Yo Yo Honey Singh wants to make a Bhojpuri track an international chartbuster

Bollywood's current go-to composer-singer for party anthems, has no time to let his hair down. Yo Yo Honey Singh is busy travelling for either his film commitments, stage shows or music video shoots.

As writer, composer, singer and actor, Honey loves all his roles equally. He considers himself a Punjabi munda who prefers to rap in desi wear, especially in juttis. Add to it a dash of bling in the form of a huge gold watch, rings and chains, and he's good to go. Honey was in Mumbai to unveil the contestants of his upcoming television show, India's Raw Star. With a packed schedule, a flight to catch and his security folk constantly reminding him of the ticking clock, he took time off to explain why you can either love him or hate him, but can't ignore him.

From starting off as DJ Hirdesh Singh to being the overnight sensation Yo Yo Honey Singh, your journey has been quite a ride...
As they say, `What's in a name? Honey is my pet name. So I became Yo Yo Honey Singh. Refer to me as Honey, Yo Yo... it does not matter.

Do you have any fears or insecurities that some day success might elude you?
I am too busy to stop and ponder. I have a long way ahead of me. I will keep reinventing myself. I do not consider myself a singer. I only talk as the music plays on. So you can say I have not started singing yet. When I begin singing, I do not know what will happen. I want to entertain people.

Do you consider yourself a complete package?
I consider myself an arranger. I write my own lyrics, my music and I sing my own songs. When I have written some lines, I don't have to hunt for a singer. I can sing it myself, record it and make the music video.

How do you tackle your detractors?
I am too busy to even think about it. Our country has a population of over a 100 crore. Out of it, how many dislike me and my songs? About 20 lakh? I still have the love of the rest. I am singing for them and they outnumber those who do not like me.


So you sing for the masses?
I write what I see around. I make songs that people enjoy. I have not made that many Bollywood numbers. There have been tracks like Lungi Dance and Sunny Sunny, but whatever I have done has become popular. I work hard for it.

How would you describe your kind of music?
My kind of music is what people can play all the time. I love all kinds of music from Michael Jackson's pop to Ghulam Ali's ghazals. I have been influenced by everyone.

You are turning to the small screen which already has several music reality shows...
Most of these talent shows focus on finding talent for playback singing. I am not looking at candidates who are cut out only for that. I want them to be rock stars. I have named my show India's Raw Stars as I will polish them. There are contestants from all over the world. They have penned their own lyrics as well. I want to put them in the spotlight.

You are also planning to collaborate with the contestants for an international album?
There is a Bhojpuri singer Mohan; he is too good. I want to take the Bhojpuri number Kamariya Lollypop Lagelu and make an international chartbuster. I want to show the West what we can do.