I am playing to my strengths now: Nirmika Singh

We work and move around in the same circles (we’re both journalists who write on music), but rarely (if ever) crossed paths. Up until a year ago, I knew Nirmika Singh solely by reputation and as the frontwoman of Nirmika & A Few Good Men. We shared a few laughs as we pitied some fools at the last Enchanted Valley Carnival. I learned some more about the singer-songwriter and her pop-rock/reggae band after that and followed her work. And now, as she gets set to release an all-Hindi EP called Jhoothe sometime this August, this Delhi girl who’s now a Mumbaikar (she moved in 2011 and has stayed), has her mother tongue on her mind (and her EP) and is looking forward to being known as someone good at her craft and being a musician whose tunes you’ll find catchy enough to hum the next day after you listen to it live. Excerpts from our conversation...  

About the EP...
I’m tentatively calling it Jhoothe. Thinking of featuring five songs I’ve been playing at live shows, but never recorded them. Thought it was hight time I did. Two songs are recorded, they’ve gone for mixing. I hope to finish two more in a couple of weeks and then, the last one. After that, maybe a video then let’s see.
The title track is the most introspective, the most powerful song I’ve written -- did it some three years ago. It’s a soft ballad, with some parts played live — cello, violin, percussion. It took a while to record. The main line ‘Kyunki hum jhoothe hain...’ should connect. It’s something people can relate with. A lot of guilt trippin’ happening on that one... (laughs)
The second one is called Khilone, it’s lighthearted, folksy, peppy and also has cello, violin and very funny Central Asian influences. It’s one of my favourite songs on the album.
I’ve had the good fortune of working with two very good musicians who have produced my music. Nigel Zach and Lima Yanger (the Duncun Rufus vocalist). Lima is one vocalist I really admire. I’m a big fan of his music. And we had a lot of common things to share. He helped me a lot. i learned a lot about vocal arrangements. One thing I’ll say about the EP at the risk of sounding boastful, it’s something I haven’t heard before.

How’s that so?
It’s Hindi writing. it’s coming from a girl, it is acoustic, catchy and probably entertaining. 

Acoustic music can’t be catchy?
I think there are a lot of singer-songwriters on the circuit and not all of them give importance to melody or clients — to use a rough word. I try to bring the lyrical depth, the musicianship angle to the table. I truly believe if you listen to a Jhoothe, you’ll have a lay person humming the tune the next day as also someone who’d note the small details. It’s always been my endeavour to marry those two things because at the end of the day you’re making music for normal people, not for musicians, but if I can do something great in the bargain, why not?

This will be the first time you’ve recorded something of significance.
Yes, Jhoothe will be my breakthrough. All I’ve worked on over the last three years, will come out on this EP. I’m at a place where i’ve experiemnted so much, I know where I stand musically, I know what my strengths and weaknesses are. This is the filtered version of where I’d like to be.

But you also sing in English as well, though...
Yeah but this is going to be purely in Hindi. but that’s the thing. I used to do English stuff also, predominantly sing English before that. That’s before I realised my strength was writing in Hindi, that’s my mother tongue. Over the past three-four years, I found I was able to express mtyself the best in the most unique way in Hindi. Guess there was a connection with the mother tongue, I didn’t realise. I think I’m playing more to my strengths now. It’s not Hinglish now, or English, it’s just Hindi.

Someone you really want to work with in the current scene?
I am working with someone I wanted to work with. Naveen Kumar from A R Rahman’s ensemble.

The flautist? You shared the stage with him a while back.
We did, but have never been part of a recording together. We jell very well, and will be collaborating on a couple of songs soon.

Hindi lyrical melodies. Bollywood next?
I actually want this EP of mine to be a showreel of sorts.

What would you want to be known as?
As an honest performer. I’d really like it if someone came up to me and said the writing’s really good, that’s what matters most to me than anything else.. Good songwriter first, then an entertainer and I want to be known as a happy performer, a happy person to be around, as simple as that.