QUIRKS AND QUERIES
MAALAVIKA MANOJ
Tell us about your songwriting process
I usually start with a seed idea which could come from
anywhere - sometimes it’s a phrase or a word I thought sounded
good or even just a melody on the keys or a progression on the
guitar. I then think about what’s really been on my mind in
recent times and try and relate that to what I’d like to write
about. Sometimes the words flow out. Sometimes ittakes some
deep diving.
What are some of the key factors one should keep in mind while
writing a song?
I think people tend to get too carried away with structures and
making ‘hooks’. Sometimes you could sing a melody just once
or play just one note in the right place and that could say so
much more than repeating the same line of word like 8 times.
There’s also no rule that each line should rhyme exactly with
the previous one or that each line should stand alone. You could
even hint at a rhyme several times within a line or even keep
things super abstract right through. I think the most important
thing is to unlearn everything you think you know and just let
the song lead you where it wants to go
How do you keep learning to get better at what you’re doing?
I keep tying new things. I’ve learned that constantly pushing
yourself out of your comfort zone is where all the learning
happens. I take on challenges like learning to play a whole set
of songs on the keyboard to accompany friends of mine for their
shows or even write with other artists (something I’m not yet
fully comfortable doing).
You’re also a brilliant singer. Do you think it makes a whole lot of
difference when you are both a singer and a songwriter? What are
the perks or doing both?
Why, thank you! I think the two are quite independent of each
other. You could be good at one and not the other, but I think
being able to see a song from the inception of an idea right to
the delivery is a beautiful process that I’m grateful to be able to
do. I also write melodies knowing what register my voice would
sound good on and perform them knowing exactly what emotion
caused me to write those words in the first place.
What challenges did you face when you started out?
I was around 17 when I started doing music professionally. At
the time people never took a 17 year old school kid(that too, a
girl) too seriously. I had to fight to prove I had ideas and that I
knew what I wanted for my music. I’d been severely underpaid
for my work, as it is with all artists when they start out and
gotten to see people’s true colours in a work environment but I
put that all down to valuable experience.
How do you pick themes for your songs? Is there something that
resonates with your personality?
I usually go with what I’m currently feeling in that moment.
More often than not the songs I write reflect what’s really on my
mind during those few weeks or days. I sometimes write to get
closure and those songs tend to have more pathos and are more
mellow but that doesn’t really define my personality.
Tell us about your upcoming projects
I’ve got a song called Mango Showers that I’m looking forward to
releasing soon.
RAPID FIRE
1. Favorite stage you’ve performed in - The Wembley Arena(SSE
arena)
2. Artist you’d love to collaborate with - Phoebe Bridgers
3. Music festival you’d like to play at - Glastonbury
4. A song that plays on repeat in your music playlist - Marry Me,
Archie - Alvvays
5. If there is something you could change about the way you write
music, what would it be? - To push the boundaries a little further
The
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