Vasuda Sharma

Being a woman musician: Since I was four, I learnt a lot of Brij Rasiyas and Krishna Bhajans and Folk songs. I also took part in singing competitions in school and college. However, it was never taken as a career option. Since I maxed in academics, I was expected to apply to be an IAS officer. In fact, I was preparing for it in my first year in college. In 2003, friends insisted that I audition for an all-India talent hunt by Channel V. Little did I know that life would change forever. It is a great scene for independent artists, male or female. The idea is to form a community of musicians who work in harmony and where gender doesn’t matter.  Change for the better? Things have changed in the last decade. The Indie scene is ever growing. I took the Indie route in 2010. Since then, there’s been an explosion of artistes and bands with more opportunities and venues/festivals for them to play at. I went to Berklee for a year, and it changed my perspective towards music, and life in general. The upside of being an Indie musician (not gender-based) is to be able to express your song the way you want it to be, which is absolutely unadulterated freedom.