Shreya Ghoshal returns as a judge on Indian Idol 16, emphasising that music cannot be competitive and every piece is unique. The singer reveals she finds inspiration in young artistes whenever she feels creatively stuck
Shreya Ghoshal
Shreya Ghoshal established herself on a music reality show and went on to judge several musical programmes. But the four-time National Award winner believes that “music cannot be competitive”. She has now returned to Indian Idol 16 as a judge for the fourth time, alongside Vishal Dadlani and Badshah. This season’s theme is Yaadon Ki Playlist, where contestants will be tested on their recreation of past melodies.
Ghoshal believes that music, like any other art form, is “subjective”. “It’s about who likes your music and who doesn’t. Every artiste, voice, and creator is different. How can art be competitive?” The singer, known for her versatility and vocal range and often dubbed the Queen of Dynamics, says there is no right or wrong in music. Every musical piece is unique and has its own story. “Music doesn’t have a question or an answer, it’s a story in itself.”
For the longest time, music has been stereotyped to fetch popularity or an instant connect. Makers have tended towards tried-and-tested formulas to garner an expected response, such as including a hook line, 4/4 beats, relatable love or party themes, and short track lengths of 2.5 to 3.5 minutes. Ghoshal believes that the trend is slowly changing. “Today, the world is more accepting of variety. The stereotype of music is slowly fading away. Audiences were never the ones bound by stereotypes. Mostly, it was the people making the music, the non-musical heads of the industry, who created those stereotypes for the audience. Since the power has shifted towards the audience, and artistes are made by the listeners, it has become [more] democratic and so beautiful that there’s space for everyone,” she elaborates.
After crooning over 2,500 songs across 14 languages, Ghoshal says she finds her inspiration by “seeing young artistes”. “When I’m making music, meeting people, and doing shows, I sometimes feel tired or stuck creatively. But seeing the young artistes and hearing their voices on the show always inspires me again,” she shares.
4
Number of Indian Idol seasons Shreya Ghoshal has judged
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