New Delhi   

Originality is her mantra

New Delhi: Experimenting with music is a passion with her and singer-cum-composer Shibani Kashyap blends Western symphonies with Indian melodies to produce soulful music with a wide appeal.

“I compose songs according to the situation in the film and as far as composition goes, my role model is the legendary R. D. Burman. In Sufi music, I hold the inimitable Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan in high esteem. I have also been influenced by the music of Argentina which is really rich. But my all time favourite film remains the Rekha starrer ‘Umrao Jaan’ with its beautiful songs.”

Synonymous with the melodious chartbuster “Sajna Aa Bhi Ja”, Shibani says: “I have never imitated any of my contemporaries when I sing. Right from my childhood days, my mother Punam Kashyap, who received training in classical music for 18 long years, advised me to sing in my own voice. So I never tried to copy Lata Mangeshkar or Asha Bhonsle. I have a low pitched voice that is suitable for Bollywood heroines like Rani Mukherjee, Kajol and Kareena Kapoor.”

Shibani abhors re-mixes. “Since I only sing new songs, I don’t have much to say about re-mixes. I know of some aspiring singers who were humiliated by the judges in reality shows on television. This happens because producers want to increase their TRP.

In my show ‘Bathroom Singer’ we guided contestants and never spoke impolitely to them.”

Among her new songs, the singer rates a peppy number in “Sunday” as her favourite.

“The film ‘Sunday’ is a thriller and the item song has been filmed on actor Esha Deol. The movie is about a killer and it was interesting composing and singing the song.”

Speaking about her upcoming projects, the singer says she is composing and singing in “Sirf”.

“The film stars K.K. Menon, Ranvir Shourey and Pravin Dabas and is being produced under the Seven Eagles banner. After a long hiatus from Bollywood, Manisha Koirala will be seen on the big screen. The song talks about life in a positive way. I have also done a song for ‘Great Indian Butterfly’ and another for ‘Woodstock Villa’. Then I have a cameo in Sanjay Gupta’s ‘Osama’ where I play myself. The movie also stars Mukul Dev and Kashmira Shah.”

Shibani received training in semi-classical music from her guru B.R. Verma. “After studying English (Honours) at Lady Shri Ram College, I went to London School of Music where I studied Western classical.

In the United Kingdom I recorded an album ‘Everything But the Girl’.”

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