Think of your favourite Bollywood songs from the past 12 years and there is a strong chance that terrific trio Shankar Ehsaan Loy have composed many of them.
By delivering unforgettable songs in films such as Dil Chahta Hai, Kal Ho Naa Ho, Bunty Aur Babli, Kabhi Alveda Na Kehna, My Name Is Khan, Rock On and Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, the composers have delighted many millions of music fans and helped take Bollywood global.
Shankar Mahadevan, Ehsaan Noorani and Loy Mendosa have also inspired other music directors to incorporate western influences into their music and shown quite comprehensively that three heads are definitely better than two or one.
Excerpts from an interview…
What do you think has been the secret of Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy’s success?
Shankar:I think it is our diverse personalities and musical preferences.
Loy:I agree, it’s the diversity among us that is the key.
Ehsaan: I also think it is the ability to create trendy, popular music that is eclectic, aesthetically satisfying and popular. Our music changes with each script, which makes it very varied.
Has the way you create songs changed over time?
Ehsaan:Songs are always created in the same way; they come from the soul and are interpretations of emotion. We still jam as we always did, like a band does. The production techniques and the technology have changed, but the writing process is still the same.
Do you think there is a secret of producing a hit song?
Ehsaan: A good melody normally leads to a good song. Production and technology does add to the track, but if you don’t have a good melody, you have nothing. The song has to be on trend as well, but it’s not something you would force on a composition.
Shankar:I think you need an honest melody and a unique sonic character.
All of you have become incredible role models. What advice would you give aspiring musicians?
Ehsaan:(Smiles) Your musical growth begins on the day you get into music and stops on the day you die. One has to be open to all kinds of music; tunnel vision is restricting and stunts your growth as a musician. Adaptability and flexibility are very important as well.
Also, it pays to have a realistic view about your success. It should go to your feet and ground, and not skywards where you can float so far away up that when you fall it will be really disastrous.
Shankar Ehsaan Loy will be performing with a full live band at The Kings Of Bollywood concert at the City Pavilion in east London next Friday (July 6). To find out more, visit www.MyTicketGuru.com or call 020-8924 4000
The full interview appears in this week’s Eastern Eye, out now
