Twist in the track

The average person may feel inclined to dismiss Singh’s talk as mere bluster; after all,has there really been a time when Bollywood was displaced from the top of popular musical charts? But there is merit in Singh’s statement. Not only did fusion pop become a popular wave in the late 1990s,Singh,with his band Stereo Nation,was riding the crest. Songs like Oh Carol and Nachenge Sari Raat became massive hits. His track I’ve Been Waiting also became the inspiration for the popular Bollywood song,Don’t Break My Heart from the 2006 movie Mohabbat,featuring Madhuri Dixit and Akshaye Khanna. So one can let it pass when the singer makes statements like,“I started the fusion wave and it feels good that Bollywood embraced it”.

If Bollywood has embraced Singh’s music,the musician,too,has wholeheartedly reciprocated. Not only has he composed and sung for movies like It’s a Wonderful Afterlife,Koi Mil Gaya and Race,but is also writing a Bollywood script (it’s strictly under wraps).

However,with Twist and Shout,Taz is back to doing what he does best — fusion. “I was worried that I wouldn’t get permission to use the song and was quite nervous when I sent my version to Sony Records,the owners of the Beatles catalogue. Fortunately for me,they loved it and gave me their consent.” When asked why he decided to update what many would consider to be an almost perfect song,Singh is quick to state,“It is a wonderful song and people who know of the Beatles love it. But there are many people who’ve never heard of the Fab Four or their music,and this is an attempt to reach out to them.”

Post his album release and tour,the London-based artiste will continue with his busy life — writing his film script,putting together his new band Chilli Town and launching a special Stereo Nation iPod. “Hopefully,after this,when I get the time,I’ll finally go on a holiday.”