Armaan Malik, who is focussing on English music these days, talks about his international projects
Life has come full circle for Armaan Malik in a number of ways this year. To begin with, he is teaming up with Sunidhi Chauhan to sing the Hindi version of Can You Feel the Love Tonight in the upcoming movie, Lion King, and he recalls opening for her at a concert when he was about 12. “Now, I share vocal duties with her on this. It’s crazy,” he smiles. Then, 2019 started with him mentoring contestants on The Voice. “I started my journey as a participant on Zee TV’s Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Li’l Champs when I was nine; at 23, I was on the other side,” he points out. Incidentally, he is also going to Los Angeles, USA, in the next few days for the world premiere of Lion King and meeting its director, Jon Favreau. “He also directed the movie Chef and I had a song Tere Mere in the Bollywood adaptation starring Saif Ali Khan. So, yes, it feels like the ‘circle of life’ is complete,” he says, alluding to another track by the same name in Lion King. “It’s going to be such a huge trip for me,” he says excitedly.
INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS
Armaan has also sung Hakuna Matata in Lion King. He says that his and the Kamli hitmaker’s westernised vocals were necessary to pull off the tracks in the musical. “I’ve been singing English songs since I was about 14. And these numbers needed someone with a similar background and who could really feel them. Also, Lion King is such an iconic movie and we’re taking its legacy forward. What’s better than that?” he quips. This is the second international project that Armaan has sung for this year — he also crooned Ek Naye Jahan Mein (A Whole New World) in Aladdin earlier.
SONGS IN BOLLYWOOD, TOO
For Armaan, the year so far has also been great in terms of Bollywood songs as well — Pehla Pyaar in Kabir Singh and Intezari in Article 15 releasing recently. Armaan points out, “One is such a commercially-successful movie and the other, critically acclaimed. As a singer, it’s not just about the songs; projects on a whole are equally important. It makes my discography look better.” He is also gung-ho about singing for Vishal Mishra and Anurag Saikia respectively for the first time.
Armaan Malik
But singing for various composers isn’t different from lending his voice to his brother Amaal Mallik’s tunes. “Since I was 10, I had been singing with multiple composers before I worked with any of my family members. From that age, I’ve known what a composer demands out of a singer. So, even when it comes to Amaal, it’s not a comfort level kind of a thing. It’s just that he can shout at me if I go wrong (laughs); that is the only familiarity factor.” He further adds that it’s his duty to fulfil what’s expected from him, “I’m completely a composer’s singer,” he states.
WORKING WITH AR RAHMAN
Armaan has worked with the best in the industry, whether Shankar Ehsaan Loy (Bum Bum Bhole in Taare Zameen Par, 2007) or now AR Rahman in 99 Songs. “I kind of pinch myself to even think that I’ve been able to sing not only one but also the second song with Rahman sir,” he enthuses. He tells us that ever since he sang for 2.0 (Mechanical Sundariye), he hoped that ARR would repeat him. “He is the pride of our nation. Just being in the same room as him is such a big thing. And I’m glad that I’m singing for his passion project. I think all the top singers have sung some songs for this movie. I’m excited about that as well.”
MORE ENGLISH MUSIC
Armaan is currently working on a lot of original, non-film singles. “I’ve always wanted to take India to a global level, which is why I have been working on English music as well. For instance, I was the youngest Indian singer to perform at Wembley Stadium in the UK. I’ve been travelling to LA as well as London and will be going across half the globe for these projects,” he tells us. So, while he has Bollywood tracks in the pipeline, he promises to soon reveal what he’s working on. “It’s something that has been my lifelong dream. I didn’t think I’d become a Bollywood singer and it just happened to me. I always wanted to croon in English. So, life is veering me in the direction that I want,” he signs off.
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 "Armaan Malik")
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