UJ

Indie-Pop Artist

When did you first get into music? Please explain.

I was always surrounded by music from an early age. My father had collected cassettes of Indian and international artists and I remember me and my sister would listen to the cassettes from start to finish and sing along till we knew the songs by heart. But I really got into music when I started taking guitar classes at the age of 16. Soon after I started writing my own songs and I recently started producing my own tracks.

What genre of music do you perform and why?

My genre of performance usually revolves around Indie Pop. I tend to slip in hints of different genres to keep it more experimental. I think I can express myself more fluidly through the genre. But lately I’ve been experimenting more with Lo-Fi and I am curious where it will lead me to.

And why did you choose that style of music?

I think I am still in the process of choosing the style of music that I want to make. In my latest EP “Aazaad”, there is very little similarity between two songs as far as the style of music is concerned. I tend to go with the flow and the vibe while working on a song in the studio.

Who or What inspired you to pursue a career in music?

I never wanted to become a musician or a songwriter until I took my first guitar lesson. I remember being embraced by the instrument just playing it day in and day out and learning new techniques. The moment I held the guitar I knew I wanted to make music for a living and slowly I found myself turning towards writing songs and producing music and I’m loving it.

How has your music evolved since you first began performing/songwriting?

I think an artist never stops evolving when it comes to making art. When I first started writing my own songs, I realized that the songs didn’t quite connect with other people, they sounded very immature or I guess I didn’t have anything exciting to write about that would interest other people. But I’ve found that telling a story through my music almost like a screenplay was what attracted people to my music.

I’m sure you have shared the stage with a lot of talented artists/celebrities along the way. Would you share 1 or 2 of your favorite stories with us?

Sadly, I’ve never shared a stage with a huge celebrity but I’ve performed live with a lot of talented musicians. Once me and my band were performing a new year’s gig at a pub which was supposed to last for 2 hours tops but we ended up playing a 3 hour show and my guitar string broke right at the end of the final song.

If you were forced to choose only one, which emotion, more than any other, drives you to stay in this tough business? Is it joy, anger, desire, passion or pride and why?

I think the desire to make the ultimate song that I could ever make drives me more than anything and that ultimate song is always the next one. I’ve always tried to push my boundaries to be more technical while producing a song or be precise as to what words I want to use while writing it. For me a song may come out of any emotion but the desire to make a whole product out of it that the world can listen to is what drives me to stay in this business. What has

been your biggest challenge as a performing artist? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?

The biggest challenge while performing live for me is letting go of the mistakes that happen in a live show. Every show is not going to be perfect. There might be some technical issues and not all notes are going to be hit perfectly, it’s an artist’s job to overcome that and not let down the vibe of the show. I’ve not been able to overcome that completely but I am trying hard to go easy on myself while performing. A drink before the show seems to help a lot.

A common phrase in the industry is, “you must suffer for your art.” Do you agree with this statement? If so, how have you suffered for your art?

I think every person suffers for making it big in this dog-eat-dog world and artists are no exception. Being an artist in India of any kind is already a tough job and moreover being an independent artist is the toughest. The mental turmoil of whether or not my efforts would be enough to make it in the industry have had the worst effects on me. But it’s true that you must suffer for what you really want because then the success would taste even more sweeter.

How do you feel the internet has impacted the music business?

This digital age has brought people closer than ever before. The internet is a crucial tool in the music industry nowadays. It’s a bit easier to reach your audience. Making music with artists around the world and collaborating with them which would have taken a lot of effort before the internet, is now so easy. Even the production tools such as DAWs are now online. You can work on a song together without being in the same room in real time. Social media if used properly can be the greatest tool an artist can ask for. Reaching your fans has never been this easy.

If you could change anything about the music industry. What would it be?

The only thing that I’d change is building up opportunities for budding artists who have got so much more talent and are struggling their way through the industry. There are a lot of opportunities already but I would love to see big labels to put in more energy than they already do for artists that don’t have resources to reach their audiences because they have beautiful stories to tell through their music.

What are the 5 albums that have helped make you the person you are today? And why?

Death Magnetic – Metallica Bombay – A R Rahman So far so good – Bryan Adams Ghost stories – Coldplay Freedom – Akon

There are more albums and artists that inspire me and I look up to them but I have been listening to these albums since I started taking music as a career. They hold a special place in my heart.

Tell us about your current project. Please explain.

I am currently working on a Lo-Fi/Chill project which is going to release very soon. The song is about life in general and how you lose your way in life but you realize that people around are lost in their own ways too and you have to find peace within that uncertainty.

What is the best advice you have received?

The best advice I’ve received is to stay consistent and keep at it. It might seem hard but if you prioritize your work it becomes much easier. The darkest nights produce the brightest stars.

How can fans-to-be gain access to your music?

They can listen to my latest EP “Aazaad” on all major music streaming platforms. Follow and subscribe to my social media and YouTube channel for more updates and new projects.

Where are you from city, state, town, country?

I am born and raised in a small town called Akola in Maharashtra but I am based out of Pune, Maharashtra, India.

Do you have social media?

Yes, you can follow me on the links below.

Instagram - http://instagram.com/ujripper YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzmyjc-8RxWl3rcoA1WW9Tg Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/artist/3aPIRIEIjZwC3FAvcjf7gE?si=Q_F-sYddSx61FvamRnJKbA Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/UJwithoutadoubt Twitter - https://twitter.com/UJwithoutadoubt