Singer-composer Manj Musik talks about his new music label and current work-base in Dubai

Sheetal

As Manj Musik aka Manjeet Singh Ral launches his international music label, Muzic One Global, he answers why he chose Dubai as the place for it, “Dubai, to me, feels like the centre of the world now. Indians and Pakistanis stay there in harmony. One of the songs in the label, Kangna, is based on an Indian boy and Pakistani girl; so, Dubai seemed the perfect setting.”

Talking about working with Ushna Shah, Canadian-Pakistani actress, he adds, “She is a good actress ans also helped me direct the music video as well. As we played ourselves in Kangna, she came up with the idea of me falling in love with her and coming to her wedding in Lahore. That is why we got the opportunity to shoot in Dubai as well as Lahore.”

Composer of popular songs for Bollywood films, such as Namastey London, Singh Is Kinng, Kambakkht Ishq, Tanu Weds Manu, Yamla Pagla Deewana and Bullet Raja, his foot-tapping numbers, Lal Ghagra and Swag Mera Desi, reminds us of what he is all about — RDB— Rhythm, Dance and Bass! It was the name of his first band with two of his brothers.

Changing contours

Manj thinks music in India has explored almost all trends, be it remixes or bringing old music back or turning Punjabi songs into film music. He adds, “Today’s hype is collaborations. And it will become the next big thing or should I say that it already has. People are collaborating with each other to take music to great heights.”

As for his music label, he says, “Now more people are releasing independent music. They were scared earlier and didn’t have the right backing. Today, everybody is ready to take that chance if they are convinced about their music. Streaming platforms too have enabled the artistes to do so.”

The different thing about his label is that he wouldn’t sign any artistes. “I don’t want to tie down creativity to a contract. Every artiste wants to grow and for that one needs to expand horizons. We have a different approach and would support new artistes by just backing them financially, creatively or helping them in making their music videos. We would also help them in promoting their music and they can put it out on their own channels on different streaming platforms. Because even if a new artiste has more than some thousand subscribers, it means he or she has that niche market to engage with audiences. And we have that revenue model to get that money back via just streaming.”

Under his label, he already has some established artistes, including Fateh, Jaz Dhami, The PropheC and Kanika Kapoor, on board for whom he will produce music. His own son will come out with a rap song soon. As for Bollywood, Manj has given a song in Akshay Kumar’s upcoming movie, and is making music for Tiger Shroff’s and Jackky Bhagnani’s production house.