“Angel Eyes,” “So Confused,” “Can’t Get Enough” and “It Can’t Be right.” Does it all sound familiar? You guessed it! These are all top singles by Canadian singer, Raghav. He mixes Hip-Hop, R&B and Bollywood sounds to bring you music that make you want to get up and dance! BG Sindhuri caught up with singing sensation at DJ Rekha’s monthly Basement Bhangraevent New York City. Read on to see what he has to say!
What has motivated you thus far to run after your dreams and ambitions?
You have to love what you do unconditionally. We have a culture that is really focused on financial security. When you venture into the arts, there is no financial security, so you really have to love what you do. Every one-hour in the day you look like a star, there are 23 hours when you are grinding and working hard.
The second thing is finding the core of what you do. For me it’s great songs. You have to make great records. So those two things: passion and really working hard. That takes a long time and it comes with a lot of ups and downs. As a culture, we have been taught that things always have to be profitable and any kind of adversity is considered to be a failure. I would really like to see this generation pursue those things and not be afraid to fail. The fear of failure is really drenched in our community and we need to not be afraid of that.”
Is there anything specific you feel you had to overcome because of your ethnicity and culture?
Well, it’s both good and bad. I can get up and sing “Angel Eyes” and you guys will show me love like I haven’t been missing in action for a minute. Second thing, which I really believe is true is that if you are South Asian or any other minority in the entertainment business, we have the benefit of a super loyal fan base, when we get it right, but we have to get it right all the time. This is simply how it is looked upon. I have to get it right all the time and my songs always have to legitimately better than others, You are always going to be welcomed by it and you are always going to have to fight against it.”
What advice would you give to your 18-year-old self? Just when you decided you were going to make your dreams a reality?
Be great. Don’t do something halfway and expect full results. I will give you an example: when I’m in the studio, I’m a beast. I work like a beast; I work as hard as I can work. So if you want to get something that really matters to you, you have to go a million percent for it. There seems to be a culture now, where you think you can cut corners, but you can’t. There should be so many kids in the same business as me, more competition. Part of this is because people don’t put the same care into the records. You have to make great music. People need to work hard and be great.”
Brown Girl Magazine was created by and for South Asian womxn who believe in the power of storytelling as a vehicle for community building and empowerment.
