BENGALURU: Indian hip-hop is witnessing a seismic shift, with a new wave of artistes emerging from diverse backgrounds, bringing fresh sounds and stories to the forefront. Among these rising stars is the rapper Arpan Kumar Chandel aka King, who has captured the imagination of millions with his unique style, poignant lyrics, and a relentless drive that has propelled him to the top of the charts.
King’s big break came in 2019 when he participated in the popular reality show MTV Hustle, India’s first rap reality show. After his stint on the show, King released several singles and collaborations that quickly gained traction. Songs such as Tu Aake Dekhle and Maan Meri Jaan became instant hits, amassing millions of views on YouTube and streams on music platforms. We chat with the singer-rapper, who was in Bengaluru recently.
Excerpts follow.
What initially drew you to rap music?
I’ve always looked up to rap music as a raw and real form of expression, while also being very true to itself and unorthodox in many ways. And that’s what has drawn me towards the genre and my ever-growing love for it.
Who are your biggest musical influences, both within India and internationally?
Mohammed Rafi, Kishore Kumar, Manna Dey, Justin Timberlake, Timbaland, Kanye West, Elvis Presley, and AC/DC are just some of my biggest inspirations. But the list goes on.
How do you feel your music has evolved since you first started?
My music has sonically grown over the years, while also being more particular about the technical aspects. I believe that training yourself in the craft daily, and being passionate about it ultimately drives your growth, and enables you to analyse the different facets of your music a lot better. This also includes stepping into the listeners’ shoes and consuming your own music as a listener as opposed to just being the creator.
Can you walk us through your songwriting process?
Writing songs has been a core way of emoting for me. It’s been a deeply personal, yet empowering experience. My process primarily revolves around the emotion or attitude I’m trying to put together, which also often gets derived from the sonics of the track.
You’ve worked with various artistes across genres. How do you choose your collaborators?
Collaborations have been a special part of my journey; they have allowed me to sit with multiple creative minds to create art. I’ve been an admirer and fan of every collaborator I’ve had the opportunity to work with. And I believe that is what has influenced most of my decisions towards wanting to collaborate with a particular artiste/producer/songwriter.
Are there any particular sounds or genres you’re experimenting with right now that your fans might not expect?
I’m a curious listener when it comes to music. So there’s never any particular genre at any point that I might be indulging in specifically. But it comes down to what ends up inspiring me during a particular session or the kind of sound/genre that might wrap itself around the music I’m trying to create. Music-making always remains a very open-ended process for me.
What can your fans look forward to in the near future?
I’m currently working on a bunch of new music and some interesting projects with brands! We also have an Australia-NZ tour in November that will soon be announced.