Could you share the key milestones and experiences that have defined your path as a Carnatic singer ?
The earliest memory that I treasure to this date is a meeting with M S Subbulakshmi amma . The meeting was arranged by my father who was pivotal in providing the initial impetus to my musical aspirations . When I sang in her presence , she praised me and blessed me with an idol of Goddess Saraswati which holds a place in my puja room even today . Over the next few years , I got to strengthen my basics in Carnatic . However , this was a challenging time as well as we had to make multiple moves within and outside India . Therefore , I was under the tutelage of various teachers . Once , my family settled in Chennai , it was in my early 20s that I had the good fortune of being accepted as a student by two inspirational teachers viz . Late Shri P Vasanth Kumar and Shri Sriram Parasuram . My formal learning also had a significant boost when I enrolled into Music Academy ’ s Advanced Diploma in Carnatic Music and graduated with the title of Sangeeta Vidwat Bhushana in 2018 . Throughout this period , I have performed in various sabhas in India and abroad . I owe my success completely to the compassion of the guru and the guru parampara for guiding me and they continue to be my greatest source of strength .
Maintaining vocal health is crucial for any singer . Can you provide insights into your practice routine and any specific techniques you follow to ensure the wellbeing of your voice ?
Vocal chords are actually quite sensitive and do need a bit of care . From an overall health perspective , its important to eat the right food i . e . avoiding fast food , oil rich food , sugary foods etc . Apart from this I am a yoga instructor and regularly practice asanas and pranayama . This has given me greater control over my breath . I have also found chanting to be a great tool for both vocal training . Finally , practice is the only solution that truly works . Practice that is consistent and done under the right guidance goes a long way in keeping your voice trained and flexible .
In the digital age , social media has become a powerful tool for musicians . How do you utilize platforms like Instagram to connect with your audience , share your music , and perhaps collaborate with other artists ?
I have a youtube channel where I started posting videos during Covid . Based on the positive feedback , I continue to post content on it regularly whereas Instagram is the platform I use to promote my music through shorts
/ reels etc . I also get requests for collaborations frequently on my Instagram account .
Collaborations often bring a unique flavor to one ’ s musical repertoire . Are there any memorable collaborations or artists you dream of collaborating with in the future ?
I would love to collaborate with artistes who bring in their unique flavour of music into their work . This could be in the form of a fusion with jazz , tribal music , soft rock etc . or it could be collaboration with our local artistes who are exponents of folk music or play instruments like nagaswaram , morsing , santoor , ektara etc .
Technology has significantly influenced the music industry . How has technology played a role in your musical journey , from recording to reaching a global audience ?
During the Covid period when
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