Former Aasma girl Vasuda Sharma opens up about going solo, and playing an electronic mash-up set at a gig tonight
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"Trust me, people can't recognise me today. I have changed drastically. Back then, I used to be chubby, and I am thin now," grins Vasuda Sharma, the Delhi girl who achieved fame as an 18-year-old when Aasma was formed as an offshoot of a music reality show (Popstars) in 2003. After the group disbanded, Sharma headed to Berklee College of Music (Boston) and returned to start afresh in Mumbai in 2010. Currently, she has two projects on her plate -- Sharma And The Besharams (her band) and Miss V (her solo venture that caters to electronic music and other collaborations). The 31-year-old will be playing a set of mash-ups, involving Indian and Western music, at a gig tonight. Excerpts from an interview:
You have several projects today; how much does the Aasma tag help you in bagging gigs?
They can't associate that Vasuda with this one. Many of my listeners have told me this in person. Plus, my sound has undergone a change, too. But, I am blessed to have people around who are open to my current sound (Acoustic Pop/ Electronica).
Chaitanya Bhaidkar
You've been working a lot with gadgets...
Yes, I even bought an Ableton (a software music sequencer and digital audio workstation) and have been producing music. I wanted to work on electronic music. I am still in the trial-and-error period, hence, learning in the process. Since I entered the Indie scene in 2010, it is still early days for me.
Is there any reason why you haven't played many gigs of late?
I haven't played since November last year. I have been writing new material. I like focusing on one thing at a time. I am working on my EP, which I don't plan to release soon. I want to play all the songs in my live gigs, familiarise it with the audience and only then, ready it for release. There will be many musicians from Berklee in the EP. The sound is Pop with a lot of Funk and Disco. After Aasma, the only album I had released was Attuned Spirits (Folk/Fusion) in 2013.
Karan Chitra Deshmukh
What can we expect from tonight's gig?
This is an altogether different set involving mash-ups. Chaitanya Bhaidkar (guitar) and Karan Chitra Deshmukh (cajon) will accompany me. I will also be live looping with my gadgets. There will be medleys like Shape Of You/Enna Sona, Inteha Ho Gayi/Summertime, Agar Tum Saath Ho/ Stand By Me, etc. The sound and chords are intertwined.
Do you still play Aasma songs in your set?
No, I don't. But, often in interviews, people ask me to sing Chandu Ke Chacha, and I comfortably croon a line or two. But, whenever we (Aasma) meet on each others' birthdays and other occasions, we end up singing Tumse Hi Pyaar. We are still in touch despite our busy schedules.
On Tonight, 9 pm onwards
At Bonobo, 2nd floor, Kenilworth Mall, Phase 2, Bandra (W).
Call 26055050
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