Raj Barman, a playback singer known in both the Tollywood and Bollywood industries, and also the winner of the best playback singer (male) in 2018 at Tele Cine Awards, belted out a few tunes for t2 and spoke to us about his musical journey. Born into a family of painters, Raj discovered his love for music at a young age, first intrigued by the technical aspects of sound and then taking baby steps towards being trained in music. He is trained in the gayaki style of the Patiala gharana and groomed under eminent mentors and gurus.
Some of his chops include music programming, mixing and mastering to create his independent songs. If you’re in love, longing or heartbreak, Raj’s voice is appealing to the present generation and perfect for every mood and emotion. He has 3.44 million subscribers on his YouTube channel and has worked on more than 50 film songs until now.
Starting from Keno je toke from the Mimi Chakraborty- and Yash Daasguptaa-starrer Bengali film, Mon Janena to Ankhein mili from the Bollywood movie Sanak to a couple of his original songs, he has presented quite a few hits. Raj and t2 had a candid chat.
Could you tell us a bit about the difference, in essence, of working in the Tollywood and Bollywood industries?
The method of working is different in the two industries. My work is to record the music and deliver, so even though it hasn’t been very different for me, I can tell you that I’ve felt familiar here, as the industry is Calcutta-based. People in Mumbai come from outside so it’s more of a blend there. So, the pre-recording and post-recording environment is different in the two industries.
What do you like more, playback singing for films or recording your own music?
I like both. Sometimes I like recording for films and sometimes I like making my own music better. Making my own music keeps me indulged in a continuous creative process from composing to mixing, mastering, and producing. So that’s quite interesting. But a healthy break from that process is also important, and that happens while recording for other composers.
What inspires you to make your own music?
I browse through songs that are there already. I listen to many of them, and then I think of what isn’t there already and try my best to create something new. Sometimes I also find two to three songs I really liked, then I wonder what if the three songs can be blended to create something new. I make a part for myself and another for the audience.
What’s the longest time you’ve spent composing, mixing, mastering and producing an entire song?
I think the maximum it took me was eight months (smiles).
How important is audience feedback to you?
Initially, it was very important to me what the audience had to say. Now, I’ve realised that it isn’t possible to make everyone happy. Today you might like a song, but tomorrow you might not appreciate it anymore. Whether or not the audience is enjoying a song also depends on their mood. So, I try to keep my cool about this.
A lot of your songs are about love and longing. How has your personal experience affected the way you’ve sung them?
(Laughs) I don’t think the romantic songs I’ve sung have drawn any inspiration from my reality or experience. To be honest, love isn’t a rose garden. It comes with fights and hurdles. So I think a lot depends on the composition and the tunes I sing to, and not my personal experience in relationships and love.
Among the songs you’ve sung, which are your favourites?
I like the song Tui amake agle rakh from the Bengali film Honeymoon and from the Hindi numbers, I enjoy my own number Tumhe dil de baithe.
How were you exposed to music and what interested you?
That’s an interesting story. I was a very shy kid in school and someone had heard me sing. My teachers pushed me to take part in a competition and the condition was if I didn’t perform, it would affect my marks (laughs). That’s how I got into performing in public and coming out of my shell. Eventually, I started exploring music programming on the PC and took training from my mentors.
What interests you apart from music?
I love playing cricket and watching football. I like video editing and photography as well; mainly portraits. I also love watching movies.
Do you enjoy performing live? What about it do you like the most?
I love performing live. When I perform and I can see the audience’s expressions. When I spot a few faces engrossed in music, it feels great. They simply get lost in their thoughts and connect to the songs. That’s what I appreciate the most.
What are your upcoming plans in the field?
Recently, I have been working on my own album. I’m planning to release the first single of the album soon. Probably next month. I’m planning to drop the entire six-track album by the end of this year.