Anushka Manchanda donned a new look as Kiss Nuka. photo credit: special arrangement
The phrase ‘believe in yourself’ may sound cliched but it resonates with what Nuka, the new avatar of Anushka Manchanda says; She has seen growth after she stopped looking for validation for her work. Over the past two decades in the music industry, Anushka wore many hats, with indie music, Bollywood playback, traveling as a VJ and audio-visual music producer.
He is all set to release his latest single ‘Fight’ in collaboration with Lebanon-based humanitarian organization The Great Oven and UK-based music technology platform, Songbits.
She had written ‘Fight’ a decade earlier to cope with the consequences of her “growing awareness of the injustices she saw in the world”. Talking on the phone from Mumbai, she says, ‘I used to get very angry with the world. Once you start paying attention to your surroundings there is no stopping the information coming at you that makes you nervous. My mother used to say that ‘things cannot be changed with anger, do it with love’. I used to write about heartbreak but now my perspective has changed with an understanding that love can be well received when you stand up for what you believe in.
parts of songs
Anushka is getting releasedFight’ via Songbits, the music platform launched by Eurythmics guitarist Dave Stewart and Trident Studio Legacy’s Russell and Justin Sheffield. Anushka is one of the first Indian indie artists to do so and she says she loves taking chances like this. In an innovative way fans will receive a share of the streaming revenue of their song every time it is streamed. Anushka says this is her way of inspiring the audience to fight for what they believe in and give them a chance to have ‘bits’ of ‘fight’. A portion of her proceeds also go to The Great Oven, founded by James Thompson, whom she met last August at a fundraising event called The Banquet in Spain. Impressed by the NGO’s belief in the power of food, art and music to transform lives, Anoushka offered ‘Fight’ to raise awareness and funds for The Great Oven.
Directed and shot by London-based cinematographer Pep Bosch, ‘Fight’ was planned and shot within a week. The cover image has been shot by French photographer Arulan.
girl empowerment
Cover image shot by French photographer Arulan | photo credit: special arrangement
For the uninitiated, Anushka was a part of the all-girl pop band Viva, formed in 2002; The members were winners of a music reality show on the channel [V], Barely 18, fed up mainly of rock n roll, Anushka embarked on a diverse musical journey that the least expected of Bollywood. Despite success in the indie universe and Hindi films, Anushka questioned whether this was what she wanted. “I started looking for something that belonged to me. I sought to create a space where no one would tell me how it should look and sound, I needed to be free. Stop listening to outside voices and start listening to your inner voice. I really believed in myself and the growth happened naturally,” says Anushka.
artist as activist
He is also at the forefront of enhancing the interconnectedness of environment, nature, animals and human lifestyle through his works. “Apathy among humans is a concern. The privileged few need to take responsibility for being on the side of the oppressed and making the world a better place for generations to come. We must realize that the protection of animals, the environment and the grassroots communities are all connected. We can’t correct for one and ignore the other,” she says.
Anoushka’s musical process has also given way to a new avatar in the form of Kiss Nuka, who is an organic evolution of the musician. From a pop-melody diva to a powerful electronic dance music artist, Kiss Nuka is a fresh start and a space for Anoushka to explore a different perspective and market.