It pays to have a godfather in the music industry. Eighteen year old Armaan Malik is one lucky teen who got an easy road to releasing his self-titled debut music album – Armaan without the struggle of a reality music show. Yeah he is blessed to have a father in Daboo Malik, brother of Anu Malik, and also had the lady luck to get his album launched by none other than the heartthrob of Bollywood Salman Khan early this year.

Produced by Amal Malik – the elder sibling of Armaan, the sound of the album is contemporary pop encompassing the genres of EDM, R&B and Rock. The eight track album (this time the playlist has the correct order) has seven original tracks along with one remix version. Sure to strike a chord among club hoppers is the very catchy up-tempo Krazy Konnection ft. Salim Merchant (from the famous musical duo Salim – Sulaiman) that makes you want to shake a leg.

With just one English song on the album, we have What Love is a pulsating dance track, beautifully done, with a lot of international shades. There’s also the electro beat heavy Roke Na Koi.  Then there’s also the acoustic ballad Le Ja Zakhm Tere written and composed by Amal Malik and the romantic, pop / rock infused Bas Is Pal. One cannot forget the repetitive Tu Hi Hai with its rapping interplay. Kyon has a lot of Auto tune effects, but is pretty good ballad. The album ends with a remixed thumping Dub step version of Krazy Konnection which at the first listen is pretty cool and worth a replay. There is a slight touch of Indian classical fused into the song, giving it a good twist from the original edit. 

This album is a personal testimony of Armaan as a person, his world, and his beliefs. Armaan has a long and exciting career aheadof him, the album has its good moments and is a good pick for today’s youth and is a good package of up-tempo pop / dance tracks and beautiful ballads – all composed, written and performed straight from his heart.

The album cover has an appealing picture of Armaan shot in black and white with jacket and guitar. A good Indi pop artist to watch out for, who might just make a leap into Bollywood one day. Reason being is that Armaan has the talent and the right ‘Konnection’, well but of course.

-- Reviewed by Verus Ferreira