From a shy introvert to a hip-hop singer and composer, and soon to get his debut single album Slow Wine released, Salman Hasan, has done it all in the short span of 23 years of age! BTW speaks to this young musical talent of Bahrain at the eve of his becoming a musical maestro in Bollywood and soon, the world!
Tell us briefly about yourself, where you were born and brought up, any special childhood memories, etc.
I am a 23 year old R&B artist, songwriter residing in Bahrain. I was born in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and brought up in Bahrain. I have had some really fun childhood memories, one being in the 5th grade, I remember singing at the top of my voice and dancing in the free period and then the substitute teacher came out of nowhere, and the rest wasn’t so much fun…haha!
Give us a brief summary of your educational and professional background.
I have completed my schooling from the Indian School, Bahrain. I have also recently finished my college and am currently following my music career in Mumbai.
How early in life were you initiated into music?
It all started when I heard hip hop music during primary school. I was this extremely introvert and shy child and all of a sudden I was in complete awe of the genre and there was something about it which couldn’t be described in words. The feeling, the energy, an emotion which could only be experienced. It was that moment I changed a person and I felt my horizon expand. Since then, creating something like this was on my mind.
Please tell us about your achievements and awards.
I am currently under the mentoring of highly acclaimed Music Director Mr Monty Sharma and now am awaiting the release of my debut single ‘Slow Wine’.
How did you start composing your own songs? How do you compose the tunes?
Ok this one is fun, goes back to my early college days in my 2nd year when we used to have long summer vacations and all the time in the world. Ever heard of finding your calling? Well that was it. There are certain events and experiences in life which get etched in the heart.To describe those emotions and events in my way was the plan. I usually have a brief of the lyrics and a haunting beat which would define the moment for me. One song after the other, one story after the other, and it soon became a habit. There was a special joy I experienced even after working for endless hours, day and night. After making my first song, I knew this is what I want to do in life.
Tell us about how you go about creating your songs. Do you compose the lyrics first or is it that sometimes the notes haunt you so much that you need words for them?
This is a completely spontaneous process and it varies from track to track. At times, the lyrics are catchy and they need to be incorporated into a fun beat which is then made, and at times the beat is so haunting that words later start flowing to the beat.
Any plans to launch an album of your songs?
I am currently awaiting the release of my debut single ‘Slow Wine’. It will be releasing in the August- September period and will have various versions of it in English, Hindi and various other Arabic tracks as well.
There is a lot of exciting work coming up and we plan to create fusion songs to cater to a wider audience.
What according to you are the basic requisite qualities for a music album to be successful?
Please tell me, I would love to know!
Jokes apart, the most important and basic quality would be to make something different and catchy. There is no recipe to make a good song or a great song, but to offer different genres to the audience would play a vital role in being liked by the masses.
Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
I want to see myself connecting with people by my music. I want to be a youth icon. I want to be a performer that would be remembered. It’s a different high when I am on the stage and in that moment nothing else matters. Its just the stage, the clamor and the mic.
I would want to be a household name in the Middle Eastern region and Indian region and to make sure that people forget the world and start grooving when my songs are on.
What is your message to aspiring musicians of Bahrain?
Be true to your passion and fall in love with your work. I am saying this from my own experience. My transformation from this shy and introvert child to the person I am today is an example of the same. This journey from Bahrain to Mumbai has changed my life in an enormous way. Working with such big names of the industry, at times it feels surreal. So just never give up, utilize your resources to its best and with due course of time, life will take you to the places you deserve to be in.
So will end this by my favorite phrase, Let the beat run…….