Playback singer Shaan has weighed in on the ongoing discussion around reports of Arijit Singh stepping back from Bollywood playback singing, saying that people may be reading too much into the situation.Speaking to Humans of Bombay, Shaan suggested that artists often make statements about slowing down or taking breaks, but that does not necessarily mean the end of an era.“I don’t think he wrote that in blood,” Shaan said. “People have in the past also made statements that this is it, I quit, and then the next thing they’re back. I think people are reading too much into it.”
‘Music is more open now than ever before’
Reflecting on the changing music industry, Shaan said the landscape has transformed dramatically with the rise of digital platforms and independent music.“The point is that it’s open to so many now because of the new format. People don’t have to go through a music company or a music composer anymore. They’re making music on their own,” he explained.According to Shaan, the accessibility of music creation has changed how artists approach their careers, making the industry far more diverse than it was during his peak years as a playback singer.
Shaan recalls Kailash Kher ‘s observation
During the conversation, Shaan also recalled a discussion with singer Kailash Kher about how singers are frequently asked to perform impromptu at gatherings.However, Shaan said he personally has no problem singing when requested, provided the setting is appropriate.“If my voice is in good shape and I’m not struggling with something emotionally, I’ll be happy to sing a couple of lines. If someone says, ‘Do line gaa do yaar,’ what’s the big deal?” he said.
‘I’ve never felt fatigue from singing’
Addressing suggestions that singers may experience burnout due to overexposure and heavy workloads, Shaan said he has never felt that way.“There was a time when I was singing three or four times more than what Arijit was singing at his peak,” he said, adding that many of those songs belonged to smaller films and never reached a wide audience.While acknowledging that every artist processes their work differently, Shaan suggested that Arijit Singh’s deeply sincere and intense approach to music could be a reason he may want to streamline his workload.“Arijit is a very intense person. He takes his music very sincerely. It could be that he felt there was too much work coming in and wanted to cut it down,” Shaan said.Despite industry changes, Shaan maintained that his passion for music remains unchanged.“Most of us love it. Give me a microphone and I want to keep singing. I love it,” he concluded.
