by ASJAD NAZIR
A STRONG start to his career has seen Oye Kunaal deliver songs that include Shukar Kar, Waqt, Yaad Teri Ayi, Patola and Hanjua Di Tha.
The singer, songwriter and composer has shown an impressive range on his songs, which have clocked up big numbers on YouTube. One of the best-kept secrets in Indian music has been busy creating during lockdown and has more top tracks on the way.
Eastern Eye caught up with Oye Kunaal to talk about music, his future hopes and that unique name.
What first connected you to music?
For me, I guess without music my life would be nothing. It’s my soul, which is connected to music, and this is my only form of meditation as well.
How do you look back on your musical journey?
My musical journey is quite interesting. When I look back there were a lot of ups and downs, mental breakdowns, mixed emotions, negativity and plenty of positive vibes. Overall, this journey has given me so much, a kick and positivity to make my dreams happen.
Which of your songs is closest to your heart?
My songs Waqt and Shukar Kar are both very close to my heart and will remain so eternally.
Which song took you by surprise?
Shukar Kar surprised us all as we didn’t expect it to hit big on such a very large scale. It is one of the best songs of my career and gave me a unique recognition within the music industry.
What inspired your Oye Kunaal name?
(Smiles) ‘Oye’ was inspired by my social circle! They use to say ‘oye Kunal, let’s go and party’, ‘oye Kunal when are you arriving’ and so on. It sounded catchy, so I adopted it as a name.
What can we expect from you next?
You can expect a lot from me, as it is only a start and the best is about to come. So, there are collaborations with some big names coming up and lots of new music.
What is your musical master plan?
My musical master plan is to concentrate on quality over quantity and carry on making music that is out of the box. I also have a dream to do international collaborations. For now, I would love to collaborate in some way with my idol and inspiration Kapil Sharma, and also Yo Yo Honey Singh.
Who is your own musical hero?
I’m my own musical hero in my own music world.
How has the lockdown been and did it affect your creative process?
My lockdown was totally creative as I was already quarantined with music in my room. I made a huge number of songs, which will release now one by one. Lockdown didn’t affect my creative process. Actually, with lockdown, I came to know about my capabilities and myself too.
What is it that inspires you?
Positive thoughts and positive people inspire me the most to make good music.
Do you have a final message?
I love music. I really want to thank the supreme power – that the almighty has given me a special power to make music. Without that music, I feel that my life will be nothing.
Alia Bhatt at the Red Sea Film Festival where she spoke about the scale of Alpha Getty Images 
