Salim Merchant

Singer, composer and producer Salim Merchant bridges generations, styles and themes with a honed, versatile sonic sensibility that he’s championed in film music and beyond. He’s perhaps best known for his work with his older brother Sulaiman Merchant as Salim-Sulaiman. The duo have put their powerful spin on Bollywood hits like “Ainvayi Ainvayi” (from Band Baaja Baaraat) and “Chak De! India”, on fusion on songs for Coke Studio India and their own collaborative song series Bhoomi, as well as on spiritual songs, pop and progressive rock. Born to film music composer Sadruddin Merchant, Salim started in the early 1990s with fusion projects and background score work. He went on to be a part of several Bollywood songs like “Tauba Tauba” from Kaal in 2005 and “Mar Jawaan” from Fashion. In 2008, Merchant made it clear he wanted to be known beyond film music, creating a song for the FIFA World Cup in 2010 and crafting remixes of songs by Lady Gaga and Enrique Iglesias. Having also co-founded Merchant Records, his production skills shine through on everything from wide-ranging fusion to pop to rock.