Ex-navy officer NAVNEET DHIllON speaks to Upasana Singh about his journey that transformed him into a singer
The multi-talented singer and lyricist Navneet Dhillon, popularly known as Big Dhillon, is a master of various genres like hip-hop, Sufi, classical and folk music. The dream of becoming a singer was stuck in his head since he was a child. But the real journey began when he joined Navy which boosted his confidence.
“Unlike most children, I had a pretty good idea of what I wanted to do in life. With an inferiority complex, I used to sing in the safe haven of my room so that nobody would hear me. Being in a disciplined environment, singing was a constant companion giving me solace. I used to carry my notepad along with me during the watch-time on the ship and write songs in it. When the pad eventually filled with 30-40 compositions, it was a revelation for me.”
However, his family wanted him to hold on to a stable job, unaware of the his real potential. “It was during a random visit to my hometown that I showed all my compositions to my father. He was surprised and a little shocked but acknowledged my interest proudly and since that day, I have never looked back”, Dhillon added.
Collaborating with renowned singers like Raftar and Manj Musik in his debut song Stand Up in 2015, the artist released his first solo Hauli Hauli in 2016 which garnered enormous appreciation.
Said Dhillon, “This song was a turning point in my life. Shifting to solo wasn’t an overnight decision. I had to go through a difficult phase where I did an extensive research to deliver what the audience craves. So, I picked a melodious song over a party song as I believe that simplicity of the song would connect with my fans”.
Besides singing, he has also penned the storyline of his new release Gussa featuring actress Niti Taylor.
“This album is very close to my heart as it is based on a sensitive narration which made me realise that every emotion needs to be unveiled in an appropriate flow. The directorial responsibility fell on my shoulders as I had the vision.”
He added, “The idea was to spread a message that would be etched forever in the memory of the listeners. During the training tenure in the Navy school, I had to go through a lot of heartbreaks and home-sickness which made it easier for me to portray an emotional element in the song flawlessly”.
Born and brought up in Punjab, the singer has made his own identity in the industry in a short span. Amid a competitive industry where a huge influence is placed on the fans. People start copying celebrities signature lifestyle and appearances. “It feels good when your fans follow you and idolise you but that is not the only thing that I focus on. I always try connecting with the audience through my lyrics and not just by how I appear on screen. Even before any shoot, I simply pick a suitable attire and hairdo without giving it much thought.”
Recalling the memories of his debut in the music industry, Dhillon shared, “leaving cadet and shifting to singing was a big decision of my life. However, collaborating with singers was a great learning experience. They guided me on how to handle social media and leave a mark in the competitive music industry”.
Apart from singing, the artist’s persuits includes fitness, cars, swimming and meditation. But what kept him driving is the urge to work hard to achieve more in his life.