Rekha Bhardwaj: For me it is very important to feel the music

At a recent concert in Delhi, Rekha Bhardwaj, the Delhi-born singer regaled the audience with her chartbusters like ‘Kabira’, ‘Phir Le Aya Dil’, ‘Namak Issq Ka’ and ‘Sasural Genda Phool’. According to the singer, ‘Namak Ishq Ka’ was a tipping point for her career. “The song turned out to be a trendsetter. In the sense that this kind of voice can also be used in film songs.Now, I think there are a lot of fresh voices to listen to. I also think that because among our younger music directors, a lot of them have been singers also. They have had their own bands and that brings western influence on the music, which I think has changed a lot of things,” she was quoted as saying in a report.

For Rekha Bhardwaj, being born and brought up in Delhi has exposed her to a lot of good classical music. “Having your roots in classical music is like having a strong foundation. My ultimate goal is to sing a raag, and when I sing a playback song, the riyaaz I do, the practice I do and my sensibilities get translated into that song. For me it is very important to feel the music and the lyrics,” said the singer.
When asked to choose her favourite song, the singer’s obvious choice was ‘Kabira’ from ‘Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani’. According to Rekha, the spirituality and serenity of Kashmir reflects in that song. “As I sung it, I did not know the context of the song in the movie. But later when I saw it, I thought it fit perfectly in the movie,’’ she was quoted as saying in the report.
Rekha believes in the healing power of music, and this, according to her, applies also to Sufi music. “I think music is like a prayer. In Sufi music, even the text talks about the connection with one divine being. It can help anyone reach that stage to attain divinity,’’ said the singer.
Talking about the role of digital media in promoting young talent, Rekha said, “The digital media platforms are very good as they allow young artists to upload their content and find their audience.”
The singer got a rare opportunity to work in the Pakistani music industry. According to Rekha, they have talented artistes like Atif Aslam and Ghulam Ali sahib. She also revealed that they don’t kill their verses by sound and keep the essence of their songs alive. “They bring their folk music and ghazals together and embellish it beautifully,” said the singer.
Listen to the songs of Rekha Bhardwaj on Gaana.com