Live for the moment

This year, he enthralled music lovers with his superhit Piya Aaye Na from Aashiqui 2. And last evening, Bangaloreans got to see him perform live at the Alive India In Concert at Phoenix Market City. For Krishnakumar Kunnath or KK, as he is popularly known, music is the only means of expression.

An alumni of Kirori Mal College in Delhi, KK received much of his motivation from his teachers and batch mates. “Like everyone else, I  started off as a bathroom singer, but once I got the music scholarship and joined Kirori Mal, it was a whole new beginning. My teachers encouraged me to perform better,” says KK, adding that had he not become a singer, he would have ended up being jobless. “Besides singing, I don’t think I am cut for anything else,” he says.

KK admits that budding singers face several hurdles before making it big. But there’s hope for everyone if they are talented. “Many a time, aspiring musicians take feedback only from their buddies who will obviously be supportive and say only nice things about them. One must learn to take feedback from many people. And the best thing a newbie singer can do today is to become his own critic and keep getting better,” he advises.

KK says that singers have started looking beyond Bollywood and that is good news. “Creative musicians tend to become frustrated if there is no platform to exhibit their creativity. Luckily, like in the West, India too is catching up by offering more opportunities for fresh talent to perform. The listener base is also expanding and looking for something different. Young musicians must make the best of this scenario and try to connect with the audience. They should also be a part of platforms like Alive India In Concert, which set the stage for budding musicians.”

Ask the singer about his life’s most memorable moment, however, and he says, “I have an awful memory and don’t cling on to any special occasion. I live for the moment and relish every bit of it.”