Remo 'pops' up with new album

"I guess you could say this is my 'return' not only to Bollywood, but to pop singing as well," Remo told PTI in an exclusive interview here on Sunday.

"I feel great being back in the pop scene. I spent about four years of self-imposed exile from it, and worked on music which I truly needed to let out of my system: an orchestral album 'Symphonic Chants' which contains my versions of Gayatri Mantra and 'Om Jai Jagdish Hare'," he said.

"And then there was a chilled-out album 'India Beyond', songs from which have been signed for the Buddha Bar in France and released by Opium Compilations in the USA."

The 53-year-old singer, who gave Bollywood hits like 'Hamma Hamma' in 1994 movie Bombay, is more known for his adoption of universal music.

The Goa-based singer, recently selected for Padam Shri award, re-entered the Bollywood scene with the song 'Signal' from comedy flick 'Bhagam Bhag' with music composed by Pritam of the 'Dhoom' fame.

"I'm happy to say its done very well. I've just recorded another song for him (Pritam), as well as one for (music composer) Lalit, and these would be out in a few months," said Remo talking about his experience in 'Bhagam Bhag', directed by Priyadarshan which hit the theatres on December 22.

"The new album contains four numbers which are regular 'songs', and also includes new versions of my old hits like 'Bombay City' and 'Flute Kick. The remaining four numbers are more electronica-oriented. I love that kind of music as well, and found expression for it in this album," Remo said.

Asked whether he missed Bollywood during his self-exile, he said, "I didn't miss Bollywood at all while I was away from it, because it was a conscious decision to stay away. I needed that break, artistically as well as psychologically. Now that I'm back into pop and Bollywood."

"The thing is to be totally centred into what you're doing - if you're centred, if you're fully into what you're doing at the moment, how can you miss being somewhere else?" the popular singer maintained.

Remo feels Bollywood need not be a "must" for a composer or singer. "If you're into making your own music, the music should stand up on its own. But when it is successful, it is Bollywood which approaches you to 'lend' your voice and compositions to films."

"Let's face it, Bollywood is the biggest medium machinery in this country - so obviously if your song is in a film, it is bound to be heard by a whole lot of people. But, simultaneously there are very successful pop groups and individuals who have made it big solely on their non-film albums in this country," Remo noted.