“I am one of those crazy people who left the corporate world and came back to my artistic side during the pandemic,” says Shruti Vijayachandran, better known as Shruti VJ. The singer commutes between Bengaluru and California. The songstress recently released her debut EP, better love
During a three-way call with Shruti in California and her producer Richard Andrew Dudley in Bengaluru, she talked about her journey over the last four years.
“Richard and I began collaborating during the pandemic, creating a series of mash-ups and covers. He had a lot more time because there were no live shows at the time and we were able to put out some music, which was well received,” she says. “Soon, Richard encouraged me to write and compose. Was doing. Your stuff.”
“I was always interested in writing songs, because I was always interested in poetry and songs. This was a way to do it in a focused, more professional way.
better love Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
“My parents realized very early that I was inclined towards music, so I started taking Carnatic lessons at the age of five, that was my foundation. Later, while studying in Christian institutions, I was part of the choir. Attending concerts and singing acapellas also helped me hone my skills in western music, says the Mount Carmel College alumnus.
With such a base for her music and lyrics, Shruti worked in different directions, not limiting herself to one style or genre. “I’ve used what I know to apply myself to different styles better love, The songs are about how different relationships impact one’s personal growth and identity.
“From the comfort of home to the bitterness of growing up and meeting other people along the way – the songs trace that journey and although no two of them are alike, the common thread is that journey of growth and development.”
Shruti released her debut single in 2022 titled ‘Jee Baar Ke’, a blend of Indian and Western elements, followed by ‘Snatch to Me’, a tribute to survivors of gun violence in America. Now, better love The five-song song is available on all streaming platforms.
“Working with Shruti has been interesting because of what we bring to the table. She brings lyrical and creative content, and it is a pleasure for me as a producer, because I am free to create the arrangements, decide on the instruments and the rest,” says Richard, who runs a music academy in Bengaluru. Run Moksha.
Shruti VJ | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
He further adds that Shruti’s versatility is bound to take her place. “There are not many artistes who can switch between languages with ease. She may not be proficient when speaking different languages, but when she sings, her articulation is very good,” he says, adding that she was in the league of Shriya Ghoshal and Jonita Gandhi.
“I am a Malayali, so Malayalam comes naturally to me and since I grew up in Tamil Nadu, I am quite comfortable with Tamil and Hindi. “I have also tried languages I am not familiar with like Kannada, Bengali and Telugu,” says Shruti. She also shares how she makes detailed calls with her friends to ensure that her The pronunciation is correct.
“I get inputs from people who are well-versed in that language because no matter how beautiful a song sounds, it doesn’t matter if it doesn’t sound relatable to someone who speaks that language. And I always try to get into the meaning of what I’m singing to help me get the sounds right. There’s a lot of ground work that happens before I get to the recording studio.”
Richard says that every artist dreams of having someone sing his songs. “When I hear some of my students singing Shruti’s songs word by word, I feel very happy. Whether it’s one or 100,000, that’s the journey – hearing someone repeat something you’ve created and relate to it – that’s all an artist can ask for.”
As for Shruti, she says, “After this, I am going to focus on live shows to get my music out there. This is something that Richard and I have planned for 2025, as well as releasing new music and trying multilingual songs.
published – December 24, 2024 12:33 PM IST
