Music on his mind
This youngster cut his teeth on reality shows before landing his first playback song. He talks about his journey
Arun Iyer (27) HR Business Partner, KPMG
Arun Iyer says he started singing in his mother’s womb. A slight exaggeration; at the age of two, he began singing Hindi film songs he would hear from his aunts who sang for an orchestra. About 100 trophies (for singing) later, this young professional now has an item number in the recently released Kannada flick Sawaal. “I am a veteran of many reality singing competitions, including the Indian Idol (2006) where I was in the top 30,” says Iyer.
Iyer’s talent was honed by years of Carnatic classical and semi-classical training. “At college competitions, I would always get a consolation prize or the third place. Then my guru,Narahari Dixit , advised me to sing like a poet, feeling the words rather than just singing.” Next he participated in reality shows, with better results.
As the semifinalist of a popularKannada reality show , Star Singer (2013), he was noticed by music director Giridhar Diwan and others from the music industry. “I have brought 99 per cent attitude and 1 per cent skill to make it perfect. But my guru scolds me for not doing daily riyaaz (practice),” he says with a laugh.
“Singing for a reality show is very different from doing a commercial, sonnet or a playback song.” Here are his tips:
» Sing in your original style. Embrace your nervousness and sing with full passion; the nervousness will disappear.
» In a reality show, changes happen all the time. So be prepared with many varieties of songs.
» Sing in front of the mirror. Only then you can express yourself well.
» But at the end, to win, it has to be your day.
Arun Iyer says he started singing in his mother’s womb. A slight exaggeration; at the age of two, he began singing Hindi film songs he would hear from his aunts who sang for an orchestra. About 100 trophies (for singing) later, this young professional now has an item number in the recently released Kannada flick Sawaal. “I am a veteran of many reality singing competitions, including the Indian Idol (2006) where I was in the top 30,” says Iyer.
Iyer’s talent was honed by years of Carnatic classical and semi-classical training. “At college competitions, I would always get a consolation prize or the third place. Then my guru,
As the semifinalist of a popular
Iyer says singing has given him focus and equanimity at work. As an MBA student at Auckland University, New Zealand, he even earned through singing. “I would be the ‘opening singer’ for music shows by Adnan Sami, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and others. I did a stint as an RJ for the local Indian channel and participated in two reality shows, and reached the finals.”
“Singing for a reality show is very different from doing a commercial, sonnet or a playback song.” Here are his tips:
» Sing in your original style. Embrace your nervousness and sing with full passion; the nervousness will disappear.
» In a reality show, changes happen all the time. So be prepared with many varieties of songs.
» Sing in front of the mirror. Only then you can express yourself well.
» But at the end, to win, it has to be your day.
