26 October,2026 07:54 AM IST | Mumbai | Komal RJ Panchal
Benny Dayal. Pics/By Special Arrangement, PTI, Instagram
Finding the next generation of artistes is perhaps among the best ways a musician can give back to the world of music. Singer Benny Dayal hopes to do that as he takes the judge's seat on Tamil Idol. In a chat with mid-day, the artiste talks about finding true potential, the importance of performance in artistry, and why AI cannot match genuine talent.
Excerpts from the interview.
What are you looking for in this season's contestants?
I am looking for honesty, innocence, and, of course, an X factor that cannot be taught or replicated. There should be something unique about the way they approach music. You can learn techniques and acquire skills, but there is a certain quality that makes an artiste who they are.
Social media has changed the way singers find an audience. How do you view this shift?
There are people who find a platform through social media and become playback singers, while others write their own music and become popular through these platforms. It has an upside and a downside. Sometimes, music becomes short-lived because of the hustle and hurry of social media. At the same time, there are artistes who are becoming the faces of their own music. That's brilliant. Ten or 12 years ago, singers were primarily known as playback singers, rather than as artistes with their own identities.
With AI increasingly being used to create music, do you see it as a threat to musicians?
As far as AI is used as a toy, it is fine. But if I write music with the help of AI, it's an insult to artistes who have spent years learning music. It's like a slap on their face. I'm not a big fan of AI tools, but I'm not excessively worried either. I also wonder whether there is something called technical perfection in music [that they try to achieve through AI]. In music, technique matters, but emotion will always be more important. Music should be used to express, not just impress.
Do you believe singers must also be performers?
Musicians should always be entertainers, rather than simply singing and calling it a day. Artistry involves performance, and that is the litmus test of any art form. It is an opportunity to bring your music alive and connect with people beyond the recording.
Many singers are exploring independent music, playback singing, and live performances simultaneously. What should they prioritise?
If you get an opportunity to try something, why not give it a shot? But you should not make these opportunities your priority at the expense of your music. It is important to create music that you genuinely love. If you focus on that, everything else will follow.
For an artiste, art should also be a responsibility. To fulfil that responsibility, they have to be consistent. That means putting in the effort, reinventing themselves, and constantly renewing their approach to music. They must keep revisiting the works of great musicians, relearning, and finding wonderful new things to do with their music
