I use Auto-Tune in certain songs of mine”: Sonu Nigam’s Candid Admission on Komal Nahta’s Game Changers: The Music Series

Komal Nahta, one of India’s most respected trade analysts, is back with a fresh season of his podcast Game Changers: The Music Series. This edition shines a spotlight on celebrated singers, composers, and music maestros as they share their creative journeys, inspirations, and the untold stories behind the music that has shaped generations. The latest episode featured Sonu Nigam.

Widely regarded as one of the most versatile and gifted playback singers in Indian cinema history, Sonu Nigam has spent decades ruling the charts with his soulful voice and flawless pitch. Known for his rigorous classical training and legendary live performances, he has witnessed the music industry transform from the era of live orchestral recordings to the modern digital age. Speaking about how technology has altered the recording process today, Sonu shared an honest perspective on the highly debated topic of pitch-correction software. He revealed, “The era of auto-tune has certainly brought a lot of changes. People say a lot of bad things about it but I say ‘Jo bhi hua hai aacha hua hai’. In earlier days, you had to sing without auto-tune, and we are lucky to ‘rihaaz’ without it, and now we don’t need it. But still, I would say I use auto-tune in certain songs of mine. Everything now is so 440, previously everything was live. We had live ‘sarangi’; live stings, so somewhere our pitch didn’t have to be perfect. Everything now is digitised; everything is going in a straight line and your voice will sound off if it’s raw. Previously, with live music, we used to adjust according to the live music, but now your song will stand out. However, it’s our responsibility that we don’t use the resources to fix the voices of those who can’t sing. You give your 99% and bring it to 100% with auto tune. Many actors use auto-tune for their songs and it’s absolutely fine if they use it to enjoy their dreams. But they cannot replace singers.”

With Game Changers Season: The Music Series, Komal Nahta is redefining the landscape of Indian cinema conversations. Tune in to the YouTube channel for Game Changer: The Music Series!