Let’s sing a new tune

Singer Shipra Goyal is trained in classical singing and has given hits like Ishq Bulawa, Tutti Bole Wedding Di and Yadaan Teriyaan. Though she shifted her base to Mumbai just after her singing career kick-started with Ishq Bulava, she never forgot her roots.

She says, “If you look at Bollywood songs that I have sung, they have the essence of Punjab. No doubt that the songs are in different genres, from romantic to sad to party song, but the common thread that binds it is that they all have Punjabi touches to them.”

Talking about female singers in Punjab and lesser number of female collaborations happening as compared to male singers, she says, “I personally want to break the cycle. I am really good friends with Sara Gurpal and Kaur B and hopefully by the end of this year, we will work out something that we believe Punjabi mutayaran would like to hear.” And, of course, Shipra’s latest song Patola launched on YouTube on Tuesday under Humble Music banner fits the description of Punjabi ladies. She says, “I wanted to create a song that speaks about the beauty of Punjab and finally this song, Patola, has given me the chance to sing what I wished for.” Also, there’s a song that Babbu Maan has penned for her, titled Ik Din, which will also soon be released.

Ask her what she feels about the ever-going trend of dropping brand names and making a song out of it, she says, “As long as there is some meaning to it and it appears to be a good song, it is great. I don’t mind dropping brand names as such for Punjabi culture finds it relatable but if it doesn’t have the essence that a song must have, then what’s the purpose of being a singer?”

To the aspiring singers, Shipra informs, “Don’t enter the industry only for the fame, do it for the love of art. For fame never lasts and you will feel disappointed. It is secondary to talent you have. Concentrate on your groundwork more than looks and marketing, ‘all that fight’ and auto-tunes will not be needed if your focus is only on making good music.”

Shipra’s Instagram bio reads ‘Mansa girl living her dream’ for she takes pride in where she came from and where she has reached now. A stern believer of fate, she informs, “Everything is filmed already and we are mere characters playing our part. It was all pre-planned from the moment I took birth. Both my father and mother used to be singers. I was introduced to music at an early age and I am thankful to each and everyone who supports me besides my family.”

Not only singing but Shipra confesses that she takes a keen interest in composing as well as ideation of the song. She adds, “I am not someone who will wait for the song to come to me and will sing it as I am told. I love to get involved in everything that makes few verses written on a page, a song.”

As far as acting is concerned, she refuses to get involved in that zone. She says, “There are already many male singers, who are acting and few are doing really well. The industry has very beautiful actresses as well. I neither want to nor am I required to be a part of the film industry as of now. I always wanted to be a singer and nothing more and content with what I am doing right now.”

Shipra confesses that she will do acting some other time. A travel junkie, who feels that your travel and social experience expands your vision, Shipra says Maldives is next on her travel list.

—Sheetal

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