‘Even rickshaw pullers have set Justin Bieber’s Sorry as their ringtone’

Popular composer and guitarist Ehsaan Noorani refutes the notion that Indians don’t listen to international music.

Music composer Ehsaan Noorani credits the proliferating number of collaborations between the Indian musicians and artists from the West for flourishing popularity of international music among the Indian audience.

Composer Ehsaan Noorani believs Indians love listening to English music. (HT Photo)

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The 53-year-old musician feels that the internet too played a part in it, he says, “Now, if you go to any small town in UP, you will see a rickshaw puller has set Sorry (by Justin Bieber) as his ringtone. So to say that Indians only listen to Bollywood or Hindi music will be wrong, because now everyone is listening to all kinds of music, thanks to internet,” he says.

“There is no isolated population or only a certain section that listens to international music now. Everyone has their own set of favourites and loyalty. It’s a great thing as it also tells you that the audience is aware about the kind of music that is being produced outside the country,” he adds.

The guitar player who is a part of the popular music composing trio, Shankar- Ehsaan- Loy adds that just like audiences, musicians too listen to English music. “I am pretty sure someone like a Badshah or a Yo Yo (Honey Singh) are listening to a lot of international music to see what kind of tunes are working abroad. Then they try and use some of those elements and incorporate in their music or perhaps get a new tune. So everyone is listening to English music. And lots of it as well,” he says.