Meiyang Chang on the Harsh Truths Reality TV and the Music Industry Have To Face

More than 15 years ago, Meiyang Chang became a household of sorts when he was part of singing competition Indian Idol. Since then, the show and music have remained an inseparable part of his identity, even as he moved into other T.V. gigs including hosting and competing in (separately, of course) reality shows as well as anchoring live telecasts and acting in Bollywood films like Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! and Salman Khan-starring blockbusters like Sultan and Bharat.

The whole time, singing has always been a part of Chang’s focus, even if it’s mostly his take on popular Indian film and pop songs as part of his series #SingChang. He sang “Tukka Laga” with composer Pritam from Jagga Jasoos and “Raat Bhar” for the soundtrack to anthology series Modern Love: Mumbai, composed by Vishal Bhardwaj. There have been singles and collaborations like “Hanju” with Tony Kakkar and Neha Kakkar, plus his recent singles “Safarnama” from 2021 and “Mujhe Tum Nazar Se” earlier this year, all of which prove that Chang still values not just his vocal ability but also a deeper appreciation for music. In September, he released his heartbreak song “Jhoothi Chai,” with lyrics by Manan Bhardwaj and music produced by Rajat Kumar via Namyoho Studios. Eschewing the high-energy dramatic proclamations of love or an intense tear-jerker tale of woe, Chang instead makes a comforting, reflective and romantic song that flows in a fairly mature way. “Jhoothi Chai” is part of an upcoming EP called Returning, coming up in 2024.

In an email interview with Rolling Stone India, Chang looks back at the journey since Indian Idol in 2007, the state of reality T.V. and the music industry in India, his latest song and what’s next. Excerpts:

Rolling Stone India: It’s been about 16 years since you were part of Indian Idol and it’s an inseparable part of your identity. Did you feel it would be this inseparable once you began moving up into the finalists of the show back then? 

Meiyang Chang: Who would have thought? I had completed dental college and wanted to keep singing too, but never in my wildest dreams had I imagined that I would do so on national television. Music has been a constant companion, an ally, even an escape route, and it’s providence that it would turn my world around. Reality talent hunts were a novelty back then, especially with someone like me of Indo-Chinese lineage, distinct features and singing in chaste Hindustani. I took my chances and even though I’ve evolved to acting, hosting and more since then, it warms my heart to still be associated with an identity so fondly. The oldies give me their blessings, treating me like one of their own. And the youngsters tell me how they were mere kids when they first saw me on TV. It makes for heartwarming conversations.

What has it been like keeping music as your focus even as your other talents draw you out – like hosting, acting and more?

I’m constantly humming in my daily life, or belting numbers on stage. I won’t lie though; I love facing the camera and that aspect of my work often takes me away from riyaaz. The vocal load also increases on shoot. On such days, I strike a balance by practicing in the spare time between shoots or takes, learning new songs or revisiting old ones on a regular basis and knowing when to rest my vocal cords.

I constantly assess myself and get feedback from those whose opinion I value. Music is never too far away, with the company of talented musician friends and the privilege to be able to listen and learn from good music and teachers. I’m a composite of all that I do, so it’s a perennial game of musical chairs (excuse the pun) between singing, hosting, acting and more. But whenever I’m focused on any one aspect, I’m all in and all there. I do need to make more music, though.

How did “Jhoothi Chai” come about? What did you want to do differently on this track? 

The seeds of “Jhoothi Chai” were sown by heartbreak. But rather than mope on what could have been, I wanted to focus on the lovely things that were. What started as a single became the first release of an EP. For this particular song, we kept the melody fairly simple and it was a conscious choice to incorporate conversational small-town lyrics for an old world intimacy between lovers who are no longer together but have fond memories of each other. “Jhoothi Chai”is not about grand gestures, but rather the little things. In the same vein, even though I experimented with the vocal texture and scale, the plan was to keep it easygoing and comforting, like a hot cup of tea. I’m so happy the song has resonated with so many. People especially relate with the chai-biscuit analogy. So simple, yet so profound.

Listen to “Jhoothi Chai” below.

Over the years of being part of the music industry and seeing changes, what do you think needs to be respected more by the stakeholders of this industry when it comes to an artist’s needs?

Numbers and algorithms have become such an integral part of music-making today that somewhere we’re all working to serve that rather than create music. I hold a neutral stance on this, where I believe that commerce and creativity must reach a mutually beneficial middle ground without compromising on quality. 

There is a lack of clarity about what actually works and what doesn’t, and how one sustains themselves making music. I had an interesting conversation with a head-honcho who laid bare the challenges of making a song work, even with the infrastructure and budgets behind them. Stakeholders need to educate, groom and nurture themselves as well as the artists so that they can grow creatively as well as financially and socially. Honesty, encouragement and management of expectations are paramount. I see some of this being curated of late and that’s an encouraging sign. Is it really helping? Time will tell.

As someone who’s been on both sides of the stage as competitor and later host in a few reality shows, how has reality TV evolved in India?

From what little I’ve watched in the last few years, the quality of talent has seen an upsurge. The shows look better than ever and everyone seems at ease, confident and raring to go. But at the core of it, something has stagnated. When I started off, reality TV was in its infancy, everything was new and there was raw enthusiasm to experiment and audiences lapped it up. Almost two decades later, no one has reinvented the wheel.

Barring perhaps a Rising Star (first Indian entertainment show to be telecast live, which I also hosted) or Hustle (showcasing a new, energetic genre), I haven’t seen many major swings at doing something new. Reality TV has also become very predictable and overtly scripted, and I can say this as an occasional party to the crime myself. I’m sure there are a thousand crazy new ideas floating about out there. Someone just needs to take a chance and go for it!

We know the thriller movie Ulajh coming up soon. What can we expect from your role in that project?

I’m kicked about Ulajh, even though I can’t say much about this patriotic thriller at the moment without giving away spoilers. I’m glad Sudhanshu [Saria, director] convinced me to do this role. He’s a lovely, passionate man who helped me unlearn a few things, let me flex my wares and play against type while exploring the intriguing world of the Indian Foreign Services. Add Janhvi [Kapoor]’s gung-ho energy and Gulshan [Devaiah] and Roshan [Mathew]’s silken acting chops to that, and we’ve had a good time filming this. I’m keen to see how it turns out!

What else is coming up in 2024 for you?

More music releases, definitely. And some acting projects too which are under discussion, fingers crossed. Behind the microphone and in front of the camera; those will remain my sweet spots going into 2024 as well.