Not a lot of singers can claim to have tasted fame and success as they enter their 20s. Twenty-two-year-old Armaan Malik, however is already a household name in Bollywood music.
The multi-faceted playback singer, songwriter and artiste, known for multiple hits, recently played to a packed crowd at Presidency College’s fests Colossus and Zephyr. Talking after his performance, he said, “It was an amazing performance for me. I enjoyed myself on stage and in front of this audience. They knew all my songs and were singing back to me with a lot of joy and excitement. This is the kind of crowd that gives the artiste a boost to perform better.”
Although he has not explored the Bengaluru scene, Malik counts it among his favourites. “I’ve noticed any international act that comes to the country makes sure they play in Bengaluru. The audience here is amazing musically and encourages the live music scene.”
Apart from his Hindi film hits, Armaan dazzled the audience with two Kannada songs. Armaan hopes his audience take back a different perception of talent. “To be honest, there are many artistes in Bollywood who have an amazing lifestyle. However, you won’t find them dancing on stage. They usually just sing or play the guitar. My set involves a lot of EDM where I dance and interact with the audience. It is a wholesome performance. I don’t just do love songs – although I sing a lot of them. I offer a lot more in the Armaan Malik live spectrum. There is a lot that I sing from other artistes as well. I have no ego at all. I love singing everyone’s songs. I also don’t miss out on songs I’ve sung for people coming to listen to my music.”
Commenting on the space he occupies in the Indian music scene, Armaan says: “In Bollywood, you can’t dissect the music into different genres because Bollywood itself involves using different genres, mashing and mixing them up in one song. There is no division – there is a blend of various styles in any given movie. So I can’t categorise myself in Bollywood. You can call my music a pop ballad sometimes owing to the love songs I do often. Otherwise I’m comfortable singing anything. As a singer stylistically, I’m a pop and R&B vocalist with influences from Indian classical since that is the field I’m trained in.”
Looking back at his journey, Armaan says, “Very few artistes in our country get to experience this journey so early on in life. I just turned 22. To be able to have done a world tour at the age of 21, have songs to my credit and a Filmfare Award at the age of 20 – these are dreams come true. I feel I also have a responsibility to show young people that they can make it early. It is my duty to be a representative of the youth, give them a direction and tell them the world is open to talent.”
Talking about the mindset towards playback singers, Armaan says, “Most people don’t associate the name Armaan Malik with the face. People don’t expect someone as young as me to have such mature songs to my credit or be successful. That is the attitude I want to change.”
Pointing out that since most of the songs he sings are written by lyricists, they are more script-driven. “If I write songs for my own album, I can say that they stem from my heart. What I can tell you is when I get the lyrics of a love song and go into the studio, it is easy to connect with since I am at the age where I am falling in love and having heartbreaks. I am in touch with those emotions so it is not that I’m faking them. I understand and feel those lines and sing.”
However, Armaan adds that when he does write his songs, they “will definitely be my own situations and feelings. For now, a singer’s job is to wear the skin of the song, just like an actor takes on a role. That is the task at hand. When you feel the situation, it becomes even more genuine.”