The small town boy with big dreams, Balan Kashmir is today not only rocking the local music scene, but has crafted his name in Kollywood. Journalist2Jabber spoke to the rapper who is famous for his 'Amma food, Akka talk' Instagram posts recently. Check out what the multilingual rap musician had to say to young aspiring musicians, along with a beautiful shoutout to the individuals who grew with him!
At what age did your love for music start?
Music started at home since I was 4-5
years old because MJ was in every household. Then it was Fresh Prince of Bel
Air and Will Smith music with alot of Illayaraja and AR Rahman.
How did you first do it, poems?
It all
started with a poem I wrote for a girl in school. After that, i just wanted
express everything i felt at that age through words. It was exciting but all my
classmates had their good laugh.
What
inspired, inspires you?
Inspiration? First, it was the musicians I was hearing at that
age but slowly, it become people around me. Family, close friends and well
wishers. People never allowed me to quit, that was my inspiration. What
inspired me? The fact I wanna buy my Amma a house in a gated community to
retire and build great community around me always inspired.
Do your remember the first moment when it all came about, do
share…
I was performing in schools, college shows and major concerts
but when you get to work with one of your favourite local rapper, under his
wing and learn the game... that was when I knew it was all coming together. I'm
on the right path.
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| Made the crowd go crazy at Anirudh Live 2015, a first rave style Indian concert in Malaysia |
How did the family react on doing music?
My late Dad was a public figure. He was in Klang for 30 years so did his business, friends and family, everybody was from here. When he found out I
was on stage rapping & the whole city saw it, he just said, "Do you think I'm
working this hard for you to go on stage to rap? No more allowance for rap cds." But he told my mum, "he is finally standing on his own, I'm proud." Mom and
sisters gave up & said, maybe we took the wrong kid from the hospital.
The toughest points and how you overcame it?
I loved the dream so much, I ended up broke, but as long I was doing
music, I was content. I didnt have idea of marriage, investment plans, nothing.
I lost friends and relationship were destroyed because I wanted this music
thing so bad, they had to leave. I overcame it by wiping my tears, picking
myself up and go back what I started. This music thing and to everyone's
surprise, it worked out big time. I had to fail to cherish everything I'm
blessed with today. God had plans.
Upcoming projects?
I'm working
with both my companies, StarrSoundAsia and Click Agency KL to release/crowdfund
my debut, In Macha We Trust, in December. My team believes I'm leaving my mark with this release,
believe the vision and faith. Its gonna be a 90-120 days campaign with alot of
public interest and involvement. This is my way of introducing a platform so
local music doesnt DIE.
How do you feel about the
International dream coming true?
I'm just
blessed my company, Click Agency KL had the oppurtunity to introduce local
talents to Kollywood. Mr. Vikna Raj got Switch Lockup on two movies song,
scheduled to be released end of the year, I did one song with Anirudh
Ravichander and another one with Mervin/Vivek Siva and another two more talents
have completed their parts, waiting for the news to be announced. Gotta thank
him for all the works being done.
My peer, Roshan just killed two songs on
Kabali, my thambi Sri Rascol who i knew for 15 years rampaged his Showkali with
ADK and AR RAHMAN. Yo the Kollywood experience has been amazing and hopefully,
it goes beyond this.
You’ve worked with some amazing individuals, do share with us your
Kollywood experience…
Anirudh is a normal dude who treats me like everybody else. He
played the song and told me the concept. We jammed a few takes and he locked
down what he liked and boom, we were done and I came home to Malaysia with good
news. Gotta thank him and his team who saw the talent after hearing my music
and watching me perform. They felt Hola Amigo would be the best way to
introduce me to Kollywood.
Tell us about MachaMagicWorldWide
MMWW has always been a project close to
my heart. It was to show "machas" can be positive, non violent and
friendly like everybody else. The clothing was to break the stereotype using
tamil and hiphop elements on designs. 2000 tshirt sold, 8 different designs and
the best way to complete the circle is to start a shop next year which is in
the pipe lines.
Your advice to young
aspiring artist?
Go get your degree and make your parents
happy. Then can come live this musical life because its not a walk in the park.
Its thorns and thunderstorms ahead of you before you reach your destination or
goal. I'm not scaring you but most of my friends didn't get it easy so that
being said, no one is gonna spoon fed you :)
Study everyday something new about music or your genre, study new artistes,
read a lot of publishing and music books. Oh, don't forget God and people who
brought you down. You'll do fine :)
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| Award for Music Excellence, from the Malaysian Indian Entrepreneurs Cooperative |
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