On a balmy evening in the open-air auditorium of the Bharatiya City Mall in Bengaluru, the anticipation was palpable. Fans had gathered an hour before Prateek Kuhad’s performance and after a somewhat circuitous entry process were holding their tags and lingering in the ‘Fan Zone’ or general admission area. Latecomers were seen running back and forth between the box office and the venue, the hustle and bustle a stark contrast to the calm of the evening.
In the venue, confetti flew into the air, catching the soft glow of the stage lights. The phones were finished – recording, documented, and ready to upload to social media. “How are you guys so far?” Pratik asked the crowd from time to time, his voice warm and friendly. In the ‘Fan Zone’, a girl in a wheelchair with her right leg bandaged smiled.
Dressed in a white shirt with a minimalist design, Pratik took the stage without any theatrics. It wasn’t some over-enthusiastic, blabbering; Instead, it felt like an intimate gathering, where people were softly swaying to the music, some holding each other with quiet affection.
It’s the cozy, inclusive atmosphere that defines a Pratik Kuhad concert – a space where every note feels personal, where even the grandest of settings take on an intimate glow. When I interviewed the singer-songwriter by phone a few days later to discuss his ongoing Silhouettes Tour (presented by Johnnie Walker Refreshing Mixer Non-Alcoholic), I realized that the gentleness of the experience belied a deeper complexity within him. Is.
“In real life, I am the complete opposite of relaxed,” he says, “I am an intense person. My music gives a relaxing atmosphere, probably because I enjoy listening to and making that kind of music.”
Prateek’s career took such turns that he had never imagined. Raised in Jaipur, he spent several years in New York studying at New York University, unaware that music would become his life’s work. “I didn’t know I was going to be a musician,” he admits. “I was the furthest away from it, and suddenly I was singing in front of 10,000-15,000 people, and the crowd was singing my songs behind me. . It has been an intense journey for me.”
It’s this duality – between the deeply personal and the undeniably public – that forms the backdrop to their latest tour. Silhouettes, the name they chose for the tour, is as much a reflection of their journey as it is a metaphor for identity and self-perception. “With all the noise and stuff around you – people, the media, everything – it can feel like you’re a clone of yourself,” he explains, “You start to lose yourself, so to speak.” Can go. It comes from that feeling.”
a reluctant artist
“I don’t like performing live. There’s nothing about it that I like,” he says with a frankness that might irritate fans who equate passion with performance. For a successful artist like Pratik, this acceptance is both surprising and refreshing.
So, how does he manage touring and performing night after night? “We all do things that we don’t particularly enjoy. I don’t hate performing live – it’s not torture for me – but it’s not something I enjoy doing. There are moments when the audience sings along, and the vibes are good, which feels really good. Playing with my band is also fun. It’s a joy to hang out with them and play on stage.”
Still, the broader realities of touring – the travel, the exhaustion – are a challenge. “Touring is hard, and if a musician says they love touring, I think they’re lying because it takes a lot of hard work. Most musicians I know have a love-hate relationship with it.
Still, there are moments that make it worthwhile. Pratik describes the finale of his show as a moment of pure connection with his audience. “I go into the audience. I wear in-ears when I perform, which are like noise-canceling headphones. For this part, I remove my ears and listen to the crowd singing – it’s crazy. This is truly a special moment.”
Pratik Kuhad Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
simplicity of songwriting
If touring is a necessary evil, songwriting is his favorite part. Yet, he often downplays the mystery associated with the creative process. “For me, writing is something I need to do. It doesn’t necessarily make me feel better or worse; I just love doing it.”
He is a little angry at the tendency to over-intellectualize art. “I think people make it more complicated than it needs to be. I enjoy doing it, and it’s hard to find something you love doing all the time and are good at. His approach is fluid and unpredictable. “If I don’t feel like writing, I stop. Sometimes, there are long periods when I don’t write, and then when I’m ready, I naturally start writing again.”
While songwriting itself seems effortless, the processes that follow – producing, collaborating and releasing the music – can be challenging. “Production can be a difficult process because there is a lot of tweaking and back-and-forth. Working with other people is also challenging. When I’m writing, I’m alone, so I can take my time and only account for my mistakes. There is no such thing as a mistake in writing.”
Pratik’s music often evokes vivid imagination, a quality that stems from his inherently visual way of experiencing the world. “I’m definitely a visual person in general. As I grew up, I noticed that I paid more attention to visual details like architecture, space, colors, textures, and cinema. I like to write lines that describe a certain scene, sometimes realistic, sometimes imaginary. It’s about creating a scene you want to join in or that feels familiar.”
This cinematic quality is especially evident in lines like “”.Hawaaye bhi gungunati hai” (The wind is also humming) From his song ‘Tum Jab Paas’. “It’s about capturing an emotion. You can stand there surrounded by nature and feel the breeze singing in your ears. It’s a beautiful, poetic moment that feels good to think about.”
Pratik Kuhad in concert Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
to be authentic
In an age where social media often feels inevitable, Pratik has managed to create a path that feels true to himself. “I don’t do that a lot. I don’t do work I don’t like. If something is too far out of my comfort zone, I don’t do it.
This authenticity extends to his creative choices. While others may define him by his signature sound, he resists this notion. “To be honest, I feel like other people have a vision of what my signature is. I don’t really know what my signature is – I just make music. I don’t think much about it. I feel like I make different things more often.
Their ultimate priority is clear: creating work that they find meaningful. “For me, it’s very simple: I make music that I love, and then I release those albums. I try my best to make money somehow so I can make more albums.
Pratik Kuhad in concert Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
at ease with ambiguity
As Pratik reflects on his journey, he remains philosophical about the unpredictable nature of success. “People ask these questions, but they’re not great questions because no one really knows how they do it. It’s all the basic stuff you hear from everyone: stay flexible, keep doing what you want to do, work hard and you can succeed. “But honestly, it’s not that straightforward.”
It’s a perspective that seems to guide his entire approach to life and art: embracing ambiguity, resisting over-complication, and staying true to what feels right.
For a man who describes himself as “uncomfortable” in real life, Icon’s music provides a balm for the soul – a comforting presence in an often chaotic world. And perhaps that’s the most interesting paradox about him.
published – November 30, 2024 12:38 PM IST
