National Award-winning singer Rekha Bhardwaj isn’t wary of Artificial Intelligence but she’s simply cautious of its influence. “It’s making you so dependent and handicapped that after a point, you won’t even know how to come back to your roots,” she says, emphasising the importance of staying connected to one’s inner self in the digital world. She adds, “I’ve always been curious about how things work. So, now I use AI to understand things like quantum physics and how it plays out in everyday life. It gives concise answers and helps me get the gist, but I won’t let any tool block my creativity or corrupt me.” Excerpts from the conversation with the singer during her recent visit to Hyderabad, where she shares her love for the city, musical roots, approach to live and studio singing, and the influence of Osho.

‘Studio singing is intimate, I prepare until the music lives in me’

In live performances, there’s a natural reverb and energy from the musicians and the audience that creates a unique vibe. It reminds me of the old days when film songs were recorded with huge orchestras in one take and everything had to be perfect. The live atmosphere gives you instant appreciation and lifts you up. But in the studio, the mic picks up everything, even the smallest breath or lip sound, so recording requires a different kind of preparation. I come fully prepared, knowing my melody and lyrics inside out. I work closely with the composer to understand every nuance, so the song becomes a part of me. Then, whatever I sing comes from within.

‘Playback singing was never my first choice’

I didn’t think about becoming a prominent singer until I was 16. Growing up, I used to sing for All India Radio programs in Delhi and sometimes appeared on Doordarshan. I also anchored many shows for All India Radio. This exposure gave me the clarity that singing was what I wanted to pursue. By the time I was in 11th or 12th grade, I had decided to focus on music. Playback singing was never my first choice, but my true passion was always classical singing. I grew up attending classical and semi-classical concerts, which deeply inspired me.

‘Make reading a part of your everyday life, even a few pages create a space for inner growth’

My advice to the younger generation is to try and stay away from social media as much as possible. It quietly drains your energy, you may open it to watch just one or two reels but end up scrolling through a hundred without even realising. Your eyes take in so much, and over time, it starts affecting your mind. Eventually, you can’t sit without it. Instead, I suggest making a habit of reading. There’s something special about flipping through pages, feeling the texture of the paper, even getting a bit of ink on your fingers. Start small, just five pages before bed. It’s a beautiful way to reconnect with yourself.

A night filled with timeless hits and enthusiastic fans

Rekha Bharadwaj delivered a captivating performance in Hyderabad recently, presenting a rich blend of her popular songs such as Kabira, Phir le aya dil, Darling, Namak, Genda phool, Ghagra and more. The audience was a mix of young music lovers and older generations. Throughout the evening, the crowd sang along, whistled and responded enthusiastically, making it a truly engaging and lively experience.

Quotes:

I’m very fond of Hyderabad. The audience here is wonderful, with a deep love for music. The people truly listen to and enjoy music, they’re not loud or restlessI found solace in Osho as it helped me understand and work through emotions like hatred, jealousy and dislike. He gave me the language and tools to recognise my feelings and showed me how important it is to keep a good heartThe lighting shifted in sync with each song’s mood — theatrical reds for the quirky cabaret energy of Darling and the emotionally charged Naina, serene blues and whites for the ghazal-like melancholy of Phir le aya dil, and festive marigold for the folk rhythms of Genda Phool– Biswajit Talukdar