Playback singer Sonu Nigam has opened up about the growing role of auto-tune in contemporary music, admitting that he also uses the technology for certain songs. The singer explained that the digitisation of music has changed the way vocals are recorded and mixed, making pitch accuracy more important than ever.
Sonu Nigam recently appeared on the Game Changers podcast, where he discussed how music production has evolved over the years. Addressing the criticism surrounding auto-tune, he said the technology has brought several positive changes to the industry.
According to Sonu, singers from his generation were fortunate to have developed their voices through traditional riyaaz (practice), without relying on digital pitch correction. However, he believes auto-tune has become useful in today’s highly digitised recording environment.
Sonu Nigam Says He Uses Auto-Tune on Certain Songs
Sonu revealed that despite being known for his strong vocal abilities, he sometimes uses auto-tune in his own recordings. He explained that modern music is often built around digitally precise arrangements, unlike the live instrumental setups that were common in earlier decades.
He pointed out that older recordings frequently featured live instruments such as sarangi and strings. Since the musicians were performing together, slight variations in pitch could naturally blend into the overall arrangement. Today’s digitally produced tracks, however, are much more precise and linear.
As a result, even a naturally good vocal performance can sometimes sound slightly out of place when paired with highly processed instrumental tracks.
‘Give 99% and Bring It to 100%’
While Sonu acknowledged the usefulness of auto-tune, he also stressed that the technology should not be used to turn someone who cannot sing into a professional vocalist.
According to the singer, auto-tune should ideally be used to polish an already strong performance rather than completely repair a poor one. His philosophy is essentially to give your best performance first and then use technology to make the final result even better.
Sonu also said there is nothing wrong with actors using auto-tune when they want to sing as part of their films or pursue their musical ambitions. However, he believes such technology should not lead to professional singers being replaced.
Sonu Nigam’s Take on the Changing Music Industry
Sonu’s comments highlight the significant transformation the music industry has undergone with the arrival of digital recording and production tools. From live orchestras and traditional recording techniques to computer-based mixing and pitch correction, technology has fundamentally changed how songs are created.
Rather than completely rejecting auto-tune, Sonu believes it should be treated as a production tool and used responsibly. His comments also challenge the common perception that the use of pitch-correction software automatically indicates a lack of singing ability.
Sonu Nigam’s Upcoming Project
On the professional front, Sonu Nigam is associated with Rajkumar Santoshi’s Batwara 1947. The film is backed by Aamir Khan Productions and features an ensemble cast including Sunny Deol, Preity Zinta, Shabana Azmi, Karan Deol, Ali Fazal and Abhimanyu Singh.
Sonu has lent his voice to “Tabassum,” a song composed by AR Rahman with lyrics written by Javed Akhtar.