Reshma Raghavendra - We Don’t Have To Wait For Opportunities, We Can Create Our Own Opportunities These Days (Singer)

Now the world of Internet has opened up many opportunities. For a music creator, it's very easy to develop and maintain a good social media profile. A good YouTube channel and a few originals streaming on audio platform can just make a hardworking and talented musician successful.

1.Tell us more about your background and journey.

I started off with a reality show, named “Gandharva Sangeetham” named after the renowned play back singer Dr. KJ Yesudas. I got eliminated in the semi finals since I was too young and inexperienced. But I began to take music seriously after that.

And I participated in the senior version of the same reality show and won 2nd prize. But things took a turn when I won 2nd prize in the popular reality show here named “Star Singer”. That's when people started recognizing me and I became popular in the gig scene.

With regard to my talent I would say that it’s genetic, because both my parents are singers.

2. When did you first decide you wanted to pursue music and how did you start?

I decided to pursue music seriously, after I won star singer where I got the confidence of making it as a career. I started taking karnatic and Hindustani music as well more seriously and my practice became regular.

3. Who is your favorite artist and why?

There are a lot of favorite artists /musicians. I admire Shreya Ghoshal and Sunidhi Chauhan to the core. With regard to singing both are Queens in their own genre. I don't belong to one particulate genre, so I take inspiration from both these singers.

For example, with regard to the dynamics in singing, nobody can beat Shreya Ghoshal, but with regard to the power and performance aspect I adore Sunidhi!

4. Can you throw some light on opportunities one gets as a singer?

We don't have to wait for opportunities, we can create our own opportunities these days. The internet has contributed a lot for the development of the independent music scene

5. Is format training required or can one train themselves purely on the basis of talent?

I know many singers, who haven't gone through formal training, but yet sing like a dream. But honestly I think, to move forward it's necessary to learn and training will polish one as an artist and it opens doors to many unexplored areas.

6. What piece of advice would you like to give to future and aspiring artists?

The only advice is to just hold on! Don't lose patience. Keep in learning. Keep on upgrading your talent and learn new skills. And I think, now it's very important to know the technical aspects of music, as in the programming and the mix master side, because of the increased opportunities that Internet has brought us. So just keep learning and never lose hope, because hard work will definitely pay one day.

7. Which is your favorite book and why?

I'm not a very good reader. I don't get time to read at all. But instead I do watch a lot of interviews by people who have been successful in their own areas. So that’s my inspiration to move forward.