Ajay Bijli has been honing his love for music on the sidelines for years. When he’s not being the Managing Director of PVR INOX, he’s taking music lessons or performing with his cover band. Now, he finally feels he’s at a place where he can officially launch himself as an artist, and has released his first EP On Another Note (distributed by Warner Music). His three songs – “Rab Rakhda”, “Dil Kahe Haye Haye”, and “Shukriyaa” – represent his love of Sufi and Punjabi music. The EP has been created with composer Amit Trivedi and lyricist Shellee.
Bijli speaks to Billboard India about what made him finally take the plunge, how he defines success as an artist, and his future plans.
How are you feeling about putting out your own music? Are you nervous?
I’ve launched lots of cinemas in my life but this is a very different feeling because I’m out on a limb for the first time. I’m totally exposing the way I want my songs to be to everybody and it’s a very pure intention.
I mean there is no PVR support or anything like that. It’s just me and my music. Let’s see what the response is like. We’ve put in a lot of effort and that’s all that matters.
There’s a lot of thought that has gone behind every song but now it’s really up to the listeners on whether they like it or not.
You’ve already built a successful brand. What does it feel like to put yourself up for judgement again? Do you often get asked why you did this?
I think there’s a time for everything. Also, time is such a precious commodity and also a limited commodity that you have to make sure that these dreams and aspirations don’t remain within you.
I didn’t just go out and start singing all of a sudden. My entire family and all my friends know that I’ve been very fond of singing. You also get feedback on whether you are just a bathroom singer or are you somebody who can hit a note and sing in tune. People said, “yes, Ajay, you can sing”. So that gives you confidence.
But it got built over a period of time because I had two teachers. I have a Hindi teacher who I practised a lot with, especially since the pandemic. Then I have an English teacher. She’s an American teacher who teaches at the Berklee College of Music. I’ve worked with her a lot on my technique and then did some gigs in Delhi with my cover band Random Order. Then I realised that I can’t keep doing covers all my life, I need to come up with originals as well.
You have a pretty hectic day job. How do you make the time for this parallel career?
That’s a good question. It had to be early morning. The only way I could do it is by getting out of my comfort zone and getting up early in the morning.
So I get up at 5 AM. A lot of people get up at 5 AM, but I’ve got a regimented routine, where I must get at least half an hour to one hour of riyaaz in. It is also a form of meditation for me.
How did Amit Trivedi push you creatively? Was he tough on you?
He’s incredible. And was very honest. We tried a few songs that didn’t work. He said, “Let’s leave it, sir. Let’s not do this.” He’s very honest in his opinion. I won’t call it toughness. I’ve demanded that from him as well. There were some notes which were very high, and a little out of my comfort zone. So I can go to G sharp. A, I struggle a bit.
There were some notes which were constantly on A. He said, let’s bring the whole song half step down. So that was when I said, “Hey, give me one more month. Give me some time to rehearse them.” He doesn’t treat me like the founder or MD of PVR. When I go to a studio and sit with him, I really feel like a musician. Like an artist.
Are you looking at this as a serious career or something you enjoy? Will you be obsessively tracking the streams and numbers of your songs?
I’m not going to be obsessive. But to be honest, I have put in a lot of effort. And it also costs. I mean, God is kind, but all I’m saying is that I think there is no harm in wanting it to be a success and getting this feedback which comes in the form of how many views or how many times people have heard it. So obviously, I do want to know how they did, because I’m there for the long haul. If I know that the song hasn’t done well, I’d like to go deeper and understand so that I don’t make the same mistake again.
Was there any moment where you felt that I waited too long? Why wasn’t I doing this earlier?
Sometimes the thought does come to me. But then you know how it is… We have to look forward and be grateful that at least I can do it today. But I’m fine. Only in the video, when I see myself looking a bit old, I worry.
