Prateek Kuhad
Kuhad in 2018
Kuhad in 2018
Background information
Born (1990-03-03) 3 March 1990
Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
OriginJaipur, India
GenresIndie folk
Occupation(s)
  • Singer-songwriter
  • musician
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • piano
Years active2011–present
LabelsElektra Records
Websiteprateekkuhad.com

Prateek Kuhad is an Indian singer-songwriter and musician who makes independent music in Hindi and English.[1][2][3] He is best known for his track "cold/mess".

Early life

Kuhad was born in Jaipur, Rajasthan and has two sisters. He learnt to play the guitar aged 16 and started songwriting in his late teens. He finished his high school from Maharaja Sawai Man Singh Vidyalaya, Jaipur. Later, He studied Maths and Economics at New York University before moving to Delhi to pursue a full-time career in music.[4]

Career

After graduating from New York University, Kuhad returned to India, and released his first EP, the self titled Prateek Kuhad, and Raat Raazi in 2013.[5] His debut album, In Tokens & Charms was released in 2015.[6][7] He also signed a publishing deal with Los Angeles–based company Cutcraft Music.[8] Kuhad became the first Indian artist to get signed by the American record label Elektra Records in 2020.[9]

Musical style and influences

During his time in NYU, Kuhad discovered Elliott Smith's music which had a great influence on him. He then discovered other singer-songwriters such as Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie along with newer artists like Laura Marling and Fleet Foxes.[10] These artists inspired him to get better at guitar and start writing his own songs. These went on to become his major influences.

Kuhad was comfortable with communicating in both English and Hindi from the start and has been writing in both the languages. In his childhood, as there was no internet service, he predominantly listened to Indian pop and Bollywood music and only occasionally to Western music. He is also said to be inspired from a kid of the same name as his whose vocals were outstanding, sometime during his visit to UP. He was also inspired by Lucky Ali.[11]

Prateek Kuhad performing

The acoustic guitar is Kuhad's primary instrument while he also plays piano and electric guitar. His music leans towards Americana and folk genres with acoustic sounds and unconventional song structures for most parts. His music has been praised as being "beautifully haunting" by Us Weekly and his vocals as being "angelic" by BrooklynVegan.[10][11]

He mostly writes about love, relationships and his experiences, with vague lyrics that are open to interpretation.[12]

Awards and recognition

  • Indian Indie Album of the Year 2019 by iTunes and Spotify: Top Indian Indie Hits
  • The Best India Act at the 2016 MTV Europe Music Awards
  • Best Pop Artist Award at the Radio City Freedom Awards 2018[6]

Kuhad's 2018 song "cold/mess" was featured on former US president Barack Obama's "Favorite Music of 2019" list.[13][14][15]

Discography

Albums & EPs

YearAlbum / EP Track
2011 Prateek Kuhad Something Wrong
Rubber Bits
A Shot of Alcohol
2013Raat Raazi Ab Hoga Kya
Raat Raazi
Chahe Ya Na Chahe
Voh
Yeh Pal
2015In Tokens & Charms Oh Love
Holding On
Flames
Into the Night
Go
Fire
Held You Tight
Be At Ease
Cold Shoulders
Artist
2019cold/mess with you/for you
did you/fall apart
cold/mess
for your time
fighter
100 words
cold/mess - edit
2021 Shehron Ke Raaz Shehron Ke Raaz
Khone Do
Tere Hi Hum
Kasoor - Acoustic
2022 The Way That Lovers Do All I Need
Hollow
Favorite Peeps
Co2
Face
Just A Word
Drown
The Last Time
Heartbroken
Bloom
Full Time Lover
2023 Mulaqat Mulaqat
O Piya
Kuch Din
Hum Dono
Janeman

Singles & collaborations

YearTrack Note(s)
2016Kho Gaye Hum Kahan Released as part of the soundtrack of the movie "Baar Baar Dekho"
Tune Kaha
Dil Beparwah Collaboration between Ankur Tewari & Prateek Kuhad

Released as part of The Dewarists - Season 5, Episode 3

2017Tum Jab Paas
Tonight Released as part of the album "In Tokens and Charms (Deluxe Edition)"
Big Surprise
Just to Be With You
Flames – Piano Version
2018 Saansein Released as part of the soundtrack of the movie "Karwaan"
Kadam
2020 Pause
Kasoor
Kahaan Ho Tum Released as part of the soundtrack of the Netflix show "Mismatched"
The Biggest Lie (Elliott Smith remake)
cold/mess (on piano)
2021 Kuch Na Kaho
2022 Hopelessly – official music video
2023 Kaisi Jadugari
Mere Sang feat.Lisa Mishra Collaboration between Lisa Mishra & Prateek Kuhad
Co2 – Acoustic

Film/Series songs

Year Film Song Composer(s) Singer(s) Writer(s)
2016 Baar Baar Dekho Kho Gaye Hum Kahan Jasleen Royal Jasleen Royal & Prateek Kuhad Prateek Kuhad
2018 Karwaan Saansein Prateek Kuhad
Kadam
2020 Mismatched Kaahan Ho Tum Prateek Kuhad
2021 Ajeeb Daastaans Kuch Na Kaho Prateek Kuhad
2021 Dhamaka Kasoor – Acoustic Prateek Kuhad

References

  1. Gurbaxani, Amit (23 November 2017). "On the bus with Prateek Kuhad". mint. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  2. Majumdar, Meghna (1 December 2020). "When Prateek Kuhad met Singapore's DJ Myrne". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  3. "Prateek Kuhad on Bollywood music, writing songs, & picking his genre #HTLS2020". Hindustan Times. 11 December 2020. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  4. "You've Gotta Know Prateek Kuhad - LBB". Retrieved 19 August 2013.
  5. "Prateek Kuhad: Heartbreak Party". Open The Magazine. 19 March 2019. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  6. 1 2 "Radio City Freedom Awards 2019: The Complete Winners List -". 29 March 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  7. "Prateek Kuhad to make UAE debut at The Rotunda". gulfnews.com. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  8. Suhasini, Lalitha (20 October 2019). "The rise and rise of Prateek Kuhad". Pune Mirror. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  9. "Singer-songwriter Prateek Kuhad signs to American label Elektra Records". BW Businessworld. ANI. 7 October 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  10. 1 2 "About Prateek Kuhad". prateekkuhad.com. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  11. 1 2 "Prateek Kuhad on Finding Success and Larger Audience". First Post. 15 January 2020. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  12. "Prateek Kuhad On Love Life Learnings, Songwritng Process and Success Mantras The Ranveer Show 66". YouTube. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  13. "How Prateek Kuhad reached Obama's playlist". The Week. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  14. Obama, Barack (30 December 2019). "From hip-hop to country to The Boss, here are my songs of the year. If you're looking for something to keep you company on a long drive or help you turn up a workout, I hope there's a track or two in here that does the trick.pic.twitter.com/mQ2VssyDwt". @BarackObama. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
  15. "Barack Obama names Cold Mess in his Favourite Music 2019 list. Prateek Kuhad is flipping out". India Today. Ist. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
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