I have a bit of a reputation for music-listening apps. Not to brag, but I’m known as a serial playlist-maker in a few circles. 100 is a safe bet, only if you’re counting the public, slightly manicured ones for public consumption with a few lovey-dovey (and pissy) ones for my partner. And then there are those grand Bollywood specials, where KK easily takes the cake.
Our generation adores him and always will. You might’ve been a fan for decades or are simply a recent KK convert–regardless of your age and music taste, there’s ample middle ground when there’s mention of his pop-rock classics. It’s been slightly over two years since his unfortunate demise, and his music serves as an antidote to fill the big heart-shaped hole left in all our chests.
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Hailing from New Delhi, KK, aka Krishnakumar Kunnath, dabbled in the marketing realm for a short while before deciding to make the big move and delving whole-heartedly into the music scene in Mumbai. There, he met the legendary composer Lesle Lewis and signed a project with UTV. Four years and almost 3500 jingles later, he was ready to take on Bollywood.
His work in the Tamil industry is also of note, establishing his vocal brilliance as a potent tool that transcends languages. His debut solo album Pal was released by Sony Music in 1999, when the now mighty conglomerate was fairly new, and on the hunt for fresh music talent in the country. Then came Tadap Tadap Ke Is Dil Se, Kya Mujhe Pyaar Hai, and Khuda Jaane, and the rest is history.
I spoke to a couple team-mates who are fellow KK fans and Kannagi Desai, ELLE India’s Beauty Editor and full-time KK stan, was quick to tout Sach Keh Raha Hai and Tadap Tadap by KK as her all-time favourites. To her, his music feels like a warm, familiar hug. “His voice is the soundtrack to my life – whether he’s singing about love, loss, or life in general, KK is singing to me about it. There’s a depth and sincerity in his music that makes you feel everything more intensely—like he’s singing just for you, about your own life.” she states. Cheers to that, Kannagi, I agree.
Shvetang Pendurkar, our Client Lead is a big Ajab Si fan and for him, it feels magical in a way, and he strongly resonates to the scenarios in the song. For our K-Culture journalist Ekta Sinha, KK has been a big part of her childhood playlist, be it his romantic songs or fun tracks like India Wale. Singing Yaaron during their school trips was a ritual of sorts and everyone knew every single word of the song. But Tu Jo Mila from Bajrangi Bhaijaan is the real winner for her.
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As for my relationship with his music, I’m a steadfast fan of the Gangster album, with Tu Hi Meri Shab Hai being the frontrunner. The seductive vocals of Labon Ko and emotive heartbreak in Abhi Abhi speak volumes to me, with Aashayein bringing in that glimmer of hope.
And amidst all this talk on the internet about people deeply connecting with music from Emraan Hashmi’s films, it’s imperative that everyone knows about KK, having voiced most of those songs, from Soniye, Zara Sa, Dil Ibaadat, Beete Lamhein, and the likes. I could go on and on and on, but doing justice to his supremely able discography is a task next to impossible.
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Having heralded Kishore Kumar as the primary influence in shaping his musical genome, KK’s fanbase in the industry says a great deal. Arijit Singh, Shaan, and Sunidhi Chauhan all praise the singer and often cite him as a path-breaker and disrupter. He sounds unreal, for the lack of a better word. His voice is outlandishly perfect, and unbelievably clean. And the fact that our yearning for more new KK music will lay unfulfilled seems unfair. And that’s the real tragedy.
Also Read: Kashmiri Music Artists That Should Be On Your Radar This Year
