It was late in 1998 that he stepped into the recording room, nervously, for the recording of the title track of his debut album, Pal, seven years on he prides himself on voicing what has now become a romantic anthem.
Krishna Kumar Menon or KK as he is better known, says he takes pride in the fact that even now “Pal is one song played at least once every second day on the radio.” After all these years, Pal still stands close to his heart.
“I am not a trained classical singer so I am still quite new to the nuances,” he says, now a judge on Sony’s Fame Gurukul.
“For me music is about expressing your innermost feeling. It is about emoting with your audience and you definitely do not need to be classical singer to do that.”
A well-known singer today of eight languages, he has belted out chartbusters almost every year, including this years, Dus Bahane from the film Dus. Besides, he has also featured in a number of commercials, Monte Carlo, TVS Scooty, Asian Paints, Coca Cola, Jumpin’, Yo Frooti, Colgate Gel, CloseUp, Cinthol, Amul Cheese and Pepsi’s Yeh Dil Mange More.
“I grew up listening to Pink Floyd, Sting, Guns N’ Roses and Billy Joel among others,” he laughs. “There was no remote connection with classical Indian music. I do not do any form of reyaaz but I really live with my music. When I am working on a song I sing it to me all the time. Sometimes in my mind, sometimes aloud but I keep going through the words, the score all the time, even when I am sleeping so when I finally sing it out, it comes out well rehearsed.”
{{/usCountry}}“I grew up listening to Pink Floyd, Sting, Guns N’ Roses and Billy Joel among others,” he laughs. “There was no remote connection with classical Indian music. I do not do any form of reyaaz but I really live with my music. When I am working on a song I sing it to me all the time. Sometimes in my mind, sometimes aloud but I keep going through the words, the score all the time, even when I am sleeping so when I finally sing it out, it comes out well rehearsed.”
{{/usCountry}}Of course, how can one forget the vivid emotions of Tadap Tadap ke and Awarapan? “I had really felt low during the rehearsals for both the songs. But they were very creatively satisfying.”
With more young singers coming into the market can we look forward to his image makeover? “Image makeover?” he laughs. “My wife designs all my clothes for me and I am definitely not looking forward for any designer labels or stylish looks.”
And films? “Films, are you nuts?”
SMART BOX
KK Classics
Here is what makes KK our anthem king
• Pal
Still a hot favourite of lovers acroos the nation
• Yaaron
Classic ode to friendship
• Tadap Tadap Ke
Heart rending track on lost love
• Awarapan
For all those who have been in and out of love