Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

“I listen to Shreya Ghoshal’s songs as a student,” says British-Asian singer Arzutraa

“I listen to Shreya Ghoshal’s songs as a student,” says British-Asian singer Arzutraa

British-Asian singer Arzutraa, whose parents are from Africa and grandparents from India grew up in Westminster, a suburb of London. She does not know any Indian language but has made a career out of singing Hindi songs.

While the coronavirus pandemic forced us into our homes for a large part of 2020, Arzutraa launched two Hindi albums – Woh Pal and Tumhaari, which garnered positive response. In a candid conversation with Eastern Eye, the singer opens up about her love for Bollywood music, the challenges she faced to pursue her passion, who is her role model, and much more.


At what age did you start singing and which was the first instrument you learnt?

I started learning how to sing with trained teachers in 2010, after having a dream to sing in Hindi from a young age. After school, I used to sing Bollywood songs into my father's tape recorder and then replay my voice and listen to myself singing on tape.

What made you pursue a career in Hindi music rather than English music?

I love Bollywood and its music. I decided I wanted to sing in Hindi. Many people told me not to due to Hindi not being my spoken language. However, I always loved the artistic style of Bollywood. It was something that was deep inside me and I seriously wanted to pursue it. There was no question of Hindi or English. Looking back, I guess it does seem bizarre singing in a language that I do not speak.

Who is your role model and why?

Shreya Ghoshal is my role model because her voice is one that is a teacher in itself. I have heard her songs daily for the last 10 years and found them to be daily lessons for me in between having my lessons with my vocal teachers. It sounds strange but I do not listen to Shreyaji as a normal listener; I listen to her as a student. I love the emotion more than anything in her voice.

Which is that one song that is very close to your heart and you have been listening to it since your childhood?

The only song close to my heart is Woh Pal. It is a reminder to us all that nothing lasts forever and we should cherish every moment we have with our loved ones.

What is the one major thing that you have learnt in your career to date?

The one thing that I have learnt is to fight for what you believe in and want in life. There are always going to be hurdles, but the biggest one is people telling you that you cannot do something or shouldn’t. I am very fortunate to be working with a team of people who help each other succeed, but I came across many people earlier who used to put me and my dreams down and say I was not good enough. This really knocked my self-confidence and I must say if it was not for my determination and strength, I would not be a singer today.

Old Bollywood music or New Bollywood music, what do you prefer more?

Old. Simply because it was not done for the fame. In those days, everything was real. It was not about YouTube views. It was about the music. The melodic essence just is not there that used to be there in old classics. I don't really know why that is but I guess back in the days, it was all real and raw. Unadulterated voices in the studio. There used to be one take songs and so things sounded so much more natural than they do today.

How was your experience working with DJ Shadow Dubai?

He is by far one of the best producers I have worked with. His way of working is so different to any other where he really understands what the song's story is about before he sits down to make any music. My experience with him so far has been for remixes only for my signature songs on both albums (Woh Pal and Tumhaari). One of the things I really love about him is how he enhances a song's original essence to the point you have a remix that complements the original song rather than intimidating it.

How does it feel to be the only Indian pop singer to release 2 albums in one year?

It feels incredible to have this achievement. Most singers in our industry don't release albums and I feel like that’s a shame. I think singles are a nice way to test what fans like but albums show how serious you are about the field of music. I have now started to work on my 3rd album and I really am excited to see what the journey unfolds.

Any special memory while making your 2nd album Tumhaari that you would like to share?

I remember I turned up to sing the signature song on the album, Tumhaari, and I had mascara running down my face since my lover at the time had ended our relationship only a few days before. I could not stop crying in the studio and Atif Ali, my producer in his Dubai studio, nearly sent me home. It was embarrassing for me to have to explain why I was crying to my producer and I was heartbroken. However, I eventually managed to record and I feel all things happen for a reason. It has an element of my pain in that song which I want my listeners to feel.

Anything you would like to say to your fans around the world in this tough time of Covid-19?

I want everyone to realise that our time on the planet is precious. We aren't here forever and neither are our loved ones. We really need to be grateful for each waking moment we have and be here for one another in this crisis we are all in. Together we can help the world overcome this.

In the past one and a half year, Bollywood has lost several prominent faces…

I am so sad to hear about all of this. These are the very faces that entertained and inspired people like me. From a very young age, I grew up watching their movies, listening to their music and ended up learning so much from them both in my personal and professional life. But I feel the best way to remember them and pay tribute to them is by watching their stellar performance on screen and remembering them by it.

