He is Bollywood’s voice of melancholy. Mohit Chauhan looks back at his Silk Route days, the call from AR Rahman and his journey from the hills

Do you agree that you are the current flavour of the nation?
I don’t know about that. I’m just fortunate to get to sing songs composed by such great musicians. It’s a bonus that the songs have been received well. You know, when we are recording a song in the quiet of a recording studio, we don’t know how it will sound. We don’t even know who it will be filmed on. Our only job is to sing the song and sing it well. That’s what I’ve always done.
I can’t take credit for the success of my songs. For example, Massakali is such a beautiful composition by AR Rahman that it would have clicked whoever had sung it. I’m fortunate that Rahman wanted me to sing it.

Is it true that you have no formal training in singing?
Yes. My parents tell me that I’ve been singing since I was really young. Music has always been a part of my life. It’s my way of expression.
Since I grew up in Himachal Pradesh, the mountains and the open spaces have also been a great influence on me. I have learnt singing by listening to the radio. And then I started composing during my college days. I feel that nobody can teach you how to compose. You can learn about music, chords and permutations but composing can’t be schooled. Look at folk singers, farmers and shepherds. All of them sing well but they haven’t had any formal training. Music has to be in your soul.

... contd.