The golden touch

“Nights on Fire was a huge hit when it was first released,” says the singer,“and people have been asking me how they can get hold of the song. So when I took the idea of coming out with a compilation of my best songs to Virgin EMI,Nights on Fire was obviously included.” The album,he says,also includes two new songs. “One is Save the Tiger,about a cause that’s really close to my heart. The proceeds from this song will go to the Conservation Trust of India. The other song is She Dances,which is a wonderful,danceable track.” Nights on Fire,which is already available in stores,is doing very well,he informs. “And I’m not just saying that,” he laughs,“I was informed by the record label that it’s second only to Enrique Iglesias on the International albums list in India.”

When asked which is his favourite track on the album,he laughs and says,“You may not believe me,but I actually have no favourites here. I love them all so much.” Lawyer maintains the same impartiality with regard to music genre. “I love singing – be it rock or jazz or country. It really makes no difference to me. For instance,if I’m singing with Louis Banks,I can easily do jazz. But when it’s with my band,I do rock.”

In a career spanning nearly two decades,the singer has seen much critical and popular acclaim. Lawyer became a household name in India with five albums to his credit and his work in numerous television commercials — as singer,composer and lyricist. One of the most memorable remarks with regard to his talent,he says,came from a foreigner who said that instead of singing in India,Lawyer should be singing abroad. “I don’t know if it was a backhanded compliment or not,” the singer shrugs,“But yes,it’s been a life full of compliments.”