Indian movies don't need American lyricists: American singer

Tennessee-born singer-songwriter Scott Moses Murray says he would like to work with Indian artistes like the "Prince of Bhangra" Sukhbir Singh, but believes that Indian films can do without American lyricists.

Murray has travelled to different parts of the world, including England, and has stayed in Delhi for about three years. Despite being away from his home, he says he doesn't miss it.

"I've been to 40 countries, but I never miss America because it is always surrounding me. Everywhere I go, America is there, but not so much in India. Maybe, some brand names...Maybe some purses and shoes. But when it comes to culture, India has its own culture and India is not really eager to let another culture proliferate. I appreciate that," he told IANS here.

"Indian movies don't need an English or American lyricist. But I would love to do it (work with Indian filmmakers)," added the artiste, who performed here at the third edition of Orange Festival of Adventure & Music, which was headlined by Swedish guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen. The fest also had adventure-based activities like the JK Tyre Orange 4x4 Fury.

The "Feel like home" hitmaker says he is not an expert in the music of any given Indian artiste, but he enjoys listening to their music.

"One of the people I would like to work with is Madan Gopal Singh. I also met Sukhbir Singh. He sent a song to me that I thought was beautiful. It didn't have a name...just had a melody. It's not a bhangra song, but a beautiful spiritual song," said Murray.

He likes to explore topics ranging from love to war. How would he describe his music?

"Just good music. I never know how to describe it. I just play it and I let other people describe it for me," said the 45-year-old, who has been writing songs since the age of 16.

He says songs usually come to him when he is on the move.

"I did have some ideas come to me when I was on my way here on the train. The guys that I was in the berth with, were very generous with the whiskey and I think they would have also loved me to play teen patti (card game) with them till five in the morning, but I didn't want to," he said.

"It's the particularities when you are travelling like the friendliness of my co-passengers, the flowing whiskey, the teen patti, the noise and a baby crying or the light shining on the fields... all these come together to make a song. It's the small things that make a song," he added.

Talking about his upcoming projects, he said he is working with Nashville producer John Mark Painter.

(The writer's trip to Arunachal Pradesh was sponsored by JK Tyre Motorsports. Natalia Ningthoujam can be contacted at natalia.n@ians.in)

--IANS

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