--- title: "TF Spotlight: An Interview With RAK: TF Word" description: "We spoke to Azadi Records’ Tamil artist RAK, who recently released his debut EP Kaalai. An exclusive first-ever dive into RAK’s influences, what growing up…" canonical: "https://www.ticketfairy.com/word/2021/11/22/tf-spotlight-an-interview-with-rak" --- # TF Spotlight: An Interview With RAK: TF Word 1. [TF Word](https://www.ticketfairy.com/word.md) 2. [Interviews](https://www.ticketfairy.com/word/category/interviews.md) 3. TF Spotlight: An Interview With RAK - [Interviews](https://www.ticketfairy.com/word/category/interviews.md) - [Music](https://www.ticketfairy.com/word/category/music.md) # TF Spotlight: An Interview With RAK We spoke to Azadi Records’ Tamil artist RAK, who recently released his debut EP Kaalai. An exclusive first-ever dive into RAK’s influences, what growing up was like, and writing his first rap. [Pratika E Prabhune](https://www.ticketfairy.com/word/author/pratikaprab.md) 22 November 2021 · 3 min read English [Español](https://www.ticketfairy.com/es/word/2021/11/22/tf-spotlight-una-entrevista-con-rak) [Deutsch](https://www.ticketfairy.com/de/word/2021/11/22/tf-spotlight-ein-interview-mit-rak) [Bahasa Indonesia](https://www.ticketfairy.com/id/word/2021/11/22/tf-spotlight-wawancara-dengan-rak) [Русский](https://www.ticketfairy.com/ru/word/2021/11/22/tf-spotlight-interv-u-s-rak) [Dansk](https://www.ticketfairy.com/da/word/2021/11/22/tf-spotlight-et-interview-med-rak) [Norsk](https://www.ticketfairy.com/no/word/2021/11/22/tf-spotlight-et-intervju-med-rak) [Svenska](https://www.ticketfairy.com/sv/word/2021/11/22/tf-spotlight-en-intervju-med-rak) We spoke to [Azadi Records](http://azadirecords.com/)’ Tamil artist [RAK](https://www.instagram.com/rak_music_/), who recently released his debut EP *Kaalai* . An exclusive first-ever dive into RAK’s influences, what growing up was like, and writing his first rap.  RAK is a Mumbai-based rapper and producer. His five-track EP is self-produced, and he speaks about growing up in a neighborhood that went through its own share of ups and downs. Through the *Kaalai* EP, he celebrates the Tamil community, brotherhood, and also the hardships of it all. From *Local Kaiyye* to *Crazy MF* , *Kaalai* takes a macro and micro perspective into RAK’s life, his struggle even today to be an artist, and his words of encouragement to those who are in the same struggle. We asked this upcoming rapper a few questions!  [RAK - Kolaaru Pasanga | Kaalai EP](https://www.youtube.com/embed/XU6cQ3dhvoc?feature=oembed) ##### **What was life like growing up, and when was your first experience with music that you remember?** I was born and brought up in Andheri West, Mumbai, in a Tamil-dominated area called Anna Nagar. Life was not that smooth while growing up, and I haven’t spent much time with my parents. My grandma used to take care of my cousin and me, and most people in our area were our relatives, so our hood always felt like home!  ##### What inspired you to start writing rap? That was the cassette generation! We had one cassette + radio device in our home in which we used to listen all those old songs of S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Ilayaraaja and more.  I wrote my first song when I was in 7th grade. The concept of that song was inspired by a Tamil song’s concept called *Vaazha Meenukkum Velanga Meenukkum Kalyanam* which means *a wedding between two breeds of fish.* I changed that to *madu* *vadai’kum ulta vadai’kum kalyanam* , which means *a marriage between a medhu wada and masala wada* ! Back then, it was all fun and games. I used to talk in rhymes, and metaphorically in school. I was actually famous for that, and my friends used to give me keywords and ask me to write rhymes to tease each other! Slowly, I somehow developed an interest for writing, and I started writing about my experiences, and things around me. ##### Who are some of your biggest influences in rap, and other music as well?  