{"id":10851,"date":"2009-06-04T17:03:31","date_gmt":"2009-06-04T17:03:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tat.reddaisytrading.co.uk\/index.php\/2009\/06\/04\/im-realising-my-dreams\/"},"modified":"2009-06-04T17:03:31","modified_gmt":"2009-06-04T17:03:31","slug":"im-realising-my-dreams","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theasiantoday.com\/index.php\/2009\/06\/04\/im-realising-my-dreams\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cI\u2019m realising my dreams\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Navin Kundra talks to The Asian Today<\/h3>\n
\"\"COVENTRY’S\u00a0Navin Kundra is living his dream.<\/strong> <\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

The singer-songwriter-composer is one of the hottest talents around on the Asian music scene and he\u2019s loving every minute of it. With fans from Southall to South America, it\u2019s not bad for the 24-year-old whose big break came in 2005 when his stunning rendition of Robbie William\u2019s \u2018Feel\u2019 won him the BBC Asian Network\u2019s Unsung competition. <\/div>\n

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These days the multi-lingual singer is busy adding to his song catalogue which has yielded four consecutive top 10 hits in the UK Asian music charts. He\u2019s even found time to record a song for the forthcoming Akshay Kumar Kareena Kapoor starrer \u2018Kambakht Ishq\u2019, and is being guided by the man who made Raghav an international star. <\/div>\n

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We caught up with Navin during his international tour to find out how the music world is treating the boy from Coventry<\/div>\n

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\u00a0<\/div>\n

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You\u2019ve been busy jet setting over the past few months \u2013 are you amazed at the following you have overseas?<\/strong><\/div>\n

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For sure \u2013 I never realised how far across the world my music has actually travelled.\u00a0Outside of the UK, recently I\u2019ve been out touring in New York, Dubai and Holland, and it\u2019s awesome to see the crowds singing along to my songs.\u00a0After shows the fans come up to me and tell me that they follow all my music online via YouTube and Facebook – and that\u2019s when you realise just how powerful the internet is.\u00a0It\u2019s strange to visit countries I\u2019ve never been to and hear my music playing on radio over there \u2013 I just recently found out that my current single topped the charts in Suriname, South America \u2013 I\u2019ve never even been there!\u00a0It\u2019s ironic that when I started out, one of my goals was to take my music around the world, but now my music is taking me around the world!<\/div>\n

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\u00a0<\/div>\n

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Surely nothing beats your UK fans though.<\/strong><\/div>\n

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Well it all started here in the UK and the fans here have been amazingly supportive!\u00a0The crowds out here know how to party and are very directly responsive to what they hear \u2013 if they don\u2019t like your music, you\u2019ll know about it and similarly if they do, then they show massive support.\u00a0My first single was \u2018Tukde Tukde\u2019, which I wrote with my university mate M Johal, and I never expected it to spend 3 weeks at Number 1 in the charts because it was so different to everything out there at the time.\u00a0The UK Asian Music scene is still big on Bhangra and Bollywood, but I truly believe that there\u2019s room for a new sound which switches it up \u2013 that\u2019s what I do and I\u2019m glad that people are out there supporting it.\u00a0I like to stay in touch and interact with my supporters using social networks like Facebook and MySpace \u2013 it\u2019s great to be able to communicate directly with them and I always try to make time for that.\u00a0My UK fans are awesome \u2013 they voted \u2018Tere Liye\u2019 number 1 in the Asian Charts this week\u2026thanks guys!<\/div>\n

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\u00a0<\/strong><\/div>\n

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You were up for a UKAMA earlier this year. Unfortunately you missed out, but being nominated must have been a big coup for you?<\/strong><\/div>\n

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Absolutely \u2013 I\u2019m thrilled to have been nominated and would like to thank everyone who logged on and voted for me.\u00a0I was also given the honour of presenting an award to Gurdaas Maan Ji who I am a huge fan of! <\/div>\n

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\u00a0<\/div>\n

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How important are the UKAMA\u2019s for the Asian music scene?<\/strong><\/div>\n

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I think they are quite important because Award ceremonies recognise and celebrate talent and achievement \u2013 that\u2019s something which we don\u2019t have enough of.\u00a0I think it\u2019s something we should be proud of and support.\u00a0Myself and Jaz topped the public vote for the Award and then a panel of judges chose the winner \u2013 it\u2019s not about winning or losing, it\u2019s about the recognition and support for your talent.\u00a0I do think though, that sometimes people can place too much importance on awards and I take the view that nothing speaks more than your work.<\/div>\n

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\u00a0<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

You burst onto the music scene after winning BBC Asian Network\u2019s Unsung Competition in 2005. That must have been an amazing experience.<\/strong><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

It was awesome!\u00a0When I heard the panel of judges announced on radio, I knew I had to send in some material and audition for it.\u00a0I got to perform with a live band and put an Indian twist to \u2018Feel\u2019 by Robbie Williams.\u00a0Thankfully I won the public vote and the judge\u2019s choice award.\u00a0It meant a lot to me to be sharing the stage with the best of the British Asian music industry and artists such as Gurdaas Maan Ji.\u00a0Since winning that competition, I\u2019ve been fortunate enough to work with all of the judges which included Rishi Rich, Shin, Adil Ray, Mona Singh and am now managed by another of the judges, Nyrone who launched Raghav\u2019s career.<\/div>\n

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\u00a0<\/div>\n

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How important was winning the competition in realising your dreams of making it big in the music industry?<\/strong><\/div>\n

