by pankhuri bhutani
photo courtesy of armaan malik
Hailing from Mumbai, India, this artist was just eight when he initiated his professional career. He has now transformed into a global sensation, cramming up a lifetime’s worth of achievements at just 24 years of age. Having sung songs in diverse languages like Hindi, Tamil, Gujarati, Bengali along with several others, Armaan Malik has recently entered the world of English music.
Marking his English song debut with the track, “Control,” Armaan has gained over 26 Million views on the music video in just three months time leading him to break international boundaries and worldwide fame. With over 200 Million views on his YouTube channel, Armaan, who is currently signed to Arista Records, has recently dropped his second English track titled “next 2 me” which has already proven to be a hugely successful song.
To talk about his music journey as well as his recent tracks and possible upcoming collaborations, Armaan recently joined us for a really fun and insightful conversation!
Hi Armaan! Thank you for joining us! Kindly tell us about the moment you decided to start your journey as a music artist!
Armaan: “Hey guys! Really great to be talking to y’all! Well, I started my professional journey at the age of eight. I began dubbing and voiceovers for advertisements as well as feature films, that’s how it all started. While working on those projects I happened to meet a lot of amazing film music composers who then, later on, gave me a chance to sing for children’s movies in Bollywood. I had a very clear vision of establishing my own unique identity from a very young age. When you belong to a family steeped in musical excellence, everyone around you expects you to follow the same path and obviously have everything laid out for you along the way. But I knew I wanted to make it on my own mettle and not use my family name to further my career. At the age of nine, I went ahead and submitted my audition to a big Indian singing reality show called SaReGaMaPa Lil’ Champs with only my first name — Armaan. I made it to the top 10 of that show too, which in a way catapulted me into early fame. It’s only at the age of 18 that I started my adult playback singing career in Bollywood and never looked back since!”
You recently dropped your debut English track “Control.” Congratulations on that! What was the inspiration behind it?
A: “Thank you! ‘Control’ is a song that describes the push and pull feeling of being trapped in a controlling relationship and how confusing it can be to want in but also want out. It’s inspired by the relationships I’ve seen around me. I always love writing about what’s happening around me, in my friend circle. It instantly relates to the youth, who may be going through a similar thing in their life.”
What was the creative process like with the track? Did you face any challenges during the process of the song?
A: “The whole process of preparing my English music has taken about two years. I have been working on creating a soundscape for my material and getting the right vibe for it. I’m glad that after that whole creative process I could finally release my debut single ‘Control’ earlier this year. Believe it or not, but this particular song was created produced and recorded all in a day, and then it was just the mix and master which happened over some time. A quick fact since you asked me did I face any challenge — I have been playing the guitar for very long, but I have never played the bass before, this is my first time playing the bass on my own song and I was pretty nervous! Wayne Wilkins (the producer) actually handed me the bass and just said — ‘go wild on it!’ and that very ‘wild take’ is the bassline you can hear on the final record right now!”
You’re a music sensation in India! What made you choose this shift to the world of English music?
A: “It’s been a childhood dream of mine to sing and write my own songs in English. After seven years of working on Hindi and regional music, I found the right opportunity to make my dreams come true when I met David Massey and signed to Arista Records!”
We have seen a lot of interaction between you and the talented Stephen Puth! Any chance we can see a future collaboration between you two?
A: “Stephen is a great artist and even though we haven’t like hung out properly, we have now become quite close as friends. Yeah, it would be cool to do something with him in the future! We’ve always wanted to jam and write together, I’m waiting till it’s safe to travel and we can meet up!”
photo courtesy of armaan malik
What can you tell us about your recent track “next 2 me”?
A: “I never planned to release ‘next 2 me’ as my second single, but when I wrote this in lockdown it just made absolute sense to put it out now. I was browsing through the internet one day when I came across this quote: ‘Missing someone isn’t about how long it’s been since you’ve seen them or the amount of time since you’ve talked. It’s about that very moment when you’re doing something and wishing they were right there by your side.’ This quote somewhat hit a chord with me, and inspired me to write ‘next 2 me.’ The global lockdown has been tough on all of us, especially for those who are quarantined away from their loved ones. I wanted to capture that feeling of missing someone and wishing that they were next to you. We may have all the devices in the world to keep us connected, but having that person next to you is a different feeling altogether, something that no digital connection can ever compare to. Now, more than ever, I believe anyone can easily connect to the song.”
What according to you is the best thing that you have achieved so far related to your music?
A: “It had been my childhood dream to perform at the prestigious Wembley Arena and the fact that I am the youngest Indian origin singer to do so, and also rank fourth (in the world and best from India) at the SSE Awards Live Act that year, feels unreal! When I was on that stage, I could truly feel the energy and magic of all the legendary artists that have performed there.”
Lastly, is there any message that you would like to convey to your fans?
A: “The journey so far has really been amazing. From a reality show contestant to being a full-fledged playback singer, to being a reality show judge (The Voice, India) and now venturing into the global pop arena, I really feel the journey has been extremely fulfilling and rewarding as an artist! My fans have played a huge role in this journey and just want to thank them for all their undying support and let them know that I love them all. A whole lot of exciting stuff is in store for them with new music, collaborations, and merchandise!”