Kamakshi Khanna has reached new heights as a vocalist and musician since she started off as an 11-year-old. The singer and songwriter speaks to The Daily Guardian about her origins and influences, the future of live music and staying inspired during the lockdown.
Q. You rose as a solo singer and formed your collective in 2013. When and how did you start and realise that music was your calling?
A. I started singing when I was 11. That was just for fun though, not as a professional. But I was part of a choir when I was 13. It was an initiative started by Pandit Ravi Shankar and we toured places like Austria. I also wrote songs in college. I have had some great friends who encouraged me to release my music, which led me to perform at events like The Gig Week. That is how I started as a live musician.
Q. But concerts and live music have taken a real hit during the Covid-19 pandemic. How has it affected you?
A. It is very weird, but I guess this is the new normal. I really miss being on stage but it is important to remember that this is a difficult time for everybody. I am trying to adapt to the situation, and prioritising accordingly. I am training in classical music right now and learning about streaming and recording music.
But I am mostly focused on making and releasing new music. As long as you are being creative, you have a lot to be grateful for. We are lucky to have technology within reach.
Q. Technology has also brought musicians closer during the lockdown in a way though. Are you also collaborating with people for performances?
A. Yes, it has. I am actually finding it easier to stay in touch with people. We only need to not be lazy and start our laptops and reach out. So there are some positives to this definitely. I collaborated with several artists from India; I sang with a friend, Abhilasha Sinha, and Rashmeet Kaur more recently. I also collaborated on this music video with Tejas Menon, which was about conference calls!
Q. What is your take on artists performing online, for free mostly, during the lockdown? There are concerns about them losing money which previously came from ticket sales and sponsorships.
A. This is why clients need to be more sensitive to artists right now. There are performances, for instance, live sessions on Instagram, where channels expect artists to come sing without pay. I am not up for things like that. Artists need to be clear about what they deserve and want. This is our bread and butter. For the same reason, I am learning more about streaming and production. Music can be recorded or used with other forms of media. If we research well we can find out how to make these into opportunities for revenue.
Q. What does the post-Covid future of concerts and live performances look like to you?
A. Concerts will probably be much smaller. Performances will have to be more curated, in that sense. Venues will change, people will have to be safe and seated, most likely away from each other. This will be very different from a usual live performance where the crowd is a like a single unit, just feeding off of each other’s energy.
Q. How have you been keeping yourself inspired at home? Who have you been listening to during the lockdown?
A. It has been difficult and I have been struggling to find inspiration. But I am trying to create new things. My music comes from personal experiences, besides which consuming art and learning from friends keeps me motivated too. I have been listening to Lianne La Havas a lot through this time.
Q. What do you have in store next?
A. I have been working on new music. A new single is scheduled to be released this year, and an album next year. I’m still writing it right now. We had also planned to shoot a music video this year, which could not work out. We will look at alternatives for how to do that now.