Prateek Kuhad

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Prateek Kuhad
Kuhad in 2018
Kuhad in 2018
Background information
Born (1990-03-03) 3 March 1990 (age 31)
Jaipur, India
OriginNew Delhi, India
GenresIndie folk
Occupation(s)
  • Singer-songwriter
  • musician
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • piano
Years active2011–present
LabelsElektra Records
Websiteprateekkuhad.com

Prateek Kuhad is an Indian singer-songwriter and musician who makes independent music in Hindi and English.[1][2][3] He is best known for his track "cold/mess".

Early life and career[]

Kuhad was born in Jaipur, Rajasthan and has two sisters. He learnt to play the guitar at age of 16 and started songwriting in his late teens. He finished his high school from Maharaja Sawai Man Singh Vidyalaya, Jaipur. Later, He studied Maths and Economics at New York University before moving to Delhi to pursue a full-time career in music.[4] After graduating from New York University, he returned to India, releasing a pair of EPs before releasing his debut album.[5][6] He also signed a publishing deal with Los Angeles-based company Cutcraft Music.[7] Kuhad became the first Indian to get signed by the American record label Elektra Records in 2020.[8]

Musical style and influences[]

During his time in NYU, Kuhad discovered Elliott Smith's music which had a great influence on him. He then discovered other singer-songwriters such as Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie along with newer artists like Laura Marling and Fleet Foxes.[9] These artists inspired him to get better at guitar and start writing his own songs. These went on to become his major influences.

Being from a modern family in Jaipur, Kuhad was comfortable with communicating in both English and Hindi from the start and has been writing in both the languages. In his childhood, as there was no internet service in Jaipur, he predominantly listened to Indian pop and Bollywood music and only occasionally to Western music. He was also inspired by Lucky Ali.[10]

Kuhad performing

The acoustic guitar is Kuhad's primary instrument while he also plays piano and electric guitar. His music leans towards Americana and folk genres with acoustic sounds and unconventional song structures for most parts. His music has been praised as being "beautifully haunting" by Us Weekly and his vocals as being "angelic" by BrooklynVegan.[9][10]

He mostly writes about love, relationships and his experiences, with vague lyrics that are open to interpretation.[11]

Awards and recognition[]

  • Indian Indie Album of the Year 2019 by iTunes and Spotify: Top Indian Indie Hits
  • The Best India Act at the 2016 MTV Europe Music Awards
  • Best Pop Artist Award at the Radio City Freedom Awards 2018

Kuhad's 2018 song "Cold/Mess" was featured on former US president Barack Obama's "Favorite Music of 2019" list.[12][13][14]

Discography[]

EPs and albums[]

Year EP/Album
2013 Raat Raazi
2015 In Tokens & Charms
2018 Cold/Mess
2021 Shehron Ke Raaz

Songs[]

List of songs/collaborations by Prateek Kuhad:

Year Song Title
2011 Something Wrong
Rubber Bits
A Shot of Alcohol
2013 Ab Hoga Kya
Raat Raazi
Chaahe Ya Na Chahe
Voh
Yeh Pal
2015 Oh Love
Holding On
Flames
Into the Night
Go
Fire
Held You Tight
Be at Ease
Cold Shoulders
Artist
2016 Kho Gaye Hum Kahan
Tune Kaha
Dil Beparwah
2017 Tum Jab Paas
Tonight
Big Surprise
Just to Be with You
Flames (piano version)
2018 With You/For You
Did You/Fall Apart
Cold/Mess
For Your Time
Fighter
100 Words
Saansein
Kadam
2020 Pause
Kasoor
Kahaan Ho Tum
The Biggest Lie (Elliott Smith remake)
Cold/Mess (piano version)
2021 Kuch Na Kaho
Tere Hi Hum
Shehron Ke Raaz
Khone Do
Kasoor (Acoustic)

Film/Series songs[]

Year Film Song Composer(s) Singer(s) Writer(s) Notes Ref
2016 Baar Baar Dekho "Kho Gaye Hum Kahan" Jasleen Royal Jasleen Royal & Prateek Kuhad Prateek Kuhad
2018 Karwaan "Saansein" Prateek Kuhad
"Kadam"
2020 Mismatched "Kaahan Ho Tum" Prateek Kuhad
2021 Ajeeb Daastaans "Kuch Na Kaho" Prateek Kuhad
2021 Dhamaka (2021 film) "Kasoor (Acoustic)" Prateek Kuhad

References[]

  1. ^ Gurbaxani, Amit (27 October 2017). "On the bus with Prateek Kuhad". mint. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  2. ^ Majumdar, Meghna (1 December 2020). "When Prateek Kuhad met Singapore's DJ Myrne". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  3. ^ "Prateek Kuhad on Bollywood music, writing songs, & picking his genre #HTLS2020". Hindustan Times. 11 December 2020. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  4. ^ "You've Gotta Know Prateek Kuhad - LBB". Retrieved 19 August 2013.
  5. ^ "Radio City Freedom Awards 2019: The Complete Winners List -". 29 March 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  6. ^ "Prateek Kuhad to make UAE debut at The Rotunda". gulfnews.com. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  7. ^ Suhasini, Lalitha (20 October 2019). "The rise and rise of Prateek Kuhad". Pune Mirror. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  8. ^ "Singer-songwriter Prateek Kuhad signs to American label Elektra Records". BW Businessworld. ANI. 7 October 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  9. ^ a b "About Prateek Kuhad". prateekkuhad.com. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  10. ^ a b "Prateek Kuhad on Finding Success and Larger Audience". First Post. 15 January 2020. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  11. ^ "Prateek Kuhad On Love Life Learnings, Songwritng Process and Success Mantras The Ranveer Show 66". YouTube. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  12. ^ "How Prateek Kuhad reached Obama's playlist". The Week. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  13. ^ Obama, Barack (30 December 2019). "From hip-hop to country to The Boss, here are my songs of the year. If you're looking for something to keep you company on a long drive or help you turn up a workout, I hope there's a track or two in here that does the trick.pic.twitter.com/mQ2VssyDwt". @BarackObama. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
  14. ^ "Barack Obama names Cold Mess in his Favourite Music 2019 list. Prateek Kuhad is flipping out". India Today. Ist. Retrieved 31 December 2019.

External links[]

Retrieved from ""