Prateek Kuhad
Prateek Kuhad is an Indian singer-songwriter and musician who makes independent music in Hindi and English. He is best known for his track "Kasoor" and "Co2".
Early life
Kuhad is the son of Paras Kuhad who was the additional Solicitor General of India from 2012 to 2014. His birth place is Jaipur, Rajasthan, and he has two sisters. He learnt to play the guitar at age 16 and started songwriting in his late teens. He graduated high school at Maharaja Sawai Man Singh Vidyalaya, in Jaipur. Later, he studied Maths and Economics at New York University before moving to Delhi to pursue a full-time career in music.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. His debut album, In Tokens & Charms, was released in 2015. He also signed a publishing deal with Los Angeles–based company Cutcraft Music. Kuhad became the first Indian artist to be signed by the American record label Elektra Records in 2020.Kuhad released his third album, The Way That Lovers Do, on May 20, 2022.
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. 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 was also inspired by Lucky Ali.
Kuhad's primary instrument is the acoustic guitar. He also plays other instruments like piano and electric guitar. His music leans towards Americana and folk genres with acoustic sounds and unconventional song structures for the most part. His music has been praised as being "beautifully haunting" by Us Weekly and his vocals as being "angelic" by BrooklynVegan.
He mostly writes about love, relationships and his experiences, with vague lyrics that are open to interpretation.
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
Discography
Albums & EPs
| Year | Album / EP | Track |
| 2011 | Prateek Kuhad | Something Wrong |
| 2011 | Prateek Kuhad | Rubber Bits |
| 2011 | Prateek Kuhad | A Shot of Alcohol |
| 2013 | Raat Raazi | Ab Hoga Kya |
| 2013 | Raat Raazi | Raat Raazi |
| 2013 | Raat Raazi | Chahe Ya Na Chahe |
| 2013 | Raat Raazi | Voh |
| 2013 | Raat Raazi | Yeh Pal |
| 2015 | In Tokens & Charms | Oh Love |
| 2015 | In Tokens & Charms | Holding On |
| 2015 | In Tokens & Charms | Flames |
| 2015 | In Tokens & Charms | Into the Night |
| 2015 | In Tokens & Charms | Go |
| 2015 | In Tokens & Charms | Fire |
| 2015 | In Tokens & Charms | Held You Tight |
| 2015 | In Tokens & Charms | Be At Ease |
| 2015 | In Tokens & Charms | Cold Shoulders |
| 2015 | In Tokens & Charms | Artist |
| 2017 | In Token & Charms | Oh Love |
| 2017 | In Token & Charms | Holding On |
| 2017 | In Token & Charms | Flames |
| 2017 | In Token & Charms | Into The Night |
| 2017 | In Token & Charms | Go |
| 2017 | In Token & Charms | Fire |
| 2017 | In Token & Charms | Held You Tight |
| 2017 | In Token & Charms | Be At Ease |
| 2017 | In Token & Charms | Cold Shoulders |
| 2017 | In Token & Charms | Artist |
| 2017 | In Token & Charms | Tonight |
| 2017 | In Token & Charms | Big Surprise |
| 2017 | In Token & Charms | Just To Be With You |
| 2017 | In Token & Charms | Flames - Piano Version |
| 2019 | cold/mess | with you/for you |
| 2019 | cold/mess | did you/fall apart |
| 2019 | cold/mess | cold/mess |
| 2019 | cold/mess | for your time |
| 2019 | cold/mess | fighter |
| 2019 | cold/mess | 100 words |
| 2019 | cold/mess | cold/mess - edit |
| 2021 | Shehron Ke Raaz | Shehron Ke Raaz |
| 2021 | Shehron Ke Raaz | Khone Do |
| 2021 | Shehron Ke Raaz | Tere Hi Hum |
| 2021 | Shehron Ke Raaz | Kasoor - Acoustic |
| 2022 | The Way That Lovers Do | All I Need |
| 2022 | The Way That Lovers Do | Hollow |
| 2022 | The Way That Lovers Do | Favorite Peeps |
| 2022 | The Way That Lovers Do | Co2 |
| 2022 | The Way That Lovers Do | Face |
| 2022 | The Way That Lovers Do | Just A Word |
| 2022 | The Way That Lovers Do | Drown |
| 2022 | The Way That Lovers Do | The Last Time |
| 2022 | The Way That Lovers Do | Heartbroken |
| 2022 | The Way That Lovers Do | Bloom |
| 2022 | The Way That Lovers Do | Full Time Lover |
| 2023 | The Way That Lovers Do | All I Need |
| 2023 | The Way That Lovers Do | Hollow |
| 2023 | The Way That Lovers Do | Favorite Peeps |
| 2023 | The Way That Lovers Do | Co2 |
| 2023 | The Way That Lovers Do | Face |
| 2023 | The Way That Lovers Do | Just A Word |
| 2023 | The Way That Lovers Do | Drown |
| 2023 | The Way That Lovers Do | Heartbroken |
| 2023 | The Way That Lovers Do | Bloom |
| 2023 | The Way That Lovers Do | Full Time Lover |
| 2023 | The Way That Lovers Do | Hopelessly |
| 2023 | The Way That Lovers Do | I Never Knew |
| 2023 | The Way That Lovers Do | Bloom |
| 2023 | The Way That Lovers Do | All I Need - acoustic |
| 2023 | The Way That Lovers Do | Hollow - acoustic |
| 2023 | The Way That Lovers Do | Just A Word - acoustic |
| 2023 | The Way That Lovers Do | The Last Time - acoustic |
| 2023 | The Way That Lovers Do | Heartbroken - acoustic |
| 2023 | Mulaqat | Mulaqat |
| 2023 | Mulaqat | O Piya |
| 2023 | Mulaqat | Kuch Din |
| 2023 | Mulaqat | Hum Dono |
| 2023 | Mulaqat | Janeman |
| 2023 | Mulaqat | - |