Vayu, a music composer-singer & lyricist who shot to fame with the lyrics of Beat Pe Booty & Banno Tera Swagger, speaks with SHAlINI SAKSENA about his kind of music
You are from Bhopal. Tell us about your journey from there to BollywoodIJ
I took a train (laughs). Actually, I was mostly in Indore working as a graphic designer in an ad agency and used to do copy write for them. As a child, I used to write songs. People told me that since I could write, I should explore it more. So I took up a course in audio visual production and started working for a channel. While there, I started writing songs and got an opportunity in 2009 — Sikkon Ki Bhook for Rann — it was about media corruption. Gradually, I started getting work.
You are a composer, singer and lyricist. What’s your first loveIJ
Writing is my forte since that is how I started off. I am most comfortable and confident when I write. Even when I compose, I rely on my writing.
Where did you get your inspiration for songs like Banno Tera Swagger and Manva likes to FlyIJ
Think of me as a feminist. The inspiration is different for each song. When I wrote Banno... the inspiration came from Kangana Ranaut’s character and for Manva... from Vidya Balan’s character — characters as I imagined them.
Do you need the description of the character or do you read the scriptIJ
Different songs work differently. I have switches in the head per concept. Sometimes I just need a description, sometimes I need to read the script, sometimes I need to see the character. Sometimes less information helps to get the creative juices flowing. Sometimes nothing works even if I have all the information I need.
Off-late, all your songs have been hits. What’s your secretIJ
Give me the recipe of KFC and I will tell you mine (laughs). The only secret is that if the song appeals to me, it should appeal to the masses. One needs to perceive, observe and understand the consumer’s side.
nYou make music with your mouth. How did that developIJ
I developed that as a child, it was more of a necessity. I used to get bored easily and after listening to a song I would try to use my mouth to fill in the gaps in between the words — singing with beats. It’s like a polyphonic sound with no great highs or lows.
What has been the toughest lesson from the industryIJ
The industry is a giant consumer and one has to continuously do better than his last work. Each work has a shelf life and one has to start over.
Would you say that you are famous and successfulIJ
I don’t think I am famous as not many people know me. Success is not absolute. One can succeed once, it is an event. One can be successful at one particular moment, you did something and you ever successful. Then the struggle starts.
What are the projects you are working onIJ
I don’t usually talk about it as a couple of times my work has been dropped at the last moment. But there are a few projects like Parmanu and Bazaar. Then there is my work.
So you write for yourself as wellIJ
Yes. I didn’t get into Bollywood to make money. I got into it because I wanted to keep making songs. Then there is some work that I do for myself. I don’t want these songs to be sung by just anyone. Every artist wants to keep something for himself so that he doesn’t become a vendor. Hence, he does some work commercially and the rest is for himself.
What are things you keep in mind while writing a songIJ
I don’t have set rules but I try and not use works like daru and objectify. I also avoid being cheap. This comes more from one’s personality than anything else.
