Calm Down singer Rema says he's heard about Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan; listens to AR Rahman and Badshah at home

Nigerian singer Rema is touring India for the first time and is excited to explore the country, try local food, hear local music and watch Bollywood films.

He has taken the world by storm with his chart-topping single, Calm Down. And now, Divine Ikubor aka Rema, is set to enthral his Indian fans as he’s touring India for the first time. “I’m already in love with Mumbai. I had the most vibrant welcome,” says the Nigerian singer. He adds, “I feel so happy and privileged to be in India. The people here are so positive, loving and generous. Since childhood I knew that India is a place of high cultural values. I love the vibe of this country.”

Calm Down singer Rema

When we tell him how Calm Down has a huge fan base in India, too, Rema is grateful. Describing how he functions, he shares, “Whenever I make music, it’s for the whole world to listen to. I believe every song has its time and this was the perfect time for Calm Down. Imagine if I’d dropped Calm Down in 2019, I don’t know how it would’ve done (referring to the ever-changing musical tastes and sensibilities). I just felt like dropping it now and it was just the perfect timing.”

He goes on to talk about his collaboration with singer Selena Gomez on the song: “Selena is amazing. Working on the song was really easy, thanks to her. She was communicative, keen on the idea of this song and wanted to make sure that she complimented my verse. Her voice is just perfect.”

During his stay in India for the three-city Rema - Calm Down India Tour, the singer wishes to “go sightseeing”. He adds, “I want to explore the country, hear some local music, try some new spicy Indian food and maybe watch a few Bollywood films.”

So is he a fan of Bollywood? Pat comes the reply, “I’ve heard a lot about Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan (actors), since Bollywood is quite popular back home. Also, I’ve been listening to (musicians) AR Rahman and Badshah. I look forward to collaborating with Indians, especially with Badshah and AR. I hope I get to sing in an Indian language soon. I’d love to explore the whole Indian-Afro cross-cultural connection.”