Passenger on 1st-ever India tour, reveals Ed Sheeran inspired him
What's the story
British singer-songwriter Mike David Rosenberg, popularly known as Passenger, is all set to perform in India for the first time this month. The artist will be performing in Delhi-NCR on November 19, Mumbai on November 21, and Bengaluru on November 22. In an interview with SCREEN, he expressed his excitement about this opportunity and shared how digital music consumption has broken down geographical barriers.
Inspiration
Ed Sheeran's recommendation for India tour
Passenger revealed that witnessing other artists, such as Coldplay and Diljit Dosanjh, perform in India has motivated him to tour the country. He also received a glowing recommendation from his longtime friend Ed Sheeran, who has performed in seven Indian cities. "We've been good friends for 20 years... He's a constant inspiration to me as a guy and as a musician," Passenger said.
Cultural exchange
Passenger on Sheeran's 'Sapphire' showcasing India's diversity
Passenger was also impressed by how Sheeran showcased India's diversity in his single Sapphire, which featured Indian singer Arijit Singh. The music video, shot on the road by Sheeran, features scenes from Hyderabad, Kolkata, Goa, Shillong, and Mumbai. "Travel is one of the most important things to do for inspiration... From the little I've seen of India it's really good at doing that," Passenger said about his upcoming tour.
Musical evolution
Why does Passenger prefer solo performances?
Passenger, who has been performing solo for over 15 years, revealed that his stage name comes from the band he formed in 2003. After the band disbanded six years later, he continued using the same name as a solo artist. "I really enjoy performing on my own... I think there's something really powerful about that."
Global success
On success of 'Let Her Go'
Passenger's 2012 love anthem Let Her Go has been his biggest hit to date. Despite releasing several other successful songs, none have matched the global success of this track. "I just wrote it like any other song... But I think it's the opening melody... It's captivating and grabs people," Passenger said about the song's success. He added that he doesn't expect to replicate its success with future songs.