Technology-aided music sounds like gizmo singing: Hariharan (IANS Interview)

The influx of technology in singing might have made several singers overnight sensations, but popular playback and ghazal singer Hariharan feels music produced with the help of technology sounds like gizmo singing.

"With the aid of technology, you can make a person who is not pitch-perfect, perfect. You can hear their songs and most of the times it sounds like gizmo singing because it is basically machine-created energy," Hariharan told IANS in an interview here.

"If people are fine with such music, we shouldn't have any problem with it. We can't go past this kind of music nowadays, so we enjoy it," he added on the sidelines of his concert at Forum Vijaya Mall in the city over the weekend.

Born into a family of Carnatic singers, Hariharan doesn't consider singing his profession.

"It's a way of life," he declared, with a guffaw.

"Singing has been a part of my life for a very long time. I'm 1955 born and while we were growing up, there was no idiot box. We grew up in a simple society where most children either chose sports or singing. There was music everywhere. I never learnt music just for the sake of learning.

"Fortunately, I was talented so I could easily pick it up," he said.

Actively singing for over four decades, the 61-year old still endorses the idea of formal training for all aspiring singers.

"It's like going to school. By learning, you know what you're doing. It makes things simpler and helps you to realise your potential," he said, adding that some human beings are gifted.

"Some people are born talented. But no matter who you are, you can't be successful if you don't bring something different to the table. Some people may not have learnt music, but that doesn't mean they can't succeed," he explained.

Having performed at numerous concerts over the years, Hariharan feels audiences have evolved thanks to music-based reality shows.

"It's because of these shows that audiences want to actively participate in concerts. Reality shows are educating the masses in raag, taal and swara, even if they don't have basic knowledge in music. It's fun performing at concerts these days because people love to participate and they are not too critical about what they listen," he added.

Although Hariharan hasn't performed many shows at malls, he feels there's something "cute" about it.

"People walk into a mall casually, in a completely different mood, and when they see someone performing they just join the fun. The experience of performing in front of a live audience is invigorating," he said.

The "Tu hi re" singer is excited about his younger son Karan's acting debut. As a father, he completely supports his decision.

Karan's maiden Hindi film, "Missing on a Weekend", hits the screens on July 1.

(Haricharan Pudippedi can be contacted at haricharan.p@ians.in)

--IANS

hp/rb