The Indi’n Folk Project recently achieved a remarkable feat as it has been featured on the iconic billboard of Times Square, New York. The podcast by HT Smartcast (Fever) is dedicated to showcasing a vibrant blend of traditional folk songs with the dynamic power of rock, ghazals and rap. It provides insight into the stories and inspirations behind the tunes that define India’s rich musical fabric.
The podcast also featured AR Rahman, Piyush Mishra, Mohit Chauhan, Jasleen Kaur and other music personalities. Podcaster and founding member of HT Smartcast, Shikhar Varshney spoke to Hindustan Times about the vision behind the Indie N Folk project.
(Also Read: AR Rahman says his mother thought her Oscar statuettes were made of gold: She ‘wrapped them in a towel’)
Indie folk music needs wider representation
When asked about the launch of the Indie N Folk Project, Shikhar said, “Since we are a radio company, music is an integral part of us. We chose to focus on indie music and artists because mainstream artists already have significant recognition. We noticed a lack of representation for new artists from different cultures and folk music in the local Indian music scene. This inspired us to start the Indie N Folk Project, which aims to showcase folk music and support artists from this genre. Under this project, we organise concerts with artists like Piyush Mishra and Kailash Kher, who match the vision of the project.”
Piyush Mishra’s ‘Aarambh Hai Prachand’ is still popular
Speaking on the importance of popular artists like Piyush Mishra and Kailash Kher in promoting indie folk music, Shikhar explains, “We have been conducting digital shows with interviews, but when we conducted a concert in person with an indie or folk artist, we were able to gather a crowd of five to six thousand people, which was a great achievement for us. Piyush Mishra’s association with the show added to its prestige and as a result, tickets for the shows organised by Indie N Folk Project were sold out as the audience was eager to see these artists perform. People still listen to Piyush Mishra’s Aarambh Hai Prachand and share it on their Instagram stories. Artists bring tabla, guitar and other musical instruments to our shows for unplugged sessions.”
He also adds, “Whenever a celebrity comes for an interview, it is a promotional event. Here, the idea was to invite people who had no such purpose at that time so that we can focus on their story. We try to cover their journey, from where they started and how someone sitting in a village can get inspired by such stories and create art for themselves.”
Independent artists and folk music should find a place in Bollywood
When asked about how indie music can be promoted at a mainstream level just like K-pop, Shikhar says, “Ever since K-dramas have been released on Netflix, they have become extremely popular. Indian audiences have also started embracing Korean culture. K-pop has gained popularity after these shows became popular on OTT platforms. In folk and indie music, independent artists may have to struggle unless their songs are featured in Bollywood films or promoted by big music labels. They may need to promote themselves on social media to get recognition and become an influencer as well as a singer. However, the support of films is important to bring their music to mainstream culture.”
The Indie N Folk Project podcast is available on Amazon Music, HT Smartcast and other major podcast streaming platforms.
