Singer Raaj scores with Bollywood tracks
MUMBAI: Hailing from Assam to be a rockstar in Mumbai, the �Ajnabi Khwaab mein' singer Raaj is on a roll with many songs under his belt.
His vocals for �Yeh Jism' from Sanjay Gupta's Acid Factory have been enjoying repeated plays on television channels and Raaj is pinning hopes on the songs lined up in the year ahead. Says the singer, Having sung �Ajnabee Khwaab mein' for Superstar with Shamir Tandon, we recorded a scratch for Acid Factory. It came as a surprise when Sanjay Gupta asked to keep my voice in the final version of the song rather than use voice of an established artist. It is an experimental track by Shamir and has path breaking music like Sanjay Gupta's earlier film Kaante....
Raaj has also rendered his voice for another track composed by Shamir Tandon for Acid factory- �Raftaar'. The female vocals in the songs has been rendered by Anchal Datta.
Post Acid factory, Raaj would be heard in a number of films composed by Shamir Tandon to be released in coming months. I have two songs in Sangeet Sivan's film Click, Mumbai Chackachak, Satish Kaushik's Hawai dada, Sangeet Sivan's next untitled co-rendered with Vinod Rathod. Also I have sung parts of a song in Himesh Reshammiya's forthcoming film Kajraa re.
Raaj's vocals were appreciated in his Bollywood debut song- �Ajnabi' from Superstar. Nobody could miss the resemblance Raaj's singing style matches with the legendary S P Balasubramaniam. Reviewers had commented that Raaj brought something new to the track with his fresh voice.
Says Raaj, Coming to Mumbai years ago, I realised that there is no market for alternative music and started approaching music directors for breaking through in the industry. Many composers rejected me as my voice was different and they thought it risky to be casted in Bollywood. But Shamir Tandon recognised my voice and I am looking forward to the many songs I am working with him on.... Post the popularity of �Ajnabi', the singer says the industry has accepted him because of his success.
Being a rock music enthusiast, Raaj was a part of rock band, �Hoboes' in Mumbai and started following Bollywood music to become a playback singer. Going back to his former love, Raaj has rendered 4 tracks in rock genre for an album to create cancer awareness composed by new music composer Om Jha Cross fingered at the success of his forthcoming Bollywood songs, the singer is also contemplating launching an album.
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