Rapper Raja Kumari talks about performing on the same stage as her once collaborator Gwen Stefani, Hans Zimmer and Red Hot Chili Peppers
Hip hop artiste and dancer Raja Kumari is racing ahead in the music industry since moving to India from the US a couple of years ago. The latest on her front is that she is all set to take the stage at the prestigious F1 Singapore Grand Prix on September 20-21. Needless to say, she is stoked about the gig and was planning her costumes when we chatted with her. Raja admits that she hasn’t followed racing and this will be the first experience for her. “But I enjoy new experiences. This will be the best way to learn about Formula 1 — being right in the thick of it,” says she.
However, this is only half of it. The artiste would be performing on the same stage as some of the biggest international acts, such as Hans Zimmer, Muse, Swedish House Mafia, Gwen Stefani and Red Hot Chilli Peppers! “Yes, it’s really big billing. To be seen on the same stage as these artistes is exciting. It feels like life has come full circle for me. I’ve collaborated with Gwen on her album This is What Truth Feels Like (2016) and three years later opening for her on such a big stage is rewarding,” says she, adding that she looks forward to checking out the Don’t Speak hitmaker, RHCP and Hans the most.
Raja, whose stage shows have always been a fusion of Indian and western cultures as well as her classical dance training and hip hop, has pretty much the same plan up her sleeve this time as well. “We’re trying to find a way to bring in Indian culture because I’m representing the country. I will perform a song from almost all my albums, whether it is Meera or I Did It,” she informs us.
In the three-odd years that she has been shuttling between India and home in California, USA, Raja has done a plethora of things, including an appearance in Gully Boy, featuring in Husna Parcham (Zero, 2018) and Allah Duhai in Salman Khan starrer Race 3 (2018) and judging Hustle with Nucleya and Raftaar, among others. “It’s been big-time hard work, manifestation, a lot of seeds planted that are all starting to bloom at the same time. It feels like a harvest. I’ve always wanted to work with Shah Rukh and be a curator of hip hop,” says the rapper, who has a number of live shows coming up, apart from a single next month in which she has collaborated with artist Sam Madhu from Chennai for a video.
Raja Kumari
Turning a judge and mentor for budding artistes this early on wasn’t part of the plan for Raja. But Hustle is much more than that for her. “It’s only when we come together as a community that we will create more artistes. And there hasn’t been a big focus on self-expression and music is among the most powerful healing factors. The fact that so many young kids are finding their own voice and improving by watching the show at home, is amazing. For instance, there’s a girl on the show who started rapping after watching Gully Boy. We don’t know who we’re inspiring. It’s these things that we’re doing now that’s going to affect the future,” she concludes.
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 "Raja Kumari")
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