Bollywood singer Yash Narvekar on films, music and his love for Arijit Singh.
Bollywood singer Yash Narvekar who is riding high after giving successful hits such as Pump It from Ki and Ka, Mere Dil Mein from Half Girlfriend and Gulabi 2.0 from Noor will soon be seen in lending his voice to Anil Kapoor and Arjun Kapoor starrer, Mubarkan. Here's an insight into the singer's journey so far.
How did Bollywood happen to you?
I started off my singing career at an age of 13 years. It started off from the Marathi film industry with the film called Pak Pak Pakaak that saw Nana Patekar in the lead and Gautam Joglekar directed it. The film was based on a child's story so they wanted a voice that suited the child. Being a Maharastrian, I knew the language. I sang four songs in that movie and went on to win Best singer at Maharashtra State Awards in a child category. From there, began my love for going to the studio, being around equipments and looking at how recording takes place started. Then I started concentrating on my studies. However, in eleventh standard, I was a part of a rock band and we participated in a programme and there, Kumarwadi, the lyricist was one of the members judging it. He picked me up for singing in the film called Sikandar, produced by Sudhir Mishra. I did one track for them called Alla Hoon. At that time I was just 16.
Then I changed tracks for a while. I stopped performing and instead concentrated on my studies and studied law. Then I realised that I don't want to do 9-5 job and while looking for an internship with a law firm, I reconnected with Amaal Malik, with whom I learnt classical singing. Amaal was starting off his career then and he was looking for someone to work wtih. So I joined him full-time assisting him and meanwhile, I went to other studios as well. Since then, there's been no looking back.
How did you bag 'Pump It' for Ki and Ka?
Meet Brothers are the only music directors in the country, I think, who hold open auditions. One of my friends gave me their numbers so that I could audition for them. I got shortlisted. They started giving me bits to sing for them. I kept on singing and at that time R. Balki was working on Ki & Ka. Some other singer was supposed to sing the song the song but it required some changes before Balki sir could come to the studio. The original singer was not available so they just put me up on the microphone. After I sang, may be it was luck or fluke, Balki sir like my voice so much that he decided to offer me to sing the song instead. That's how I got my first song.
Who inspires you in the industry?
Sonu ji (Sonu Nigam) is the reason why I started singing and I feel in love with the process of singing. And now its Arijit Singh, who has really impressed me a lot and I really look up to him and his work.
How is it to be an outsider in the industry?
I have seen the worst of times. I have gotten abused at, shouted at and even thrown out. Also it took me a year to figure out where which studio was located where. While at the studio, there have been ample times that I have waited for hours before the actual recording took place. But now when I look back, I feel that made me a stronger person and challenged me to stay positive. For me, the biggest thing was that someone was opening the door of a studio for me and it didn't matter even if I was getting the chance to sing it or not. I was also thrilled that I was getting a chance to learn the entire process of understanding the finished song and the transition it undergoes after it gets picturised. This I learnt while I was working with Amaal.
Are you superstitious or particular about certain things before the recording?
I am not superstitious but on my way to studio, I refrain from listening any music. This helps me to clear out my head. I just like a nice cup of coffee before I stand in front of the microphone.
