"Music is constant for me, no matter what" - Sameer Chaturvedi



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1. Tell us more about your background and journey

Well, I am a post graduate and have done MBA in marketing, currently working with a Telecom firm.  In 11th standard, I went for a singing competition and had to plead someone to play guitar for me as I did not how to play it then and I won that competition but decided that I will learn guitar and play it for myself next year in the same competition. I devoted 8 to 9 hours everyday and learned the guitar and eventually played and won that competition too. This was the start of my journey as I went ahead with my graduation. 
I participated in almost every music event be it college's event or any inter college event. I also started with a YouTube channel along with a dear friend who I met on a reality show we were a part of. After doing few videos, I had to go for my MBA to Pune and that's where I got my first paid gig and it clicked it from there. 
Initially, it took me a while to get a hang of the flow and the kind of songs to play for the audience because I have always done music for myself. I coped up well and then got my first job and got posted in Jaipur. The music scene in Jaipur is too good. I used to do gigs every single day be it a weekday or a weekend. Three years and I did around 300 gigs in Jaipur and Delhi.
I recently moved back to Mumbai and that's where I am from originally and was supposed to start with the gigs here as well however got delayed due to the pandemic. So music is constant for me, no matter what goes around but music always comes around!


2. When did you first decide you wanted to pursue music and how did you start?

I used to sing randomly in the school van until my friends pushed me on the stage for an event in school during 8th std. The response gave me a lot of confidence and I started devoting more time to music and that's how it all started.


3. Who is your favourite artist and why?

I have been following Arijit Singh since the time he was a part of Fame Gurukul. I could always figure out his voice that was used in bits and pieces earlier before he became what he is today. The versatility, growth and the way he has developed himself as a singer is commendable and I admire that the most.


4. Can you throw some light on opportunities one gets as a musician.

I don't Know how difficult it was earlier being a musician because my motive of being a musician is completely different. So when I come back from work and spend that required time with the guitar and songs I like, it gets blissful. Likewise, I love to perform it gives me a sense of satisfaction.
However, looking at the career opportunities, if you are good you get noticed instantly given the kind of platforms we have. You can actually earn from your talent, posting videos and just promoting them which was unimaginable earlier. Everybody is fond of live music so that particular area is booming as there are numerous artists trying to get a chance and there are numerous opportunities for such artists these days. So basically a Musician in today's time can earn either way.


5. Is formal training required or can one train themselves purely on the basis of talent?


I never had any kind of formal training be it for the guitar or vocals. My parents are passionate singers and I have got it from them. However, there comes a point when it gets saturated and in order to move further in this field, it is required to know at least the basics of what you claim to be good at. Talent combined with training becomes a deadly combination. I have started taking the training recently and I feel I am exploring a completely new side of music altogether.


6. What piece of advice would you like to give to future and aspiring artists?

This is my opinion about today's artists that they do music to impress and leave an image behind which is not long lasting or a good motive to do something. If you are impressed with your own self, I think that's should be enough at the of the day. Also, people today rush into doing shows, gigs and live events without giving adequate time to practice and they end harming the underdeveloped skills be it your voice or any instrument. I would suggest that one should always invest adequate of amount of time in practicing their hobby before commercializing it. The results are always better this way.


7. Which is your favourite book and why?  

My schedule is really tied up and I hardly get time to read anything. However, I have developed a new interest for ancient politics and have been reading about it through various sources.


- Sameer Chaturvedi

Interview By - Haseeb Haroon