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Armaan Malik On His Epic EMA Win & How Complex Relationships Inspire His Songs


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Last year, Armaan Malik dropped his hit single Control which was followed by next 2 me, and both went on to become massive hits. 

But it wasn't these songs that kickstarted his career, as he has also sung songs in regional languages which include Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Marathi, Malayalam, Gujarati, and Bengali. 

He is also the youngest recipient of the reputed RD Burman New Music Talent award. 

His brother Amaal is also a popular music composer that he often collaborates with. 

He also happens to be a third-generation music kid in his family. Being the grandson of Sardar Malik, the son of Daboo Malik, and the nephew of Anu Malik, Armaan Malik's fame is majorly attributed to his work and an addicting yet enchanting voice. 

We caught up with him recently to learn more about him. 

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1. What can you tell us about your series of singles? What has inspired you and what's the story that you're trying to put across? 

I love writing songs that have a certain realness and relatability; songs that people can find themselves in and find solace in. For example, my debut English single, Control describes the push and pull feeling of being trapped in a controlling relationship and how confusing it can be to want in, but also want an out at the same time.  

With next 2 me, which I wrote during the lockdown, talks about the feeling of missing your loved ones and wishing they were right there by your side in a light-hearted and hopeful manner with an uptempo production.  

And, the latest one, How Many articulates the complexities of a toxic relationship and is a complicated conversation between two individuals who have no clue how to move forward.  

With every new release, I am discovering a new side to my music. At this point, I am really not restricting myself in any way. I just want to make great songs that I really resonate with and put them out there for my fans. My sound will develop as I go!  

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2. As rave as the reviews for your music is, there is also a growing fan base for your sense of fashion. Is fashion something you have a keen interest in?

I absolutely love fashion and photography. If there’s anything after music that I pay close attention to is the clothes I wear. Your style says a lot about you as a person and I make sure my personality shines through my outfits. 

Coming to photography, I genuinely enjoy clicking pictures, especially when I travel. It makes me really happy.

3.  How tough is it to break into the industry? What advice would you give to young artists out there trying to make it in the Indian music scene?

Our industry is quite a competitive one. It’s not easy to make a mark as someone who’s just starting out. But unlike when I started, today there are a lot more avenues in the digital space, like YouTube and Instagram through which one can accelerate their growth and there are better chances of your work being heard and reaching more people. 

Social media can help get you noticed by the right people and attract the right opportunities. I would advise young singers to first make sure they hone their skills first and then use these platforms actively to help promote themselves and their work.

4.  A growing debate in the industry is centred on artist-producer relationships and whether producers get enough credit.

The Indian music industry hasn’t been fair to the actual creators (music composers and songwriters) of the songs we all love and enjoy so much. 

Royalties weren’t being fairly and adequately distributed, credits weren’t being given where it’s due. But all this is slowly changing in, and I am really hopeful of a brighter and fairer industry.

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5.  What's your creative process like? Is it more spontaneous and free-flowing? 

While working in the studio, I prepare myself mentally according to the song I am supposed to sing. Every language, every genre has a different vibe, so I just need to be ready to make that switch happen in my head between different stuff.  

It’s very tough, but over the years, I have sung in all these different languages, I’ve developed my own inner formula to get into the skin of the song.  

Even if I wanted to share this formula with the world I couldn’t because it’s so hard to explain what goes on in my head while delivering a line.  

Just an example of how my process works: If I need to sing a sad song I might switch off the lights of the studio to get in the mood. This doesn’t mean I use this trick every time. It’s pretty much spontaneous and how I feel at that very moment. 

6.  Can you talk about your single How many and your campaign on Triller and some of the entries that you loved? 

How Many at its core is quite an emotional song which I think will resonate with a lot of people out there who’ve been in love and have experienced heartbreak.  

This track is about complex relationships where you’re constantly fighting, making up, taking hits but yet carrying on. It describes the cycle of events that take place during the course of a relationship.  

Is it worth keeping it going when it’s falling apart, or is it better to end that toxic cycle?  It's one of my personal favourites from what I have made so far for my English music project.

Armaan Malik On His Epic EMA Win © MensXP

It is unlike anything I’ve ever done before; it’s a new me - musically and visually. Therefore, we had to do something unique for reaching out to my fans as well, hence, we partnered with Triller.   

I am elated to see fans all across the world vibing to the song and showing their love for How Many.  

Every time I go to the #howmanychallenge tab and I check out the videos I am blown away by the creativity of all the users who’ve made this effort and I go like “Damn, I’ve got the best fans out there, and I don’t think anything is going to top this,” but as soon as I refresh it, I am proven wrong!  

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7. What was it like winning at the MTV EMAs? 

I’ve just had the most unreal year, so far and this win at the EMAs made it better by a million notches!  

Control is my debut English single and to have received this kind of love, support, and recognition at a global level so early on in my journey makes me really emotional.  

I want to thank all my ‘Armaanians’ across the world who voted for me without whom this would not have been possible. They just shower me with so much love and I feel like the luckiest guy on the planet!  

This win, in particular, is dedicated to all those young Indian kids who dare to dream and work hard to make them come true, this is for you. Dream on! 

Armaan Malik On His Epic EMA Win © MensXP

8. Was it intimidating releasing Control and its music video? Were you involved in the making of the music video as well? 

Control released during the onset of the global lockdown and while I had different plans all throughout, my team and I did whatever we could to make the best out of it.  

Initially, I was not sure of how my fans would react to this new journey of mine, as it was a very big shift in my artistry, but they have had my back from the get-go! It’s so comforting and encouraging to have such massive support from the fandom. At the same time, as an artist, this has always been my trajectory.  

My interest in Pop/R&b music has been since I was a 14 or a 15-year-old teenager. I’ve always wanted to do this and have been patiently waiting for this moment where I could show the world the true artist inside of me. It wasn’t challenging for me because I feel it is inside of me, it’s my DNA.  

It was so much fun making this song. I was involved in the entire song making process and I have even co-written the song. Believe it or not, but this particular song was created, produced, and recorded all in a day, and then it was just the mix and master which happened over some time.  

The music video of Control has a very magical feel to it. Visually it’s very cool and has a very strong neon theme to it, which I feel is really sick. The song has been uniquely interpreted by director Bobby Hanaford and he’s done a fabulous job bringing my vision to life on the screen!   

The idea behind the visuals was pretty simple. I wanted to portray how I was under the control of this girl. How she was making me do what she wanted me to do through her magical, intoxicating dust.  

I wanted it to have a colourful yet dark visual appeal hence we tastefully used neon lights throughout the music video.


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