Shadab Faridi, renowned playback singer, commemorating his birthday this Monday, has come forward to elucidate on the way the Internet has reshaped the lives of artists. He highlights that musicians no longer need to endure the strenuous pursuit of securing a record label deal, thanks to the proliferation of audio streaming platforms.
They can now bypass traditional channels and release their work directly on any of the numerous available platforms.
Presently, Shadab is relishing the resounding success of his hit number, ‘Tere Vaaste‘, from the much-talked-about movie ‘Zara Hatke Zara Bachke‘, starring Bollywood’s Vicky Kaushal and Sara Ali Khan.
As he delves deeper into the topic, he articulates: “The music industry landscape has undergone a seismic shift due to the accessibility of independent platforms and over-the-top (OTT) mediums for burgeoning talents. The advent of social media and digital platforms has marked a new era, teeming with opportunities for newcomers.”
Continuing on the theme, Faridi emphasizes: “In today’s world, it’s indispensable to gain recognition and go viral if you are truly talented. Independent artists are attaining more recognition and achieving success via these platforms. It’s heartening to observe individuals producing singles and non-film music, now booming and even establishing their brand through YouTube and social media platforms like Instagram. The global reach of our song ‘Tere Vaaste’ is proof of the power of these platforms. While my work primarily revolves around movies, I look forward to creating more singles in the future. The enthusiasm for creating singles grows when audiences passionately support and provide artists with a platform to flaunt their talent.”
Speaking about ‘Tere Vaaste’ with great excitement, he expresses: “I am overwhelmed by the outpouring of love from across the country for ‘Tere Vaaste’. The audience has truly made it a gigantic hit. This song has taken on an anthem-like stature now. The whole credit belongs to the legendary lyricist Amitabh Bhattacharya for his enchanting lyrics, the composing maestros Sachin Jigar, and us singers – Altamash Faridi, Varun Jain, and I, Shadab Faridi, who have lent our voices to this mesmerizing song.”
Shadab’s impressive portfolio features numerous popular songs such as ‘Tur Kalleyan’ from ‘Laal Singh Chaddha’, ‘Deewani Mastani’, ‘Aayat’ and ‘Aaj Ibaadat’ from ‘Bajirao Mastani‘, ‘Sultan Title Track’, ‘Dil Mera Muft Ka’ from ‘Agent Vinod’, and ‘Fevicol Se’ and ‘Dagabaaz Re’ from ‘Dabangg 2’.
Discussing his birthday celebration plans, he revealed: “We had a splendid celebration last night and tonight we plan to go out for dinner, joined by a handful of close family friends for yet another round of celebrations.”
When probed about his perspective on non-film songs and singles, he explained: “Independent music has firmly held its place in pop culture for several decades now. Independent artists should continuously strive to grow and reach new milestones. Being an integral part of the Bollywood industry, I understand that not everyone gets a golden ticket to Bollywood music. This pattern has persisted since the beginning – those who manage to capture the public’s attention dictate the top charts.”
“Looking back at the past 50 years, you’ll see this pattern has always held true. The cream of the crop, from legendary artists like Rafi Sahab, Kishore Kumar, and Mukesh to the top 5-10 singers in the 90s, have dominated the charts,” he concluded.