More For You

Jameela Jamil: Pixar’s Elio Offers Hope for Youth

Jameela Jamil says Pixar’s Elio brings a fresh message of empowerment for kids across the globe

Getty Images

Jameela Jamil says Pixar’s ‘Elio’ is the hope young people need in a chaotic world

At a time when the world feels chaotic and heavy, Disney Pixar’s Elio arrives with a message that couldn’t be more relevant: kids matter, and they’re stronger than they realise.

The animated film, which had its star-studded premiere in Los Angeles this week, follows an 11-year-old boy who accidentally becomes Earth’s ambassador in outer space. Directed by Madeline Sharafian and Domee Shi, Elio is Pixar’s first feature with a Mexican-Dominican lead, voiced by Yonas Kibreab. His character’s journey from an outsider on Earth to a confident connector among aliens mirrors what many young people feel today: lost, overlooked, and searching for belonging.

Keep ReadingShow less
Child Fame Costs: HBO’s New Young Harry Potter Reboot Stars

The new trio cast as Harry, Hermione and Ron step into a world where childhood and fame rarely mix well

Instagram/harrypotter/Getty Images

From Hogwarts to headlines, the real cost of childhood fame for Harry Potter’s new stars

As HBO prepares to bring Harry Potter back to screens with a new television adaptation, excitement is high around the casting of Dominic McLaughlin, Arabella Stanton, and Alastair Stout as the iconic trio of Harry, Hermione, and Ron. But amid the buzz, a quiet voice of caution has emerged. Chris Watson, father of original Hermione actress Emma Watson, is urging parents and the industry to tread carefully when it comes to child stardom.

Chris Watson is not speaking as a critic or industry insider but as someone who watched his daughter grow up inside a global franchise. Emma was nine when she landed the role of Hermione Granger, and what followed was a decade of public attention that reshaped her life. Her father remembers the shift vividly. “Her homework would go back to school on motorbikes,” he once said, pointing to the surreal logistics fame forced on them.

Keep ReadingShow less
DJ Funky T’s Top Indian Music Picks; Playlist Revealed

DJ Funky T

My Playlist: DJ Funky T reveals his top Indian music picks

With a massive music collection spanning several decades, multi-genre DJ and music producer DJ Funky T found it challenging to narrow down just 10 songs he loves. Also known as Tony Hayer, his favourites range from Michael Jackson, Dr Dre and Fleetwood Mac to Bollywood, Punjabi, Hindi, Sufi and more. Some of these diverse influences feature in his own track Tu Meri Rani Si.

Before revealing his choices, he said: “The following golden tracks have stood the test of time. It was a hard call, as many more songs could have made this list. So, in no particular order from my current conscious memory, I present 10 Indian songs I love. Check them out and enjoy.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Najmuddin Saifuddin & Brothers Deliver Qawwali Masterclass

NAJMUDDIN SAIFUDDIN & BROTHERS QAWWALI GROUP

www.easterneye.biz

Najmuddin Saifuddin & Brothers deliver a soul-stirring qawwali masterclass across the UK

Qawwali remains popular with cross-cultural audiences, but very few get the chance to experience one of the world’s oldest music genres in its purest form. Whether it is the diluted style seen in Bollywood adaptations or fusion with contemporary sounds, the tradition is often watered down.

Najmuddin Saifuddin & Brothers Qawwali Group stand apart from that commercialised crowd, presenting the Sufi genre in its most authentic style. The five talented brothers – sons of the late qawwali icon Ustad Bahauddin Khan Qawwal – belong to a remarkable lineage that traces directly back to the first group formed by the genre’s founding father in the 13th century.

Keep ReadingShow less
Fearless Documentary Honor Windrush Women for Modern Britain
In the Fearless documentary, Windrush generation women reflect on their lives in post-war Britain
Instagram/dopdaniel/alt_africa_

‘Fearless’ documentary honours Windrush women who built modern Britain but were written out of history

They were the nurses, cleaners, activists, and everyday heroes who arrived in Britain with little more than courage and determination. Now in their 80s and 90s, six women who helped rebuild the UK after the Second World War are finally getting their due in Fearless, a powerful new documentary that brings their remarkable stories to the big screen.

Launching on Windrush Day (22 June), the film will tour select cinemas across London through July, with post-screening Q&As featuring the directors and cast. It celebrates the lives of Sheila Daniel, Aileen Edwards, Maggie Kelly, Anne Gaché, Nashattar Kang, and Nages Amirthananthar, women of Caribbean, Irish, and South Asian descent who came to Britain as part of the Windrush generation and beyond.

Keep ReadingShow less