Mumbai’s Emiway Bantai scores big at Europe Music Awards3
Last year, the rapper sang a track for the Bombay Times’ ‘Flirt With The City’ campaign, which was a huge hit Earlier this week, Shaikh Mohammaed Bilal aka Emiway Bantai bagged this year’s Best Indian Act at the Europe Music Awards in Spain, for his song 'Freeverse Feast (Daawat)'.
Last year, Bombay Times’ ‘Flirt With The City’ campaign song, that was composed by Dhruv Ganekar, was sung by Emiway and Illastraight. Nominated along with Raja Kumari, Parikrama, Prateek Kuhad and Komorebi, the 24-year-old rapper is elated to win this international award.
“It’s big especially because this is a people’s choice award. I am proud and happy that people have chosen and accepted ki macharaya hai Bantai,” he says.
The 'Machayenge' singer grew up on all kinds of music. The fact that his parents have always been music lovers influenced Emiway from childhood. While his father would listen to Hindi songs, his mother a Tamilian, would play South Indian songs. “Main normal gaane sunke bada hua hoon. It’s not as if I grew up listening to rap and hip-hop. Mere parents bahut music sunte the. Unka alag zone ka music hai. Now, they love hip hop and are always jamming,” he says. Rap came into his life after his 10th standard when he first heard Eminem.
Talking about how Freeverse Feast (Daawat) happened, the rapper says, “The music was by Jacko Beats. When I heard the beat, I knew what I wanted. While listening to Jacko and jamming to it, I created the song. In the last few years, my listeners abroad have increased and I thought I should add English to my rap to build a connect with them. I have not used any fake accent to do the English rap. Maine apne real Indian accent mein hi kiya hai.”
Last year, the rapper sang a track for the Bombay Times’ ‘Flirt With The City’ campaign, which was a huge hit Earlier this week, Shaikh Mohammaed Bilal aka Emiway Bantai bagged this year’s Best Indian Act at the Europe Music Awards in Spain, for his song 'Freeverse Feast (Daawat)'.
Last year, Bombay Times’ ‘Flirt With The City’ campaign song, that was composed by Dhruv Ganekar, was sung by Emiway and Illastraight. Nominated along with Raja Kumari, Parikrama, Prateek Kuhad and Komorebi, the 24-year-old rapper is elated to win this international award.
“It’s big especially because this is a people’s choice award. I am proud and happy that people have chosen and accepted ki macharaya hai Bantai,” he says.
The 'Machayenge' singer grew up on all kinds of music. The fact that his parents have always been music lovers influenced Emiway from childhood. While his father would listen to Hindi songs, his mother a Tamilian, would play South Indian songs. “Main normal gaane sunke bada hua hoon. It’s not as if I grew up listening to rap and hip-hop. Mere parents bahut music sunte the. Unka alag zone ka music hai. Now, they love hip hop and are always jamming,” he says. Rap came into his life after his 10th standard when he first heard Eminem.
Talking about how Freeverse Feast (Daawat) happened, the rapper says, “The music was by Jacko Beats. When I heard the beat, I knew what I wanted. While listening to Jacko and jamming to it, I created the song. In the last few years, my listeners abroad have increased and I thought I should add English to my rap to build a connect with them. I have not used any fake accent to do the English rap. Maine apne real Indian accent mein hi kiya hai.”
