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Indie music is where my heart is: Vasuda Sharma
Updated on: 23 October, 2015 12:07 PM IST |
She’s been around the indie music scene for a decade now and still continues to render some fine music off her kitty. Her claim to fame was the popular music band Aasma and there’s been no looking back for her ever since. In conversation with Vasuda Sharma.
Dhruv Ghanekar was at our studios earlier and he was raving about your album Attuned Spirits. Tell us about your equation with him.
It makes me really happy that Dhruv liked the album. He’s a great friend and mentor to me. He’s the one who’s guided me through the entire process of being an independent musician, going to Berklee and working on my own music. He’s always been there. Dhruv has in fact produced two songs in my album.
Musicians from around the world are a part of Attuned Spirits. How did that happen?
When I was studying at Berklee College of Music in Boston, I was a part of a 12 member band. We did a lot of gigs inside and outside college. By the time I was done with college, we all had become thorough with the songs. So I booked a recording studio for 12 hours the songs were recorded live. We just recorded about 5 songs. It wasn’t enough to cut an album, but I thought that these songs had to reach out.
Your album was crowd funded. Tell us more about it.
When I returned to India from Berklee, I was broke. Someone suggested Wishberry in India. It was a big risk as people suggested that I’d look like a beggar asking someone to fund my album. But I wanted that mindset to change. Had I funded the album myself, it would have taken me 3 years to get done with it. So I went ahead with Wishberry that was relatively new then. I made a pitch video and the campaign went on for two months. Surprisingly there were funders form the US, Europe and places around the world. Social media really helped.
How much money did you make?
I had a target of Rs. 5 lakh and I attained it. People from the industry like Shankar Mahadevan and Vishal Dadlani also liked my project and idea. Vishal even went on to send a cheque for my album.
Your mother wasn’t quite convinced that you should take up singing as a full-fledged profession. What’s the story here?
My mom was a school Principal and she was right in her own way about my career choice. I was just 18 then and she insisted that I complete my studies first and that music could be secondary. In fact, I also dreamt of being an IAS officer at that time.
So how did Popstars happen?
When I was in college, a friend suggested that I go for the Popstars audition. I just wanted to see where I stood in terms of music and went for the audition without telling my parents. When I got selected to go to Mumbai, I had to break the news to my mom as I needed her signature. She sent me on one condition that even if I get selected, I would not be a part of the group and would come back home to pursue my studies. She felt that I was too young and would be lost in the glamour world.
How did you get your mom’s nod for the contract?
Aasma was like family and Channel V was also very supportive. So over a period of time my mom felt that two years of contract wouldn’t hurt and she let me go.
Are they happy with your decision now?
Yes they are. When I bagged a film they were super proud of me. And later they really supported when I wanted to go to Berklee. They said, “You want to spend all the money. Go ahead!” laughs