A gig for him is like “meeting old friends” and his “favourite pastime” is taking in the sights from his window, “all in silence” A t2 chat with “loner” KK on writing, and the magic of Pal.

What kind of feedback are you getting on Yaara re from Roy?
I’ve been getting good reviews from people. I have also sung some songs for a Mahesh Bhatt movie, some for Dharma Productions as well. More importantly I’m getting the time to do some of my own melodies. 

Is an album coming up then?
Yes… I am working on some independent projects. I find it very difficult to work in time frames and it gets very claustrophobic. I have been singing for 18 years now... didn’t realise when time went by. Unless you guys are bored of me! (Laughs)

Do you write your own lyrics?
Yes I do, but not Hindi. I don’t think in Hindi, so it doesn’t come naturally. I have some ideas but they aren’t fully developed yet. 

What kind of music are you most comfortable with?
I used to play with various rock bands. I used to play classic rock with one, new rock with another, drums with one… those days were crazy. After moving to Mumbai, it’s been totally different... when I get songs like Alvida and O meri jaan (Life In A...Metro) I really enjoy. So, I would say soft rock.

What’s your personal favourite from your discography?
Pal. It has a certain magic to it. It’s not a sad song but at the same time there is melancholy and romance. It’s an amalgamation of a lot of emotions and I feel all of it when I sing it on stage. And, we as a band connect to it deeply. If we have bad sound or any technical issue in a show, that song works like magic. And, I really believe in that.

What is your take on Bollywood’s newest trend of putting a dance number in each and every film?
It’s a trend like you said. There were bhangra, Sufi and qawwali trends as well. Bollywood is very market- driven. If people want that, you have to give it to them. Songs often help push a film.

We don’t hear you singing many though...
I’m not uncomfortable. I’ve sung Tu ne maari entriyaan (Gunday) and Desi Boyz (Desi Boyz), but I like songs that have more emotions. I feel that my heart needs to connect with the song. But then it’s all about getting into the mood.

Is that the kind of music you grew up listening to?
I was very influenced by Kishore Kumar, then I moved on to English. The first English song I sang was Fernando by ABBA, when I was in school. And, I won the first prize for it.... I was cool! (Laughs) After that I listened to the likes of Billy Joel and Sting. Lyrics have always appealed to me. I hope that someday I can sit down and work at something lyrical in English. Put thoughts into words. I have sung an English song in Humsafar (album) but I hope it happens again.

Speaking of Kishore Kumar, any singer from Bengal that you currently like?
I like Arijit Singh. He has a nice voice and a good soul. I like Shreya (Ghoshal), lovely voice. Then amongst youngsters, I like Benny Dayal also... he is from Kerala like me. I like his style, very exuberant. Shalmali (Kholgade), Monali Thakur and Neeti Mohan, the new brand of young singers in the industry are very talented.

What do you like about Calcutta?
I like the buzz of the city. Though I might like to be alone and quiet, I like that buzz. Yesterday we walked down Park Street and it was crowded! There’s so much activity, so much life. Life has a certain pace here. It would be nice to stay here too. People are very aware. 

And, Bengali food?
I like a lot of dishes like maachher jhol and aloo posto. Also the samosas here are different.... Among sweets I like kanchagolla and of course rosogolla, which I have to take back! 

THE PAL PALS...

“KK is such an amazing live performer.  Pal and Yaaron are the two songs that took me back to my college days. I remember holding hands with my friends and swaying to these songs during our farewell,” smiled Shikha Metharamani, director, The Myx.

“It was a phenomenal evening! KK kept up the energy for over two hours, without a dip in the quality of singing, which is quite commendable. I really enjoyed Zara sa (Jannat) and Kya mujhe pyaar hai (Woh Lamhe) and I heard these songs after a long time!” said Meghna Agarwala, director, Gallery Kolkata. 

“KK sang two of my favourite songs, Yaaron and Pal. He is a very easy-going performer and I love that he interacted with the audience a lot and made us feel like his friends. In the end when he introduced all his band members and they played a solo with their instruments, it was really nice,” said Saba Ali Firoz, designer and make-up artist. 

“KK is so grounded and he bonded with the audience so well. He managed to get everybody on their feet. I had a crazy time!” said Shillpi Goel, businesswoman.

Deborima Ganguly
What is your favourite KK song? Tell t2@abp.in