As a queue wraps around the corner of Metro Theatre just off the famously bustling George Street in Sydney, the eagerness of concert-goers there to see Prateek Kuhad is undeniable. Once everyone's inside, the echoes of the audience singing along to 'Tune Kaha' evokes warmth, community and all of the signs of a great Saturday night out.
This is the power of the 34-year-old, one of the most celebrated artists in India, whose career has soared to great heights in recent years. His track 'Kasoor' reached the top 10 on Spotify in 2020, while his commercial breakthrough with 'cold/mess' in the same year hit No.1 on the all-genres chart on iTunes in India.
Singing in both Hindi and English, his music has garnered global attention, landing him the Best India Act at the MTV Europe Music Awards in 2016, and a mention of 'cold/mess' in Barack Obama’s list of his Favourite Music of 2019. Plus, his music has been placed in TV shows like Ted Lasso.
Kuhad has now brought his Silhouettes tour to Australia, and Draw Your Box caught up with him to hear all about the inspiration behind his songs, his career highlights, supporting Ed Sheeran in Mumbai, and what he thinks of his Aussie fans.
Welcome to Australia, how does it feel to be touring here? Has it always been on your bucket list?
Thank you, glad to finally make it here. My last trip to Australia was back in 2016. It was quite a brief trip then, and since then I’ve been hoping to come back and explore more cities here. And I'm glad I finally could.
When you sit down with your team to plan a tour, do you usually have a wish list of key features, special performances or surprises that you like to throw into the mix? What can audiences expect from the Silhouettes tour?
I mean I work towards every performance being special, wherever I perform. We try to cover as many cities and territories as possible in order to reach and connect with more fans there. This time around for the Silhouettes Tour, it’s a solo performance of me in International territories. And in India I will be performing with a band.
Music transcends borders, with social media and streaming services making accessibility greater on a global scale. When you then travel to different parts of the world to perform, do audiences react differently to your work?
It’s the same reaction everywhere usually.
How would you describe your Australian fans?
Extremely warm and supportive. I’ve been receiving a bunch of messages from my fans here recommending some great things to do and about where to eat here!
Congratulations on the recent release of ‘I’m Someone New’. What was the inspiration for the song and how would you describe the sound behind it
The song at its core explores the transformative power of love, and how one person’s love can change you into a better version of yourself, one that you never thought you could be; and that’s how the sound essentially is as well, a transformation and an evolution. The song is made with a lot of heart and I’m glad people are enjoying it!
Where do you usually look for inspiration when writing songs? How much of it is influenced by personal experience?
Most of my song writing process is purely instinctive and translating my thoughts, feelings and emotions. It isn’t particularly linked to a specific experience or moment in my life, but it's more like a stream of consciousness and intuition.
You create music in both Hindi and English. Why is it important to you as a musician to do both?
I write songs to make difficult-to-describe emotions feel more tactile. The language is irrelevant.
When did your love for music begin, and at what point did you choose to turn this passion into a career as a singer/songwriter?
Growing up I was always surrounded by art and music. So I naturally gravitated towards music as a hobby initially. It was only when I was pursuing my Bachelor’s in New York where I was exposed to more music and cultures, that made me choose to take up music seriously and as a full-time career.
Are there any dream artists you would love to collaborate with in the future?
Not anyone specific at the moment.
Speaking of other artists, you recently supported Ed Sheeran’s show in Mumbai. How would you describe that experience and what was Ed like?
It was a good experience. To share the same platform as Ed Sheeran in front of thousands of people was memorable.
From your music featuring in Ted Lasso to appearing on Barack Obama’s year-end list, you have an incredible list of recent professional highlights. What’s been the biggest highlight for you?
Umm, there’s never just one specific highlight. All of these have been endearing moments in my journey, but for me, the process of creating more and more music is the rewarding part.
From reality shows to TikTok, there are many new avenues these days to forge a music career. What advice would you have for young people trying to get into the biz? What’s the best way to do it?
It’s great that music has become more accessible in many ways, and literally, anybody can get in the game, but it's easy to get persuaded with the noise, because there’s so much going on out there. In my opinion, the best way to do it is to be as true, honest and authentic as possible with your craft and pick something you enjoy doing. Life is short so might as well have a nice time living it.