Nominated in the category of 'Favourite World Artist of the Year' at The 10th Annual Independent Music Awards 2010, VANDANA VISHWAS is in for an exciting year. She took a few moments to talk about her debut album "Meera - The Lover," her musical influences and what we can expect from her over the course of the year.
Growing up, who were your musical influences?
As a singer, Lata Mangeshkarji has been my earliest and biggest inspiration because of her singing technique and soulful rendering of emotional lyrics. Another strong influence has been Kishori Amonkarji because of her unconventional interpretation and rendering of Meera bhajans. Then of course I absolutely love to listen Asha Bhosleji's singing because of her liveliness. As a composer, I have always been fascinated by the works of S.D. Burman and R.D. Burmanji, Madan Mohanji, Jaidevji, Naushadji, Khayyam Saheb and Jagjit Singhji.
Why did you decide to pursue the light classical genre as opposed to the popular Bollywood route or pop music or even remixes?
I must clarify that classical music is in essence, the grammar of music. So, whether you do it implicitly or explicitly, in some form or the other, all forms of music (be it semi-classical, light-classical, ghazals, bhajans, Bollywood songs, pop songs) are derivatives of classical music.
My primary objective is to do justice to the lyrics with my compositions. Since I had chosen to compose Meera Bai's poems, which are very expressive, I decided to base the compositions on specific Raags and Taals because certain Raags have the capacity to lend to a specific mood. If I choose to compose a contemporary verse in future, I may go with pop music with equal ease. I like my composition to do justice to the lyrics and dictate the genre rather than sticking to a genre and then composing within it. Incidentally, I have remixed one of my own songs in the album.
You’ve overcome many personal and professional challenges. What keeps you going?
Yes, because of the condition of my left hip joint, it is sometimes challenging to cope with routine daily tasks, but then, I don't have a choice. I have to make the best of what I have been given. I follow my heart, and pursue both architecture and music with equal passion. As an architect, visiting the construction sites remains the biggest challenge for me. As a musician, touring poses a lot of challenges for me hence I have to limit myself to a handful of good concerts. It is because of the challenges posed by the physically demanding lifestyle of Mumbai that I had to give up my childhood dream of becoming a Bollywood playback singer! I think a desire to compensate for my physical limitations with my work is what keeps me going.
Is it tough breaking into the mainstream music scene as a South Asian artist?
I consider my music to belong to the mainstream as much as any other genre of music; otherwise I won't be able to do justice to it. I firmly believe the classification of popular music into genres has been overstated. Anyone with a genuine understanding of music will appreciate good music irrespective of its genre. For example, Carlos Santana's music, although technically being 'World Music', became so popular that Latin music was the mainstream music at one point.
Tell us about your debut album.
My debut album 'Meera - The Lover...' is essentially a musical story of the legendary Indian poetess Meera Bai's love towards Krishna. The inspiration came from Meera Bai’s poems that have fascinated me since I first listened to them in voices of Lata Mangeshkar ji and Kishori Amonkar ji. Meera Bai's emotional poems with strong and fiery passion towards Krishna are nothing short of extremely romantic songs, which over the course of generations, have become to be interpreted as bhajans. Although I have sung a few of these compositions during my stint with All India Radio as far back as my teenage years, I always felt that Meera Bai's lyrics evolve in chronological order. In fact, they tell her life story and demand to be composed and sung as a musical story.
The response has been overwhelming from all sectors - media, critics, listeners, Award organizations. Since its debut on October 11, 2009, the album has consistently remained in Top 10 charts of at least one of the many diverse FM radio stations in North America!
What have you learned from your first album's production experience?
I am proud that I fully participated in every aspect of pre and post production of 'Meera - The Lover...', right from composing, arranging and singing to designing the cover art, of course with a little help from my co-producer husband Vishwas Thoke! I come from the old school style of recording where everything used to be recorded live, like at All India Radio back in the day. Given that I was recording, editing and mixing after a break of almost 12 years, and at one of the best studios in Canada, I am proud of standing for my convictions and sticking to the basics. I have learnt that basics never change and that media can never be more important than the message it conveys.
Any message to your audience?
First of all, I would like to thank my audience for their overwhelming support to my debut album. This support is what gives me courage to carry on. The only message I would like to convey to them is - follow your heart and believe in yourself!
You can help Vandana win the 'Favourite World Artist of the Year' at The 10th Annual Independent Music Awards 2010 by voting for her. (Public voting opens soon!)
