Shraddha Pandit: Writing, composing and singing is what I want to do all my life

Time of India

a day ago

Shraddha Pandit, known for Bollywood hits like 'Aaj Raat Ka Scene,' has also become a lyricist. Her musical background provides an edge and she values the deeper connection when singing her own lyrics. She credits Salim–Sulaiman for her lyricist career, having penned over 60 songs for them.
Shraddha Pandit has always been known for her Bollywood songs Aaj Raat Ka Scene, Pani Wala Dance, Sweety Tera Drama and others. But the singer has also carved out a distinct space for herself as a lyricist; something she admits happened quite organically.
Excerpts from an interview...
Was becoming a lyricist something you had always envisioned for yourself, or did it happen organically?
Singing professionally and then writing songs for other composers professionally are two very different art forms. One cannot plan it. It definitely happened organically and I can say undoubtedly that God blessed me with 'more'.
As a professional singer, how has your deep familiarity with music shaped the way you write lyrics?
It makes it so much easier.
It takes me a minute to understand the meter of a song, something many lyricists could struggle with because I've learnt music professionally. It's a crazy advantage. Also, today's lingo and writing style is very broad—people like just about anything. There are no rules or boundaries. I've heard songs which are super hits with wrong grammar and pronunciation (sad!). This never happened in the golden era but it's happening now.
by Taboola
by Taboola
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When you sing a song you've written yourself, does it feel different from singing someone else's words?
Yes, it does. Singing your own words hits differently. I love singing other people's lyrics too, as I get into the character of being just the singer, but doing both feels like more responsibility. I need to make sure that whatever I'm writing should reach the listeners as I have interpreted it. So it's a very deep artistic struggle—but I love the challenge!
What was the most surprising thing you learned about yourself when you started writing lyrics?
I realised that my pronunciation and grammar are good enough.
I studied the pronunciation of words, especially in Urdu, as it was a must-have quality to be a good singer. But being born and brought up in Mumbai, my Hindi grammar being strong really surprised me—thanks to my Hindi-speaking parents.
You've written lyrics for Salim–Sulaiman, who are known for their layered and emotive music. How did you approach writing for them?
I owe my writing career to Salim–Sulaiman. I sang quite a few songs for them in films and then started touring extensively with them for concerts.
That's where they figured I could write decently well. Sometimes on the go they would make a melody and I would write it then and there. They were taken aback and decided to give me a break as a lyricist. I've written more than 60 songs for them already.
What's been one of the most challenging moments you've faced as a singer—and as a lyricist?
Singing as a profession is far more challenging because singers are rarely given due credit.
That's why everybody today wants to be the main character, and honestly, anybody can sing now thanks to software like Melodyne—which is far more superior to Auto-Tune. In a studio, with a genius engineer, even a non-trained person can sound flawless. The real test is only on stage. Three hours of non-stop live singing is rare as a unicorn! Writing, on the other hand, is a far more authentic job—at least a software is not doing it for me.
Not yet!
Do you feel more vulnerable putting your words out there compared to performing someone else's lyrics?
In fact, as a lyricist I feel more powerful. Only words can take a song to its peak point. Imagine singing a tune with no words—no matter how good the music or the singer, it remains incomplete. I feel privileged to give a song direction with my words. Singing is a very difficult job, and I respect singers immensely, especially the few truly great ones.
How did you develop your personal style as a lyricist? And how does it differ from your vocal persona as a singer?
I'm inspired by many writers and my writing, I guess, is a mixture of them. My thoughts are, of course, my own and I try to write as authentically as possible. If that connects with the audience, then you've arrived! As a singer, it's more technical for me because I understand the nuances. If you're a trained singer and can deliver without depending on machines, that's a different world.
My persona as a singer is therefore very different.
As a lyricist, I'm not some great shayar or kavi, but I understand the craft of writing on a tune.
Looking at your career so far, do you see yourself leaning more towards lyric writing, singing, or balancing both?
I'm a perfect balance of both, and I also compose my own music. Writing, composing and singing is what I want to do all my life. Only get better with time and experience. It's a journey I've embarked upon and every day I learn and bow down to this art form. This combination of musicianship only humbles me whenever I'm compelled to act with pride or shut some haters down. Music is my strength—it keeps me calm and respectful towards everyone's journey.
Creativity comes from the Creator, so it makes me more spiritual as I grow older.
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