Manifest Spotlight: Live Singer And Chef Kunal Lamba

Music is a binding element in all celebratory moments, especially Indian weddings. But for decades, music at an Indian wedding has been largely oscillating between a Bollywood-heavy DJ Night and traditional folk songs sung on a sangeet night. There was very little room for live music. Bands playing at Indian weddings is a fairly nascent concept.

But now Indian people are taking entertainment and music during their weddings much, much more seriously and it is leading to a greater demand for tasteful live singers and musicians at weddings. And when we came across New York City-based Kunal Lamba’s lively videos of singing at Indian weddings, we couldn’t help but feel drawn to have a conversation with him!

But aside from creating engaging content around wedding singing, Lamba has a thriving career as a chef and has worked for revered restaurants such as The Mark Hotel and Hilton Hotels. You’d think the resumé stops there, but the chef is also known for hosting the cooking show Kawan Kitchenmate from 2014-2018.

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Being a multi-dimensional entrepreneur and artist, Lamba sings classic Indian songs at people’s haldis, sangeets and DJ nights, and acts as an MC alongside it all. Join us as we chat with him about his work at Indian weddings and how he unites people while doing so. 

In Conversation With Live Singer Kunal Lamba 

Manifest: Tell us about your journey as a singer, and as an MC and how you started taking on weddings to perform and share your talent at?

Kunal Lamba: I proudly introduce my singing journey by mentioning that I started singing in my 40s. I never learned the intricacies of singing as a child. I term it as ‘Midlife crisis gone cool,’ though there was no midlife crisis, I just wanted to try my hand at the craft, at something new and different. 

I had also joined a karaoke group before COVID, and had also opened up a restaurant where I would occasionally perform and sing at. And then one fine day, someone approached me and asked me how much I charged for an event. Over time, I went from performing at events such as birthdays and Diwali parties to performing at weddings. Along with this, I’ve always had the gift of gab, I’ve always been a public speaker, and when you combine having an impressionable persona with being a singer, you become a de facto MC and singer!

I can host a wedding because I believe I understand the art of combining my singing talent with my ability to engage the audience by reading the room and catering to what the guests are looking for. And aside from this, I can sing Indian songs from every era. From Arijit Singh’s work to Mohammad Rafi’s classics, I can sing for the parents of the bride and groom, for the friends of the bride and groom.

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M: What role do you think live music plays in weddings and unions, especially Indian weddings?

KL: Every couple is looking to add a unique element to their wedding. And many people are looking to experiment with art and craft, and create a better entertainment strategy for their special day. So, now people are looking to add more to entertainment – aside from a night hosted by the DJ, what other elements can one add, in terms of music at weddings? This is where live music and live singing are coming into play. Music, especially Bollywood music, connects people across generations. And I believe that an Indian live music singer’s work, for NRI weddings, is all about helping people connect to the music. Many of the guests who attend my clients’ weddings do not understand Hindi. Sometimes, even the younger South Asian generations are not as well connected to Hindi songs. Which is why I often translate the songs I am singing, not literally, but briefly, to give them a gist of what they’re hearing.

In fact, I recently performed a song for the happily-wedded couple to dance to and they were very particular about having live music to dance to. They refused to dance to a pre-recorded track. Indians living abroad are becoming increasingly enthusiastic about hiring live musicians and singers at their weddings. 

M: How do you think the music scene has changed in Indian weddings? Especially with the South Asian diaspora?

KL:  A decade or so ago, there was no concept of hiring live singers. But Bollywood has always remained a constant, we’re still dancing to and enjoying Bollywood music at Indian weddings.  Here in America, the younger generation is taking a greater interest in weddings and the music we play at weddings. Earlier, parents would take charge of everything and the kids would be left feeling alienated from the culture and music. And since the internet barely existed back then, the youngsters were not exposed to Indian culture online either.

But today, Indian pop culture is becoming more mainstream, you can easily catch an Indian movie online, on Netflix now. Currently, many South Asian kids have a growing appreciation for our culture, whereas 90s’ kids were slightly averse to it and owning their ethnicity. Gen Z’s playlists are evolving in a more wholesome way, they consist of Drake’s tracks as well as Arijit Singh’s songs!

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Essentially, 90s kids would accept whatever music the DJ would play at an Indian wedding, they weren’t as involved in the process of choosing the music.

M: You are also a chef, quite a few hats you’re wearing! Can you tell us about your journey as a private chef?

KL: I’ve had quite the journey when it comes to my career as a chef. I am still a chef, I own a restaurant here in New Jersey. I am a restaurant consultant and a private chef, too. But I began my career in the culinary arts in Delhi at ITC Maurya, Delhi at the age of 24. Then I moved to London, and from there, I moved to America, working for a Michelin Star restaurant. As a hospitality professional, you learn how to imbibe a persona, a presence. Your personality matters in the hospitality industry. You are trained to be naturally hospitable and I think that really paved the way for me in the wedding industry, as a singer and MC. 

If you’re a performing arts professional, especially in the wedding industry, you’re technically providing a service, and you’re called to put your ego aside for the job. That has really worked in my favour as a live wedding singer, because I enjoy making people happy and comfortable.

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M: How has the work of an MC changed, in terms of weddings, over the past few years?

KL: There was no such thing as an MC, at least for weddings, at least not a few years back. The DJ had someone who would accompany them, and they would act as an MC for that moment, but no-one hired an MC separately for their weddings.

M: Can you walk us through some of the different genres of music you’ve performed at Indian weddings?

KL: Old and new Bollywood music, Ghazals, a lot of commercial Punjabi songs and sangeet folk songs.

Manifest Cheat Sheet

M: Who is your ideal client?

KL: My ideal client is a couple who loves Bollywood and wants to have live Bollywood music at their weddings!

M: How would you define your style of work?

KL: A one-man show who brings versatility to your wedding.

M: How far in advance should clients reach out to you?

KL: Six months.

M: Can you give us an insight into the pricing details of your services?

KL: $2000 - 4000 per day, excluding travel expenses.