Twelve years into his career, Amaal Mallik says his relationship with music remains unchanged from when he started and is one built on instinct, patience and gratitude rather than expectation. The singer-composer, who was recently in Hyderabad, a city he considers a second home because of his family ties, speaks to Hyderabad Times about his creative process, why AI cannot replace human creativity, staying relevant in the age of viral music and the projects keeping him busy.
‘I never made music expecting anything in return’Even after more than a decade in the industry, Amaal says his relationship with music remains as one built on instinct, patience and gratitude rather than expectation. “I have always been very pure about my relationship with music and it’s never changed. I hope it never changes. I like creating in my own space. Not every day magic happens, but I feel there are melodies floating somewhere above us. With the blessings of my grandfather and the creator, those melodies find their way into my heart. From there, I work on them with my writers and musicians.”He adds, “I spend hours writing and producing songs, using both technology and live instruments. I still feel the Hindi film industry had stopped using live instruments and session players a while ago. Very few musicians are doing that. Music has given me a lot. I’ve worked hard and fate has played its part, but I feel it has been the purest relationship of my life. The more I invested in it, the more I got out of it. I never made music expecting anything in return. I wanted to make my father proud and create melodies that would last for years. I’m grateful that music chose me.”‘AI cannot replace the human element’As artificial intelligence increasingly finds its way into music-making, Amaal believes its role should remain that of an assistant rather than a creator. “The music scene has always been changing and it continues to change. AI is here now and I think it’s okay to use it for things you’re not good at. If I’m working on a music video and I’m not good at storyboarding, AI can help. Similarly, if someone wants to understand the basics of melody or music creation, it can be a starting point. But in the end, you need the human element. AI cannot replace the human element. It’s still in the early stages and while it can help people begin something, genuine emotion and creativity will always come from people.”The same principle, he believes, applies to music consumption. “Social media is definitely a helpful tool for upcoming artistes… But it isn’t a guarantee of success. I’ve seen people listen to a song after watching a viral clip and realise that those 20 or 30 seconds were the only good part. In the long run, people connect with complete songs and genuine music.”‘Hyderabad feels like coming home’For Amaal, the city has always been more than another performance destination. “Hyderabad is an amazing place. Great food — that’s the most important thing wherever I travel. I always look forward to the food and Hyderabad is really special because a lot of my relatives from my mother’s side are from here. It feels like I’m coming back home in a way,” he says.‘I hope I live up to people’s expectations’
Away from the stage, Amaal is busy with new music. Among the projects occupying him is Awarapan 2, alongside work on his next independent album. “I am excited about my work on Awarapan 2. The song I’m working on is with lyricist Rashmi Virag. Awarapan was such a big hit and so many people love it. I’m also working on my own album, which I am planning to release next year. I just hope I live up to people’s expectations,” he says, signing off.