Varijashree Venugopal, singer, flautist, and composer, has been nominated for her first Grammy Award. She comes from a rich background in an intricate classical form of music such as Carnatic and has taken Indian music to global platforms. In an exclusive interview with News24, she talked about her recent Grammy nominations, her experience of working with Ricky Kej, challenges for independent artists, and more.
While speaking to us, Varijashree shares that it is an exciting feeling for her to be nominated for Grammys. She shares, “It has been a heartwarming and exciting development, knowing that I have received my first Grammy nomination. It is in fact still sinking in. I’m a classically trained Carnatic musician who comes from a very humble background, and this pat on the back is precious. It is an added honour that the nomination is for my contribution as a vocalist-collaborator on UK based artist Jacob Collier’s song ‘A rock somewhere’ from his album Djesse Vol 4, also featuring Anoushka Shankar.”
She adds, “Ever since the nominations have been announced, I have been receiving many warm congratulatory messages. It is a great source of encouragement, learning that there are so many people rooting for the well-being of my music.”
She also talked about her association with Grammy winner Ricky Kej, who is also nominated this year. She adds, “My association with Ricky Kej goes back a long time. I have enjoyed the opportunities of contributing to his recordings and performances many a times, including his recent one. We did have an opportunity to congratulate each other on our respective nominations.”
Varijashree Venugopal feels that international recognitions like the Grammys can bring more exposure for Indian artists.
She tells us, “Acknowledgements and recognitions of this kind, such as a Grammy nomination, definitely impacts the journey of an artist by expanding their exposure, thereby helping them garner more discerning audiences towards all the creative projects that they birth. As an independent artist, I for sure feel that this endorsement will add more beautiful things to my journey and facilitate presenting my work to a larger spectrum of music lovers from across the world.”
Vaijashree, who has been working independently for a long time, also reflects on the challenges artists face in India.
She further reveals, “The biggest challenge for an independent artist in India is to be noticed. In today’s time, where there is content available in so much abundance that it becomes hard to choose what to listen to, many of the great works get unnoticed amidst the lot. It takes a great deal of hard work, perseverance, and efforts to create original content, to stick to the true intention and identity of the piece of work, and, the right things at the right time to come together as a universal design to present a deserving independent piece of work to the right audiences.”
” I take pride in celebrating the roots and soul of Indian classical music across genres and borders, in all ways and splendour, through my work. I am very grateful for the path that I have chosen, and to respectfully enjoy the gifts that have been presenting themselves in this journey,” she concludes.
