Sylvia Black talks about working in Bollywood

She can quietly claim that she has had a hand behind the phenomenal success of the hip hop/pop group Black Eyed Peas and singer-songwriter Lady Gaga. But Sylvia Black — who pens lyrics for both of them — appears calm on the phone from her New York home. And right now, one of the topmost things on her mind is her Bollywood debut. She sings a new version of a popular old Bollywood track in a movie directed by Dev Benegal.

Sylvia says she was given a few black and white clips of yesteryear’s Bollywood comedian, the late Johnny Walker, before signing the number. Johnny Walker was the one on whom the old version was picturised. “I was mesmerised when I watched his (Johnny Walker’s) expressions. They were superb. I didn’t find it hard to record the track because I had rehearsed it over and over again. I definitely want to be in India when the film opens there,” she says.

Speaking about her association with Fergie — the female vocalist of Black Eyed Peas — Sylvia says, “Fergie believes in herself; she is supremely confident. And she is also passionate about India. I am glad that I came up with one of their biggest hits (Meet Me Half Way).”

When asked about Lady Gaga, Sylvia says, “When Lady Gaga wants to do something, she will do it. She once took her dog to a yoga class with her just because she wanted to. She doesn’t care about what the world thinks about her.”

So is there anybody in India with whom she wants to work with?  Sylvia says, “I want to perform with Anoushka Shankar. I have seen her perform in New York. She has the best stage presence among
Indian musicians.”