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In all honesty, it was the fact that I got to perform on that stage and showcase my talent in front of those influential people and the audience that was more important to me than winning.\u00a0Competitions come and go, just look at some of the winners of X Factor or Pop Idol \u2013 that is the biggest platform for anyone wanting to make it big, yet even some of the participants that went on to win those shows are not heard much today.\u00a0So whilst competitions are important, it\u2019s really what you do after the competition that counts.\u00a0Fortunately, I managed to top the charts with my first single, then had 3 tracks simultaneously in 3 different Top 20 charts, and now I\u2019ve reached Number 1 again with my current single, Tere Liye.\u00a0It\u2019s hard work, but I love it and step by step, I\u2019m realising my dreams as well as dreaming new ones.<\/div>\n

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\u00a0<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

You sing in English, Hindi and Punjabi \u2013 do you think this sets you apart from other singers in the Asian music scene?<\/strong><\/div>\n

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Yes \u2013 I love singing in all 3 languages and rather than sticking to 1, I tend to alternate between them and sometimes mix them all up in one song.\u00a0That keeps the creative process exciting for me and ensures that the listeners will always get to hear something new.\u00a0I truly believe that people aren\u2019t narrow minded in their musical tastes \u2013 they don\u2019t just want to listen to Bhangra all the time \u2013 they love variety and now people have access to more music than ever.\u00a0I want to give them more variety – something new which still captures the essence of traditional Indian music, but with a more contemporary sound by creating a fusion with other influences.\u00a0So you\u2019ll hear different shades on the album, from dance songs like \u2018Love Thing\u2019 and \u2018Mehbooba\u2019 to mellow melodious songs like \u2018Tere Liye\u2019 and \u2018Aaja\u2019.<\/div>\n

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\u00a0<\/div>\n

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\"\"You\u2019ve managed to get yourself heard in Bollywood! How did you get involved in the Akshay Kareena film \u2018Kambakht Ishq\u2019?<\/strong><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

Yep\u2026of all the films I could\u2019ve got \u2013 that\u2019s the title!\u00a0(Laughs)<\/em>\u00a0This came about through Rishi Rich who was working with Anu Malik at the time.\u00a0They needed a singer to vocal a song which was written in India to be filmed on Akshay Kumar. With the song being written in Hindi and English, Rishi Rich recommended me to Anu Malik.\u00a0He played Anu some of my material including a song we\u2019ve recorded together which is a collaboration with Jay Sean and they called me into the studio to record the song.\u00a0I thought it was a joke at first, but then when I got to the studio \u2013 it was for real and it was a brilliant experience!\u00a0<\/div>\n

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\u00a0<\/div>\n

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Did you get to meet the stars?<\/strong><\/div>\n

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No not this time\u2026tut tut!<\/div>\n

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\u00a0<\/div>\n

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Is Bollywood something you\u2019d like to do more of in the future?<\/strong><\/div>\n

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Absolutely \u2013 I\u2019ve grown up listening to Bollywood music and I love it!\u00a0<\/div>\n

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\u00a0<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

You came up with a very interesting concept for Valentines Day for your single \u2018Tere Liye\u2019. Tell us a bit about that?<\/strong><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

Well I wanted the song to be more than just another tune that people would listen to on the radio \u2013 I wanted it to be a song which was personal to them, which they could relate to, own and gift to their loved ones to tell them how much they love them \u2013 that\u2019s why I called it \u2018Tere Liye (For You)\u2019.\u00a0So prior to the Valentine\u2019s Day release, I offered everyone the chance to log onto my website and order a copy of the song with a unique personalised dedication to their Valentine which I would record on their copy of the song.\u00a0This is something which has never been done before and the response has been phenomenal! <\/div>\n

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\u00a0<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

How many requests came in for the song?<\/strong><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

Absolutely loads \u2013 I have been inundated with dedications for this song.\u00a0In fact, it has done so well that after Valentine\u2019s Day, I decided to open up the personalised dedication order so that it is now available for any occasion as an MP3 or CD.\u00a0So if it\u2019s someone\u2019s birthday, anniversary or even if there\u2019s no special occasion and you just want to tell someone how much they mean to you, you can get your dedicated copy at www.navin-online.com<\/a>. Simply type in your name, the name of the person you\u2019d like to dedicate the song to, the occasion (if any) and any message which you\u2019d like me to say to them on your behalf \u2013 it\u2019s as simple as that!\u00a0You can be as creative as you want with it and unlike flowers or chocolates, this gift is timeless.\u00a0I even recorded a dedication on the song last week which was a marriage proposal by a girl\u2026and he said YES!\u00a0<\/div>\n

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\u00a0<\/strong><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

What have you got lined up for the rest of the 2009?<\/strong><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

There\u2019s so much happening this year \u2013 first and foremost I\u2019ll be releasing my forthcoming single \u2018Mehbooba\u2019 which is an out and out summer dance tune!\u00a0I\u2019m currently finishing my debut album which will feature some exclusive collaborations and I hope to release it this year.\u00a0I\u2019m also going to continue touring both nationally and internationally \u2013 details of all my live dates are available on my website at www.navin-online.com<\/a>. Make sure you add me on Facebook and subscribe to my YouTube channel www.youtube.com\/navinonline<\/a> \u00a0to be a part of the journey!<\/div>\n

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\u00a0<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

Interview By Zakia Yousaf<\/strong><\/div>\n

\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Navin Kundra talks to The Asian Today COVENTRY’S\u00a0Navin Kundra is living his dream. The singer-songwriter-composer is one of the hottest talents around on the Asian music scene and he\u2019s loving every minute of it. With fans from Southall to South America, it\u2019s not bad for the 24-year-old whose big break came in 2005 when […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11753,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[72],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10851","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-interviews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theasiantoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10851","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theasiantoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theasiantoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theasiantoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theasiantoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10851"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.theasiantoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10851\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theasiantoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11753"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theasiantoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10851"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theasiantoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10851"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theasiantoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10851"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}