There's something addictive about Prateek Kuhad's music that you keep coming back to it and readily allow it to lull you to a happy place. And be it Hindi tunes like Tum Jab Pass or Ab Hog Kya or English melodies like Big Surprise and Cold Shoulders, it frankly is impossible to pick favorites from these amazing pieces.
The 27 year old Jaipur born singer songwriter who sings in Hindi and English shot to fame with his single Raat Raazi in early 2013. Ever since then he has regularly come out with soul soothing tunes, each more magical than before and also released his debut album In Tokens & Charms back in 2015. He also collaborated to release song ‘Dil Beparwah' for MTV India's The Dewarists in 2016. Apart from this he also won the MTV EMA's Best Indian Act award in 2016 and continues to enthrall audience wherever he goes be it around India and abroad having performed in New York, Nashville, Austin, Sydney, Melbourne, Singapore, Toronto etc playing festivals such as Midem (2017), SXSW (2016), CMW (2016), BIGSOUND (2016), Music Matters (2016), Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix (2016) and as the support act for Alt J and Mike Posner's India tours.
But despite his many performances, the shy young man prefers to let his music do the talking rather than saying awkward stuff. Query him about one such incident where he said something awkward that makes him cringe now, Kuhad is reluctant to disclose it. "I distinctly remember this but it's so cringeworthy that I definitely cannot tell you what it was!" he exclaims. But he admits that over time he has learnt to relax more at his live shows. "After a while I became immune to things that used to bother me about playing live. My support team has grown larger and we're also more selective about the kind of shows we play now, that has definitely helped a fair bit," he says. Even so, he still finds it awkward to listen to his own tunes. "Doesn't every musician?" he asks. "When I'm alone, I have to do that when I'm working on the songs and their production. But in front of other people it makes me extremely uncomfortable if my songs are playing."
Interestingly, Kuhad was studying Math and Economics in New York University before he decided to shift completely to the music scene, a move that his family took a bit of time getting used to. "At first they were skeptical. It took some convincing, but they turned around and have since been very supportive," he admits, adding that the indie music scene is certainly very exciting in the country right now.
And the move to music has most definitely paid off as India has come to love the young musician's unique style, with Kuhad especially acquiring a steadily growing loyal (Kuhad seems a bit surprised by this) and at times crazy female fan following. "This girl I met recently got ‘Raat Raazi' tattooed on her wrist," he admits.
Apart from his tunes, Kuhad has done playback for one song in Gurgaon and made an entry into commercial cinema with the much loved mellow track Kho Gaye Hum Kahan, which was on the soundtrack of the 2016 film Baar Baar Dekho. And Kuhad states that he is open to doing more in Bollywood provided that the projects creatively stimulate him.
For the moment though he is focusing on getting his English EP out soon. "It's coming along fine so far. The songs are there, need to work on the production. Yes, I will be playing some songs from it for the upcoming show in Goa," says Kuhad, whose much Goa anticipated show happens on November 3 at The Village Studio Goa, Parra. "We're playing a slightly more stripped down set than usual, considering the relaxed Goa vibes. But other than that, a mix of my older and newer songs," he shares.
