Sunidhi Chauhan speaks about achieving a balance between realism and advancement on auto-tune

Playback singer Sunidhi Chauhan, known for her unique voice and energetic performances, recently shared her thoughts on auto-tune in the music industry. While she recognizes its role in enhancing recordings, she warns about the risks of overusing it.

In a recent interview with Raj Shamani, Sunidhi Chauhan addressed the topic of auto-tune. She revealed, “I don’t use auto-tune, though others do. If it’s my work, I might sing 100 times to ensure it sounds right, but I won’t rely on auto-tune.” Sunidhi’s powerful vocals and dynamic stage presence have earned her a dedicated fan base, and her videos often go viral for their impressive quality.

Sunidhi discussed her concerns about auto-tune, noting that it can lead to a homogenisation of voices. She explained, “Auto-tune is an effect that makes a voice shine a little more. These days they use it everywhere. My problem with it is that when it is used on everybody’s voice, all the voices sound the same. If you get three female singers for a song and use auto-tune on each of their voices, there will be some similarity.” Despite her reservations, Sunidhi acknowledged that auto-tune is not inherently bad. She emphasized that when used correctly, it can enhance a musical project.

Sunidhi also pointed out that auto-tune has become a standard expectation in the music industry. She shared, “I’ve heard so many singers walk into the studio and ask, ‘I’m going to go on the mic, but there’s auto-tune, right?’ It has become a basic expectation.” This reflects a shift in how some singers approach their recordings, with many now seeing auto-tune as an essential tool.

Arijit Singh, another prominent playback singer, has also spoken about auto-tune. In an interview with The Music Podcast, he mentioned that music director AR Rahman was one of the first to use auto-tune creatively. Singh noted, “Auto-tune can’t turn a non-singer into a singer. It’s not like you sing anything, apply auto-tune, and it will sound perfect. Rahman used it subtly, and that really worked with the audience.”

Overall, while auto-tune has its advantages, both Sunidhi Chauhan and Arijit Singh highlight the importance of using it wisely to maintain the individuality and authenticity of each singer's voice.