HAVING delivered hit songs like Raataan Lambiyaan and Hui Malang, along with winning multiple awards, Asees Kaur has been unstoppable in the last few years.
That incredible momentum has carried the Indian singing talent towards her debut UK tour in July with shows at Morningside Arena in Leicester (8) and Indigo at the O2 in London (9). She will be performing her greatest hits and familiar classics with a full live band at what promises to be one of this summer’s best concerts.
Eastern Eye caught up with the hot right now star to discuss the tour and performing live.
How much does live performance mean to you?
If you had asked me this five years back, I would have said I enjoyed recording in the studio more than live performances. But after performing a lot on stage, I genuinely started enjoying the process. The feeling of high, after performing live for an audience and interacting with them makes it special. So yes, I genuinely love live performances and they really matter to me a lot.
How much are you looking forward to your UK shows?
I’m excited because this is my first UK tour and I have prepared a lot for it. Me and my band have been rehearsing and making the set a new sonic experience for this UK tour, especially. We have been working on it for the last six to eight months and it has been a great experience. I’m really looking forward to performing live for UK audiences.
What can we expect from the concerts?
This will be a sonic and a visual experience for you guys. Sonically, we have produced a whole new set and will present all my hit songs in a new experience. Visually we have added a lot of things, which we usually don’t do for the Indian audience. So, UK audiences are in for a new experience, sonically and visually.
Can you see yourself doing music collaborations in the west?
Yes, I am a huge Adele fan. I genuinely manifest this collaboration and think that would be a dream come true moment for me.
Which of your songs do you most enjoy performing live?
I enjoy performing Raataan Lambiyan because the audience sing this song more than I do when I’m on stage. Some other songs like Panghat, Aankh Lad Jaavee and Pachtaoge, along with a lot of new songs are really special.
Which classics do you most enjoy singing?
I’m a very romantic kind of a person at heart, so totally enjoy singing ghazals. I grew up listening to ghazals and Sufi music. So, Aaj Jaane Ki Zid Na Karo is a song I really enjoy. My go-to is Sufi music, so a lot of Sufi kalams like Tere Ishq Nachaya and Tere Bin Nahin Lagda are ones I really enjoy singing.
Do you ever get nervous before going on stage?
Yes, I do get nervous because I think every stage and audience is a new experience. And you should definitely get some jitters before going on stage. That means you are not overconfident about yourself. That feeling of nervousness passes by after the first or second song on stage. Once you gauge the audience, and interact with them, you just get the vibe from them, and the nervousness goes away. But yes, I think everybody should be a little nervous before going on stage. It definitely helps you to perform better and in a powerful way.
How do you generate so much power on stage?
I generate all the power on stage because of my audience. I always say it is a two-way experience. If audiences are enjoying themselves, I genuinely feel more powerful and more into the performance. So, the audience is one of the biggest reasons for sharing this amazing power when I’m on stage.
Why should we all come to your UK shows?
Well, you should definitely come because this is my first UK tour. I am super excited for it. It is going to be a sonic and visual experience for you guys. The Indian audience has still not seen what we have prepared for the UK tour. So yes, it will be our first showcase worldwide. Everything from the sound to the visuals, lights and everything is genuinely made from the heart and produced in a newer way. So yes, I’m really looking forward to performing for you all, so do come.
Asees Kaur at Morningside Arena, 31 Charter Street, Leicester LE1 3UD on July 8 and Indigo at The O2, 205 Peninsula Square, London SE10 0ES on July 9. www.rockonmusicuk.com.
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