Prateek Kuhad (born March 3, 1990) 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. In 2026, he released his fourth studio album, Full Moon Chamber.
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
Kuhad's 2018 song "cold/mess", from the eponymous EP, was featured on former US president Barack Obama's "Favorite Music of 2019" list.
Discography
Albums & EPs
Year Album / EPTrack2011Prateek KuhadSomething WrongRubber BitsA Shot of Alcohol2013 Raat RaaziAb Hoga KyaRaat RaaziChahe Ya Na ChaheVohYeh Pal2015 In Tokens & CharmsOh LoveHolding OnFlamesInto the NightGoFireHeld You TightBe At EaseCold ShouldersArtist2017 In Token & Charms (Deluxe Version)Oh LoveHolding OnFlamesInto The NightGoFireHeld You TightBe At EaseCold ShouldersArtist TonightBig SurpriseJust To Be With YouFlames - Piano Version2019 cold/messwith you/for youdid you/fall apartcold/messfor your timefighter100 wordscold/mess - edit2021Shehron Ke RaazShehron Ke RaazKhone DoTere Hi HumKasoor - Acoustic2022The Way That Lovers DoAll I NeedHollowFavorite PeepsCo2FaceJust A WordDrownThe Last TimeHeartbrokenBloomFull Time Lover2023The Way That Lovers Do (Deluxe Version)All I NeedHollowFavorite PeepsCo2FaceJust A WordDrown HeartbrokenBloomFull Time LoverHopelessly I Never KnewBloom (feat. Raveena)All I Need - acousticHollow - acousticJust A Word - acousticThe Last Time - acoustic Heartbroken - acousticMulaqatMulaqatO PiyaKuch DinHum DonoJaneman
Singles & collaborations Year TrackNote(s) 2016 Kho Gaye Hum KahanReleased as part of the soundtrack of the film Baar Baar Dekho Tune Kaha Dil BeparwahCollaboration between Ankur Tewari & Prateek Kuhad Released as part of The Dewarists 2017 Tum Jab Paas 2018 SaanseinReleased as part of the soundtrack of the movie Karwaan Kadam2020 Pause Kasoor Kahaan Ho TumReleased as part of the soundtrack of the Netflix show Mismatched The Biggest Lie (Elliott Smith remake)2021 cold/mess (on piano)2023HopelesslyKaisi Jadugari Mere Sang feat.Lisa MishraCollaboration between Lisa Mishra & Prateek KuhadCo2 – Acoustic MulaqatReleased as a single but part of the episode "Mulaqat"O Piya2024No Complaints
Soundtracks YearFilmSongComposer(s)Singer(s)Writer(s)2016Baar Baar DekhoKho Gaye Hum KahanJasleen RoyalJasleen Royal, Prateek KuhadPrateek Kuhad2018KarwaanSaanseinPrateek Kuhad Kadam Lust StoriesTu Kaha 2020MismatchedKaahan Ho Tum2021Ajeeb DaastaansKuch Na KahoDhamakaKasoor – Acoustic
References
External links