‘Being your own master is another kind of high’
31 May 2013 6:36 PM GMT
Singing, songwriting, beatboxing, live looping, and producing sounds with an array of gadgets on stage, this one woman army does it all by herself. Blending classical Indian, folk and western contemporary styles, Vasudha Sharma enlivens her audience through her music.
Being out on a solo journey is a conscious decision?
No, I am not trying to do it individually. I do collaborate and jam with other musicians at times. It’s just that I like to make my basic compositions and then get others on board. I like to control the inception phase.
Your music carries Indian folk and western sensibilities at the same time, how did this come about?
I made a great leap that way. When I was four, my summer vacations were spent learning braj music in Mathura. I had no inkling of even Bollywood music back then. After I joined Hindu college for my graduation, I was introduced to Alanis Morissette. That’s when I started imbibing her style of music; you know the way youngsters do. That was my transition from braj rasiya to western.
And which way did you decide to go from that juncture?
I was really confused as I knew very little about western music. Then I got this scholarship to Berklee College of Music in Boston,USA. That’s when I decided to delve into western theory of music. Now, I can fuse both the styles together.
Coming back to India, you dabbled in Bollywood as the music director of ‘Sharukh Bola Khubsoorat Hai Tu’.
(Cuts in) I used to frequently visit Prithvi theatre for plays. One day I saw Makrand Deshpande in a café. I casually went up and told him that I was a singer songwriter and would like to make music for theatre. A year later or so, this offer came along.
Bollywood, indie music or both, which way do you plan to steer ahead?
Being your own master is another kind of high. I love the space I am in. I am producing my own album Attuned Spirits, for which I had recorded some songs in Boston. Jaagi Jaagi Raina, one of the singles from the album is already out in the market. I am enjoying the way things are panning out for me.
Being out on a solo journey is a conscious decision?
No, I am not trying to do it individually. I do collaborate and jam with other musicians at times. It’s just that I like to make my basic compositions and then get others on board. I like to control the inception phase.
Your music carries Indian folk and western sensibilities at the same time, how did this come about?
I made a great leap that way. When I was four, my summer vacations were spent learning braj music in Mathura. I had no inkling of even Bollywood music back then. After I joined Hindu college for my graduation, I was introduced to Alanis Morissette. That’s when I started imbibing her style of music; you know the way youngsters do. That was my transition from braj rasiya to western.
And which way did you decide to go from that juncture?
I was really confused as I knew very little about western music. Then I got this scholarship to Berklee College of Music in Boston,USA. That’s when I decided to delve into western theory of music. Now, I can fuse both the styles together.
Coming back to India, you dabbled in Bollywood as the music director of ‘Sharukh Bola Khubsoorat Hai Tu’.
(Cuts in) I used to frequently visit Prithvi theatre for plays. One day I saw Makrand Deshpande in a café. I casually went up and told him that I was a singer songwriter and would like to make music for theatre. A year later or so, this offer came along.
Bollywood, indie music or both, which way do you plan to steer ahead?
Being your own master is another kind of high. I love the space I am in. I am producing my own album Attuned Spirits, for which I had recorded some songs in Boston. Jaagi Jaagi Raina, one of the singles from the album is already out in the market. I am enjoying the way things are panning out for me.
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