MUMBAI: Gurdeep Mehndi, son of Indian pop musician Daler Mehndi, and nephew of Bollywood sensation- Mika Singh, has released a new single ‘Patolaji’.
The title- 'Patolaji' is a Punjabi slang, which literally means 'patakha’. The track is a mix of traditional folk with heavy dubstep, and Mehndi is getting good responses for it on YouTube. “I am getting a lot of positive response. In fact my father and chacha, Mika Singhji, too liked it,” stated the singer.
Interestingly, instead of creating a new composition, Mehndi chose to go with an old tune, which has been around for about 40-50 years. “A lot of old music is disappearing because people today prefer using new beats, but, I give more importance to old beats. The old compositions and songs are really close to my heart, which is why I want to take it to today’s generation through my music,” he said.
Unlike many singers today, Mehndi is not a fan of vulgar lyrics, which are so popular in most songs today. Instead, he believes in creating clean music, and is quite confident that his musical approach will not leave him behind. “Audiences demand these nonsensical songs because music composers are giving them those songs. One needs to change it. I look at this scenario in this way – either you become a trend setter or a trend follower,” stated the musician.
Those who have watched Mehndi in his current video will be well aware that his dress sense is very different from his father’s. And the singer revealed that it will stay that way in the future as well. “When a person is good looking, he can carry off anything that he wears, but a not-so-good looking person has to work hard towards his style; I fall in the second category. Michael Jackson always experimented with his clothes because he could carry them really well. Eminem sticks to black and white. Everyone dresses according to their personality,” he added.
Mehndi, who started playing more than a dozen musical instruments at the age of 15, says his father advised him on just two things – “My father is a truthful and hard working man. Hence, he advised me to always take the path of truth and work hard, for there are no shortcuts in life,” stated the singer.
He is currently working on his second single, which he claims will be a combination of folk music and chillstep.