Shaan at the album launch. Picture by Aranya Sen

Shaan has recorded his first Rabindrasangeet album, Khola Haowa. His summary of the experience? “Scary!” In town recently for the launch of the 12-song compilation presented by Asha Audio, Shaan spoke to t2 about Tagore and more.

What does Tagore mean to you as a singer?

I think I was getting a little restless with the kind of creative work that was happening. Everything was so cut-to-order. There was no real heart or soul in anything. I can’t remember the last song that really touched my core. When I sat down with these songs and got to the meanings, I understood how pure his sense of love and surrender is. It is divinity and romance coming together. And all the fuss today, Sufi songs and Sufi music, the epitome of Sufism is Rabindranath Tagore’s work. It is beautiful.

Any interesting experiences while recording?

A lot of the songs had a lot of low notes and that’s also something that I discovered — I can sing low notes as well! Wherever you sing today, you go knowing that even if the studio is on the first floor, gaan hochhe fifth floor-e! As if no one will hear you if you don’t shout!

Any particular Tagore song that you would have loved to sing?

At the moment all the songs with a personal connect are there in the album. But this is definitely just the beginning and I am going to listen to a lot more Rabindrasangeet, and try and read a lot of his works. I am also going to develop a love for Rabindrasangeet in my kids, hopefully.

You are great friends with Jeet Gannguli…

We became friends through work. I like singing for him. His tunes have a lilt. They are very modern, and yet they have a grammar. He is a composer, he plays the guitar and composes, which is very rare these days. So onek addar majhkhane gaan hoy. We’ve probably had the longest sessions with the shortest time dedicated to the song. He has four songs in my upcoming album.

What’s happening in Bollywood?

Lots of exciting songs. For Pritamda another Golmaal film — I don’t know which one now, fourth or fifth! You don’t get to know the names anymore — I had sung for a film called Yahoo. Later it came out as Chance Pe Dance. It doesn’t make any sense! I think music is not exactly given that kind of priority in Bollywood anymore. It is more like a marketing thing. Kontar sathe ki lagano jaabe… The singers don’t charge that much. The composers are literally working without a fee. Item songs hochhe. Gaan-er por cheque pelaam toh bhalo noytoh choley gelaam bari!

Is it true that Lucky Ali has replaced you in a song?

It is a huge compliment to Lucky Ali (laughs)! That’s pretty depressing. I thought I was a better singer than that at least. But that’s how it is. It happens all the time. For Behti hawa sa tha woh (3 Idiots) I think I was the seventh singer.