definitely going to look forward to coming to Zomaland again, as a performer as well as a spectator.

Which songs received the maximum cheers and participation from the crowd?

One of the reasons why I love doing what I do is the affection I receive from the crowd that sings along with me whenever I perform. The crowd at Zomaland was very involved when my band and I performed. Songs like Kali kali zulfon ke, Kehna galat galat and the latest original, Samandar sharaab, received maximum participation from the crowd. We were pleasantly surprised when the crowd reacted so well when we performed our unreleased original, titled Khoya sa. I am truly blessed to be able to perform in front of a crowd like that.

Are there any special rituals/ warms-ups/ superstitions that you follow before every stage performance? Do you still get nervous?

I am not very superstitious as such. However, there are a few vocal exercises I indulge in before every stage performance. It is a practice I have been following since the beginning of my career. It helps open up my vocals. And yes, I do get nervous before a big performance, like anybody else would. But I like to channel that nervous energy into delivering an energetic performance. And the fact that I have such a well-prepared band to back me up helps me conquer my nerves.

What would you count as the biggest milestones in your career so far?

I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of love my fans gave to the cover rendition of Kali kali zulfon ke, It ended up being the turning point in my career. However, I think my biggest milestone is yet to be achieved and I am constantly going to keep working towards it till I get there.

When fans meet you or interact with you on social media, what tracks of yours do they bring up the most in their conversations?

Everybody I interact with has a different favourite. While some of them love listening to renditions/ covers of Kali kali zulfon ke and Halka halka suroor, others love my originals like Tera rang and Poori tarah se.

Who have been your biggest inspirations and who among your contemporaries do you admire?

My biggest inspiration will forever be Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan saab. I grew up listening to his renditions and they have had a lasting impact on the kind of music I make. Among my contemporaries, I am a big admirer of Arijit Singh, Atif Aslam and Ed Sheeran. It would be a dream come true to be able to collaborate with any of these artistes.

What can you tell us about your upcoming projects?

There are multiple projects lined up for the future. My next single, Khoya sa, which I mentioned earlier, is scheduled to release soon. I hope everyone showers it with the same amount of love I have been fortunate enough to receive in the past.

Where do you see yourself musically in the next five years? Is there a certain goal in mind?

I usually try not to talk or think much about the future and strive to live in the moment. But, of course, the goal is to entertain the audience and come up with a lot of original music.