Jazz, RnB and Soul Singers Why We Have to Turn the Runaway Types into a Triumphant, Strong, Open, Self-Reliant Race
One of the foremost soul singers in India, Vasundhara V has come up with a powerful video single ‘Run’.
Produced by composer-producer Dhruv Ghanekar, her ‘Run’ marks the Mumbai singer’s debut as a solo artist, after a 15-year-long journey as a live performer, vocal trainer and writer.
“I wanted to express myself in a new way and also feel new as a person. So it was a great time to write music. I wanted to launch solo and the stars aligned,” says Vasundhara. There are many who feel that having Dhruv on board was a blessing. “Dhruv is one of the most complete actors I know; I want to be like him someday,” she adds.
Vasundhara and Dhruv started working on ‘Run’ in 2019 and were trying to crack a voice that was true to Vasundhara ‘as a person, as a woman and as a soul singer’. are.
‘Run’ is the first track of the song. “Dhruv’s stylistic palette is so vast. A musician becomes a sonic extension of your mind and your musical personality. Each element in a song is crafted to evoke a specific emotion in the listener,” says Vasundhara.
finding myself
Vasundhara describes ‘run’ as ‘notes to self’. Elaborating on its lyrical essence, she says, “It is about having the courage to be oneself; Taking all parts of you and moving towards your authenticity – your love, your peace. It’s about being your own soul mate. We have to turn the race of escape into a victorious, open, self-sufficient race. The journey of healing is gradual and not always the easiest but to quote the song, ‘Every step will build my way forward’“
With roots in Assam, an upbringing in Delhi and a singing career in Mumbai, Vasundhara was exposed to a western musical culture that is not only international but contemporary Indian.
Over a decade of experience as a jazz, blues and soul performer saw him play the role of a mentor who shaped the voices and styles of many singers through his school The School of Voice. “I aim to be a model for new singers; You can survive and thrive in this space without compromising on the music. I love when singers expand into other genres. I love it for myself too. It should be done only out of curiosity and love, not out of fear or compulsion.”
The responsibility of a western music artist in India goes beyond performance; One has to make sure that it is reaching a discerning audience.
“Our job is to unite and organize audiences with similar interests and this is best done as a community. Soul and RnB are everywhere now, but when I started, mine was one of the few bands,” says Vasundhara.
The pandemic demanded more than just raising awareness about music. While this created opportunities for indie artists to hone skills and become visible, many were left behind.
“Many musicians, DJs, musicians and performers of the procession were facing starvation. My friend, Prince Mulla started Artists for Artists, a helpline and rescue initiative to send food and grains to the families of these artists. Over 430 artist volunteers donated 10,800 grocery kits (over 1 million meals) in the last two years. This number itself shows the scale of the struggle,” says Vasundhara who stresses on the need to start using tickets as votes. “Every ticket, trinket or merch we buy is a vote for an artist to remain viable. As an audience member, this is a cheap gesture but it will go a long way in supporting the arts. If 100,000 people do that, the platform will find Indy viable.”
packaging marks
As a performer with an electrifying stage presence, Vasundhara is aware of how packaging is essential.
He has dedicated a section to his book big dreams bold choices Emphasizing how communication is the actual packaging. “Packaging is not meant to sexually exploit or undermine your art,” says Vasundhara. Adele’s packaging and Ed Sheeran’s packaging are different from Prince’s or Sting’s or Nicki Minaj’s. By having clear visual communication, an artist instills a taste and an expectation in the audience and also complements his music suitably. There is no need to sexualize yourself to sell female artists. Nor does a good musician have to slow down his music assuming that the audience will not follow him. AR Rahman’s music is intelligent and produced like gold. So there is no room for musicians to believe that great music has no takers.”
On her future projects, Vasundhara says, she and Dhruv are already on it. “We will explore pop soul in different ways. We will look at different aspects of the human experience and push our creative limits. I love how attentive one is when it comes to writing about a chosen topic.” And I hope to grow as a person and as a singer as I look around and write songs.”
Explaining her unusual second name, she says, ‘V is my pet name. My friends call me Vasu or V. I chose it because I think you are your own child in art. An artist creates himself as a being who is much more than his surroundings. We have the opportunity to lose and rebuild.”
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