Bollywood playback singer and musician, Shruti Pathak is taking a new road these days. The road that leads to a radio studio where she takes her music to an all new level. Pathak will be heard on a radio station Fever 104 FM very soon where she will be an RJ on a weekly chat show called ‘Guzzler - The Spirit Of Ghazals’. On the show she will have celebrity guests and singers with whom she will interact and share their experiences with the listeners. 

Shruti’s love for music goes back sometime in 2004 when she started singing for remix album. After that she got the big break in 2009 when she got a chance to sing the now famous track Marjawaan from ‘Fashion’. She was also nominated for Marjawaan at the 54th Filmfare Awards in 2009 in the Best Female Playback Singer category, but sadly did not pick the black lady. But since then offers have poured in for this attractive lady from the "Fashion" soundtrack. After that there was no looking back.

Since then, Shruti has a long list of work that she has done. She wrote and sung Payaliya from the film ‘Dev D’. She has sung 2 songs from the film Anjana Anjani; she also collaborated with pop star Akon on the song Criminal in ‘Ra.One’ and many more. She also wrote and sung Shubharam from the film ‘Kai po che’. She has sung with Pritam, Salim Suleiman, Vishal - Shekhar and many top music directors.

Last year she launched her band and brand called Guzzler which is her contribution to ghazal world. She is hard core fan of Gulzar sahab, through Guzzler it’s her way of showing her respect for him. She has sung Ghazals of other renowned singers as well like Mehdi Hassan Sahab, Jagjeet Singh and many others, reinventing the songs, with a new style, in a westernized way, even going down to doing a jazz style.

Her latest Bollywood work is for the film Amit Sahani ki list where she has sung a few songs.

If you want to know more about this svelte, very attractive young singer, then you will have to stick around and read the interview where she opens her heart on her music, her life and her passion for singing ghazals.

When is your show Guzzler going live on radio?

Guzzler - The Spirit of ghazals, my radio show is going on air from 6th July...so watch out for it.

What do you plan to do on your show which is on 104 Fever FM?

It’s a weekly chat show. I will be chatting with new musician/singer/Poet, guest about ghazals, and jamming over it too...

What made you want to take up to being an RJ?

My only intent was to give GUZZLER a platform to reach out to more n more people on regular basis... 

You launched your band Guzzler last year and you perform ghazals. What has been the feedback to your band?

The response has been massive; I have toured many cities, different platforms and have only received Loads of love and appreciation. The radio show is an example to that.

Why the name Guzzler and what is it all about?

GUZZLER is about revisiting ghazals with a new, contemporary approach. I grew up listening to ghazals by Ghulam Ali ji, Mehdi Hassan saab, Jagjit Singh and Hariharan. This form of music has always inspired me and hence I thought of this project. The name was suggested by a friend and my ex-business manager.

How many members make up the band Guzzler and what are the members name, age and what do they do?

There are some really fab musicians jamming with me on GUZZLER... Sanjoy Das - Lead Guitar (Acoustic), Glenn Fernandes - Lead Guitar (Electric), Ryland D’souza - Keys, Akashdeep Gogoi - Bass guitar, Nawaaz Hussain - Drums, Shahrukh Khan - Sarangi.

Do you have a musical background… your parents who were into singing and performing ghazals?

I have no such musical background. My father was a music lover and it’s his genes that I sing, I guess.

Ghazals have a lot of poetic expression, are you very poetic too? Do you also compose and write your own songs?

Yeah, writing comes to me quite naturally. I’ve also written two of my songs, Paayaliya from the Bollywood movie ‘Dev D’ and Shubhaarambh from ‘Kai po che’. I love composing too.

What is the reason to take up ghazals, as there are a lot of other ghazal singers around? Secondly not many people really make it to a concert for ghazals. What is your take on this?

That not true. There are loads of ghazal lovers. The new generation is not into it though. Hence I thought of guzzler. To reach out to the younger generation too, with it.

You have performed at Hard Rock Café. Do you perform ghazals or do you sing your Bollywood tracks?

Exactly, imagine singing ghazals in Hard Rock Café, isn’t it cool??? Everyone in the house was singing along every time I performed at any such places. It just means ghazals can never die. It just needs to be presented in different ways. 

Do plan to release an album of ghazals in the near future? Any music videos too?

Yes, Definitely soon.

You also were part of Coke studio, how was the experience?

I’ve been part of the all three seasons of coke studio in India so far with Shafqat Amanat Ali, Kailash Kher, Leslie Lewis, Karsh Kale and Hitesh Sonic. All were fabulous to work with. I’m a proud member of the coke studio family. It’s always a pleasure working with MTV, they are truly amazing.

You have also done a lot of work for Bollywood, what are you presently working on?

A lot of film songs along with Guzzler. Latest release being Waaqei from the film ‘Amit Sahni Ki List’.

You also worked with Akon for the film Ra One. How was it working with him? Are you a big fan of him?

Who isn't a big fan (of Akon) It was obviously a big deal sharing credits with THE MAN, and it’s always an honor working with the fantastic Vishal and Shekhar. I love working with them.

Besides singing, is there anything else you are passionate about?

I love writing and composing. Also love cooking a lot.

Can you tell us something about your school, college background?

I’ve done my Masters with Psychology, but since music was always my passion and priority I did not practice Psychology further.

What are your hobbies, - Favorite music stars, Bollywood stars (all male and female) and favorite movies to watch, destination?

I love travelling. Kashmir is on my wish list for the very next one. Hopefully I’ll make it this time.

What is your date of birth, birth sign?

27th October. I’m a Scorpion.

What plans do you have for the future?

To master all aspects in Music. Music is my life. I live music, I breathe Music. It’s my soul.

Interviewed by Verus Ferreira