The World Cup buzz might have gone silent but not K’Naan, the young man behind Coca-Cola’s World Cup anthem Wavin’ Flag, that became the most downloaded international song in India. After his stint at the World Cup, the 30-year-old Somali-Canadian singer-rapper-songwriter is on a whirlwind tour around the globe for his second album Troubador. This year’s Artiste and Songwriter of the Year at the Juno Awards, K’Naan took time out between concerts at Tokyo to tell t2 about his turnaround, growing up on Bollywood, living in Bob Marley’s house and more.

How is the world tour going?

Very tiring but it’s been amazing. I’m in Japan at the moment. Two nights ago we were playing in LA and New York. Kind of all over the place letting my fans discover my album. Even with different cultures and language barriers it seems like people feel something in the music. It’s amazing to experience that.

Lots of requests for Wavin’ Flag?

Well yes, you know, obviously with the kind of music that’s become big everywhere. But when we play a concert, it’s often the last song that we do. Sometimes we play for an hour and people forget about Wavin’ Flag. They don’t know there’s more to the music than that one song. There are some songs that are strong melodically like Wavin’ Flag. There are others that are pretty up-tempo with a pop tune like Bang Bang, which is the next single in Europe and features Adam Levine from Maroon 5. There are some hip-hop and folk songs and when they discover it, they kind of get lost in them. That’s rewarding.

How did Wavin’ Flag happen?

Much like the other songs, it came in a moment when I was writing another song in the studio. I took a little walk. This was in Manhattan and it had just rained. It was that after-rain sense. I caught myself humming the melody of Wavin’ Flag and I immediately rushed back to the studio and got on the keyboard and started writing the song. I wasn’t asked to write it actually. The song was already there by the time I got approached to do the World Cup theme. I’m not the kind of artiste who writes a song for a specific project because that becomes a little business-like. So I told them there’s a song that seems so right and played them Wavin’ Flag.

How proud has it made you?

I didn’t really know it was going to be as big as it got. It’s a hope song, a song that comes out of struggle. It emerges from darkness into light, despair into hope. To work across radio formats and different cultures was pretty remarkable. It makes me proud that it was not a song that was made for success but for people.

Would you call it the turnaround in your music career?

Yes, of course. It was definitely one of the big moments in my music career. It reminds you there might have been a few of those and Wavin’ Flag happens to be the moment when the world was a part of the turn.

How has life changed since the World Cup?

It’s a bit surreal. When I walk around, people in different countries recognise who I am. I was an anonymous musician enjoying the anonymity of what I did. My concerts had a decent turnout and I enjoyed playing music to a specific audience who knew my music. Now, walking down streets in metropolitans and North America I get stopped for pictures and all of that. Feels strange but it’s a good thing.

And you need to keep your signature hat on at all times for that?

I’ve always had the hat. It wasn’t an intention of signature. The hat actually serves like a layer of protectiveness for me. I use it like a slight veil because I’m such an open person when I perform, putting myself out there completely, the hat helps a little.

How much has your childhood in war-torn Mogadishu shaped you and your music?

That exactly is what has shaped me and therefore my music, which is so personal. It’s been a pretty big part of my life. Those years in early teenage are influential and spending it in Somalia during a very tough time would affect anybody. I just decided that I was going to be very honest about that effect. I went back there last December after 18 years. To go back to the vision I had as a child, ideas I had of the place and to see it with my adult eyes was monumental for me. I spent three weeks there.

Are you collaborating with Bollywood’s Vishal-Shekhar?

Yes. We have a friend in common called Arti, who’s originally from India but active in the American music industry. She and I talk a lot about India and she introduced me to those guys. We decided to do something more interesting than what people usually do when they collaborate. For example, when you have a popular song, the most obvious thing they try to do is get an Indian remix. I, having some knowledge of Indian culture and growing up on Bollywood, didn’t want to do that.

How do you know so much about Bollywood?

l the films I watched in my childhood were Bollywood films. When living in Somalia that’s really what you watch. We have a very art-based culture and Somalians are very big on theatre and live plays but if you go into cinemas, the only option in Somalia is to watch Bollywood films. They vocal-dub the films. It’s awkward but fun.

Any favourites?

I know all the big stars like Amitabh Bachchan, Rekha and some Devi (Sridevi, we safely assume). You remember the big love story Dil? It was a big deal when that came out! I’ve probably watched as much as an Indian has watched Bollywood movies. From age five to 14 I’ve been watching them.

 

Haven’t you thought of working with Bollywood sounds?

In fact, I was meant to record a lot of Bollywood strings in my Troubador album. That was the first idea but before I started recording, some popular American producers started taking the Indian sound hostage. I didn’t want to be a part of that or do the American version of India so I put it aside for a while. I hope to make a four-minute short Bollywood film for my song Fatima some day. The aura of the song is such that I can see those celebratory Bollywood visuals working. It’ll also be a good excuse to come to India.

You’re touring so many countries, why leave India out?

Absolutely! That’s what I say. We’re basically responding to strong demands and promoters in different places. These tours were set up six months ago. But I was in LA the other day where I met a guy, a promoter in India, and we spoke about possibilities of coming to India.

Where in India?

I want to go to Calcutta, Kerala and maybe Mysore.

You recorded Troubador in Bob Marley’s house!

It was an amazing invitation I got from his family. His sons were aware that I was beginning to record my next album and they honoured me with that. They told me I was the first artiste to have the key to Bob’s home, outside his family, since he passed away. We went there and spent four months recording using his instruments. My expectation was pretty high when I went there. There were all these questions in my mind... Is K’Naan going to make reggae music now because he’s in Bob Marley’s house, what’s going to happen… . I didn’t do anything the first three weeks. I would sit in his front porch, fall asleep, wake up, take walks, play soccer, read or listen to music. And the following week I recorded six songs in a row.

The album features Metallica’s Kirk Hammett, Nelly Furtado, Mos Def.... How did that happen?

Honestly, they were all artistes who would come to my concerts. They’ve been fans for a few years. Sometimes in the studio I’d find a rock riff and think about Kirk Hammett. It’s a big deal, I understand, that you can’t just call up Metallica like that but I followed the mood. I went ‘Hey man, I got this song I wanna play for you, would you do something in it?’ and then felt kind of silly, but Kirk Hammett came and did it. The president of the record label later congratulated me saying Metallica has never done anything outside Metallica so that was very cool.

What next?

Continue to tour. At the moment it’s a bit crazy but we’ll hopefully start recording some new music soon and hopefully a visit to India, one of the only important places to me in the world that I haven’t yet visited.