Sean Paul, 50 Cent, Lil Wayne, Yogi B and Natchatra. \[related-post id=”8069″\] ##### Besides rap and hip hop, who are some of your favorite Tamil artists globally? Dilip Varma, Darkey, Iliyaraaja, Yuvan Shankar Raja, S.P. B, and Velmurugan. ##### How were you discovered by Azadi Records, and how has your journey been with the label?  Mo texted me on Facebook after he listened to one of my tracks called *ILL* , and it just kicked off from there. The journey is going super good! ##### Are you currently doing music full-time, or is there something else you do for a day job? I’m currently doing music full-time. ##### What do you do in your free time?  I dig for different types of music, and in my free time, I look for new genres and sounds. ##### Which artists do you look forward to collaborating with in future?  At the moment, I have no plans of any collaborations.  ##### Stream the *Kaalai* EP online: [RAK - 'Hardcore Paiyyan' | Azadi Records](https://www.youtube.com/embed/hUhzMMIFsPA?feature=oembed) *Feature image courtesy [Samarth Shirke](https://www.instagram.com/samarth_shirke/) [.](https://www.ticketfairy.com/word/2021/10/26/tf-picks-fresh-music-releases-you-cant-miss-14)* Share [X](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ticketfairy.com%2Fword%2F2021%2F11%2F22%2Ftf-spotlight-an-interview-with-rak.md&text=TF+Spotlight%3A+An+Interview+With+RAK) [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ticketfairy.com%2Fword%2F2021%2F11%2F22%2Ftf-spotlight-an-interview-with-rak.md) [WhatsApp](https://api.whatsapp.com/send?text=TF+Spotlight%3A+An+Interview+With+RAK+https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ticketfairy.com%2Fword%2F2021%2F11%2F22%2Ftf-spotlight-an-interview-with-rak.md) ## Pratika E Prabhune Pratika is a singer, rapper and musician from Mumbai, India. She is also a host at Ticket Fairy (India). She has worked in the music business for over 9 years now, specialising in music marketing, public relations, social media, event management, hospitality and stage management. [More by Pratika E Prabhune →](https://www.ticketfairy.com/word/author/pratikaprab.md) TF Word newsletter ## Get TF Word in your inbox One email a week: the stories worth reading and the shows worth going to. No spam, unsubscribe any time. Your email address By subscribing you agree to our [privacy policy](https://www.ticketfairy.com/privacy). You're on the list straight away, and every email has an unsubscribe link. ## Keep reading [All Interviews →](https://www.ticketfairy.com/word/category/interviews.md) [Featured](https://www.ticketfairy.com/word/category/featured.md) ### [ATRIP Announces Debut Album ‘PLASTERBOY,’ Arriving This December](https://www.ticketfairy.com/word/2026/09/28/atrip-announces-debut-album-plasterboy-arriving-this-december.md) Sagar Deshmukh 28 Sep 2026 [Featured](https://www.ticketfairy.com/word/category/featured.md) ### [Proceeds from Charlotte de Witte’s ‘The Resistance’ EP to Go to Nighttime Foundation](https://www.ticketfairy.com/word/2026/09/28/proceeds-from-charlotte-de-wittes-the-resistance-ep-to-go-to-nighttime-foundation.md) Ivanova 28 Sep 2026 [Featured](https://www.ticketfairy.com/word/category/featured.md) ### [AIRGLO Dives Deep Into the Influences Behind His Sound](https://www.ticketfairy.com/word/2026/09/25/airglo-dives-deep-into-the-influences-behind-his-sound.md) Sagar Deshmukh 25 Sep 2026 --- This page is on Ticket Fairy, a ticketing, marketing and operations platform for live events and the venues that host them: festivals, club nights, concerts, conferences and tours, and night clubs, beach clubs and concert venues. 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