Looking forward - 2018: The sound and the fury to be, writes Amit Trivedi

Looking ahead in the field of music, or any creative field, is tricky, because what works today, might not work at all tomorrow. But one trend that I see being carried forward into 2018 is that of remakes and remixes featured in Bollywood movies, as it happened this year with Humma Humma (Ok Janu), Tamma Tamma Again (Badrinath ki Dulhania), Mere Rash Ke Qamar (Baadshaho), Suit Suit (Hindi Medium), Banja Tu Meri Rani (Tumhari Sulu) and many others. The reason is simple — it seems to be working with the audience at the moment, and is hence, a fullproof formula to a hit. That’s what most people want. Very few have the balls to be the risk takers in our system.

Speaking of which, ‘risky’ musical ventures is something I hope to see in the coming days. Which means more experimentation  in terms of sound, genre, lyrics and every other element that goes into song making. All these indie gems of songs hidden within small movies with small audience reach, they deserve a bigger space. That space can be created when those in power choose to break out of the tried and tested mould. Sometimes it might work for the audience, as it did with the soundtrack of Dev D and Lootera, for me. I took the same risk with Bombay Velvet, but the jazzy influence could not establish a connect with the audience. It’s a trial and error process of churning out progressive, quality content that we, as a collective, as the industry, have to be open to. 

There’s already a system in place. Think of us music directors, composers and lyricists as the manufacturers, the music producers as the whole sellers, the up and coming live streaming platforms like Gana and Saavn as the retailers, and the audience as the consumer. This chain needs to br reinvented, with the emphasis on an environment that allows a balance between the experimental and the commercial. Instant access through digital music platforms means the audience is no longer a singular entity. What you are tripping on might not be what the next person is tripping on. One way for us music makers to strike a chord is to figure out our own specific target audience. There are only some who seem to have found a good balance — Vishal Shekhar comes to mind.

Going into the new year, we should embrace the beautiful unpredictability of music business, and keep searching for fresher sounds and that don’t look back, but fearlessly forward.

Amit Trivedi is a National award-winning music composer-director, singer and lyricist.