Bollywood playback singer Shilpa Rao says she is glad to see musicians going the extra length to make a statement not only through their performances but even with their outward appearance.
The 32-year-old "Khuda Jaane" hitmaker feels Indian music industry is in a transient period where artists are trying to create their identity beyond just as playback singers.
"There's a huge difference today. Of course this is a transient period but yes people are taking efforts to make a statement with their performances and their appearances on the red carpet so, artists are working towards creating a brand and that's what you need in India," Shilpa told PTI in an interview.
The singer believes that if musicians here yearn for individual stardom akin to what international artists enjoy, they need to constantly work on themselves.
"We keep saying there's a difference between artists in the west and here but just by talking we won't achieve anything. Those artists put in that much amount of effort when it comes to putting their own style of composing, singing in fact the way they look.
"They work hard on everything. Similarly, if we want that kind of stature for ourselves then we need to put that kind of effort," she said.
Meanwhile, Shilpa is back with her independent album, "Suno", which is a compilation of her rendition of six popular Punjabi tracks like "Ankhiyan Nu", "Ankhiyan Udeek" and "Challa".
"I have always done a lot of collaborations and while I was on my tours and concerts, I thoguht this would be a good idea to do these songs. I recorded the whole hing in Delhi. There's a very nice independent space in Delhi which is really booming," she said.
The "Kamli" singer said it's not the popularity of these numbers but her personal connect with them that she chose to create an album with these songs.
"I have loved these tracks. I have always done things that I feel connected to as opposed to what it could be or can be or how popular it does get that has never been something I have connected to. A lot of times you are quite emotionally stupid about these things but then this is what it is," Shilpa said.
