Music
I am still trying to figure out what my sound is.
Eccentric songwriter. Contemporary singer. Live-looper. Meet Vasuda Sharma. Sipping her green tea at a comic book library, we met her for a quick chat to take us through life stories and et all. She is all set to release her new song, and we are very curious to know what else she has in store for us. Come, play along!
What is your backstory?
When I was really young, my aunt used to make me sing Braj Rasiyas. As I grew up, I was intrigued by different sounds and wanted to know the how behind the what. In college, I auditioned for a talent hunt in a whim, didn’t even tell my parents about it. My band, Aasma was a great experience. People still associate with me as the ‘Chandu ke Chacha’ girl! I see all my experiences as learning. Post the band-experience, I realised that voice is my main instrument. I became a one-woman band. With Hindi music as my strength, I started jamming with looping.
What do you feel about being an indie musician?
I have always wanted to create my own stuff. But to do what you want to do, you might also have to do things you don’t want to. It has been miracles all this while. I haven’t taken money from my parents since I was 18. And in these years, I have managed to study at Berklee, bring out my own album, Attuned Spirits out of a crowd-funding project. Whoever has seen my transition has been a true follower. They are limited, but I have a dedicated set of followers.
How would you define your sound?
I have never followed a set pattern. I don’t know if my sound is constant. I am still trying to figure out what my sound is.
What is the work you hold closest to your heart?
Well, Attuned Spirits has to be the album that I put my sweat and soul into. When ‘Jaagi Jaagi’ happened, I was constantly under pressure. The first song would represent my sound. When it was released, it got me a whole lot of positive feedback. It made me believe in myself, and this song really helped me grow as an artist. ‘
Up next?
My next song is called ‘ Be Free’, which is based on women from different facets of life. It features women from different age groups in all possible fields- fisherwomen, housewives, schoolgirls. The entire music video is very índie.
My band Sharma and the Besharams (Vasuda Sharma, Rahul Hariharan, Zohran, Andrew Ferrao and Chirayu Vedekar) are finally a year old. We believe in each other’s musical sensibilities and collaborating on arrangements.
What would you want your music to do?
I want it to inspire people like the way it inspired me. It is my search to find an identity. I am still looking for my sound, and all I want it to do is for people to relate to it.