According to playback singer and music director Vishvesh Parmar, “Old tunes set in a new arrangement of musical instruments and/or notes are what I think the new form of urban music, that people in India love to listen to. So, while people now have a platter of choice to choose from when it comes to listening to music, I also feel that the big boom of electronic, dub-step music making its way into the Indian listener’s market is alluring them in a different direction.”

However, music composer-producer Tapas Relia is of the belief that any form of music sold through movies is urban music. He said, “Sadly, Indie music is either pushed to the backseat or has returned to its infant stage. It’s quite a worrying factor when you think on how ‘urban’ could music created today, get?” The coming together of two or three artistes or worlds, creating melodies using latest technologies and experimenting with each other’s styles defines Relia’s style of urban music.

But retaining that Indian quality while creating music is what makes up urban music for Bollywood singer Aishwarya Majmudar. Elaborating she said, “Today the music industry has moved forward with huge leaps and bounds and hence, blending latest technologies with our Indian music, found in the roots of our country is the best form of urban music. There are already so many programmes that cater to such fusions, but I guess there is a requirement of more such blends and presentations in a new arrangement of western music.”

Vocalist and bass guitarist for Surat-based band ‘Odyssey’ Yogi Saniyawala turns pessimist at the question of defining ‘urban music’ in Indian context. He said, “Currently, Yo Yo Honey Singh and music with the ‘tan tan tan...’ elements have become urban music. Hence, its difficult to define this in a country where the industry is driven by money.”

So, although Saniyawala agrees that music presented through programmes like Coke Studio, electronic music, rock or dub-step is being followed there is lack of ‘understanding’ for good music. And this, according to him, is a set-back for urban music. “The taste, I would say, in music is still very mediocre. I feel original sounds, music and lyrics like that written by Indie artistes is the best form of urban music. And one need not look too far, forIndia is a pot ful of such elements. And because urban music in India is directly proportional to Bollywood music, I feel the latter should take it up as their responsibility to promote such stuff,” commented Saniyawala.