Javed Ali

Music has no language barriers and this has been proved right several times by the Chennai audience.

My association with the Times of India has been a great journey. I have done over 15 shows within two years for the brand. I am glad to be a part of their events, as it gives me an opportunity to interact and perform for my fans across the country.

It's an honour when your audience sings along, more than they listen to you at a live gig.

The response that I get from the Lucknow audience is always the best.

I have always enjoyed coming to Ahmedabad.

I don't mind even if I sing a few songs every year, but I just want to do quality work.

There is an endearing quality in Gujaratis and the way they celebrate their lives.

Gujaratis not only love music, but they equally appreciate the artists. They express their appreciation wholeheartedly, they dance with you, sing along and always enjoy the music.

One of the interesting things about watching a kid perform is that they are too innocent to understand how talented they are... they have no inhibitions. If you ask them to sing, they will sing based on whatever training and practice they have.

Until I started performing in public, when at the end of the concert people would come to me with teary eyes and say that my performance took them to a trance zone, I had no idea that I can create an impact with my singing.

One has to be blessed to have a voice that creates impact.

If my singing leaves a long-lasting effect in the mind of the listeners, it is the blessing of the Almighty.

Chennai audience is musically-inclined. They understand and enjoy different genres of music.

I like singing all kinds of songs, be it a soft number or a peppy track.

Healthy competition is good to boost ourselves and helps you to take the flight forward.

I know nothing other than singing and I feel blessed.

Ghazal singing will come back with a bang.

Lucknow is one of my favourite cities.

My father belongs to Muzaffarnagar. Though I was born and brought up in Delhi, we, as a family, are known as U.P. wallahas.

By the time one song gains popularity, another one is introduced.

I never doubted the fact that I could make it. I always believed in myself.

A lot of singers entered the industry with me. A lot of them struggled. Many have not been able to make it but some have sustained.

I am very fond of western genres, including EDM.

I am a very shy person.

Ghulam Ali Khan saab is my greatest inspiration.

I am a student of Ghulam Ali, who was like my guru. I changed my name in his honour.

People are surprised when they realise that I have sung 'Tinku Jiya' as they felt it was not my genre. As a musician, till the time I don't try something, I don't refuse it. I like challenging jobs.

When I came to Mumbai, I realised an individual should be versatile, and in playback singing you have different genres where you can explore yourself.

I don't feel that I have achieved anything, I just want people to love my songs.

Whenever I sing a song, I just want it to reach out to the audience.

I have sung all kinds of songs - be it ghazals, qawwalis, romantic numbers or peppy numbers.

I have a taste for ghazals and I like them.

Odisha people are very musical. Our music industry has got many talented artists from Odisha. They love music a lot.

I have got a lot of appreciation from people and they really like my voice in Sufi songs, so I will continue with that, but I'm also experimenting with other types of songs.

When you have fun doing something, you should immerse yourself in it completely.

Dance numbers continue to be popular and I believe soulful and romantic tracks, too, will never go out of trend.

In the beginning, many composers didn't have confidence in me. It's not their fault. It only comes after you've delivered your first hit.

When you hear a romantic song, the feeling is incomparable.

I like works by Bryan Adams and Mariah Carey, among others.

As an artist, I do not want to limit my skills to one medium alone.

Many people say that theatre has no money, but it has been the stepping stone for the best film actors of our times like Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri, Paresh Rawal, etc.

I grew up listening to Hindi and Marathi songs of Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosale.

Though I come from Delhi, many other artistes like me attained success in Maharashtra.

I know that composers know my voice type and what songs will suit me. I have been able to mould my voice according to the nature of the song given to me, be it rock, pop or jazz.

As I grew older, I realised that I could be versatile. I decided to try out a variety of singing styles by becoming a playback singer.

Ustad Ghulam Ali has been a huge influence and has guided me constantly. In fact, it was he who suggested I change my stage name to Javed Ali from Javed Hussain.

I don't think I am hero material.

I stand in support of royalty for singers, but sometimes things happen all of a sudden and you have to sign a contract.

I have never followed anyone's style of singing.

I enjoy singing soulful melodies because they add that extra zing to your performance.