Vasudev Sharma: The Only True Way Past Fear Is Simply to Walk Through It [Music Producer and Composer, India]

Vasudev Sharma Interview

“Every form, every instrument teaches you something, and that learning carries over into everything else.”

Vaasudevam - Independent Composer/Producer Crafting Soundscapes Across Rock, Sufi & Classical.

Q. Take us back to that 7th grade moment, guitar in hand. If you played your music today for that kid, what part do you think would surprise him most?

I don’t think he’d be surprised by the feeling of the music, honestly. At his core, he’d just relate to it. That same childlike energy, the raw curiosity, and that pure excitement of picking up the instrument for the first time is something I’ve consciously protected and kept intact in me throughout my journey.

If anything were to genuinely shock him, it would be seeing himself step out of the role of just playing other people's songs and actually creating his own original music and melodies from scratch. Back in 7th grade, the guitar was a magical puzzle I was trying to figure out; seeing that same tool become an extension of his own voice, scoring stories and building soundscapes for thousands of listeners, would be the real mind-blowing revelation for that kid.

Q. "Aavaaz De" started as a way to deal with a hard time after you graduated. What's your advice to someone who wants to turn a rough patch into something good, instead of just getting through it?

There is really only one core piece of advice that got me through: keep creating every single day, no matter how small the output feels. When you are going through a rough patch, the mind naturally wants to dwell on the struggle. The only way to shift that energy into something meaningful is to direct it outward through creation.

Keep yourself actively busy, not just making things, but observing the world around you, taking in good art, surrounding yourself with solid ideas, and feeding your mind positive thoughts. When you channel painful emotions into your craft, you stop merely enduring the hardship and start transforming it into expression. The tough phase inevitably passes on its own, but what stays behind is the work you built while walking through it.

Q. Is there a sound or melody that instantly takes you back to childhood?

My childhood was constantly soundtracked by my mom playing timeless music around the house, the soulful, divine classical bhajans of Pandit Jasraj ji and Pandit Bhimsen Joshi ji, balanced by the effortless charm and melodies of Kishore Kumar and Sonu Nigam. Whenever I hear those iconic voices today, I'm instantly transported right back to those early years and the warm atmosphere of home.

But if I had to pinpoint one single, non-musical sound that triggers pure nostalgia, it would be the mechanical dialing tone of an old landline telephone. That specific rotary or key dial sound, followed by the faint hum of static on the receiver, carries an entire era of memory for me, a distinct audio snapshot of a simpler, quieter time before everything went digital.

Q. You've sung in a cappella groups, played bass in a rock band, and learned tabla and ragas. What did all that switching around teach you about finding your own sound?

I’ve always been naturally drawn to new sonic textures and unexplored forms of music. Honestly, my personal taste shifts every couple of years because my ears are what guide me through life, and they are constantly hungry for something fresh. Every time I encounter a sound I haven't worked with before, it instantly sparks that same childlike curiosity in me. I just want to sit down and play with it, break it apart, and see how it works.

Experimenting across such vastly different styles, from the vocal precision and harmony of a cappella to the rhythmic drive of rock bass, and the intricate, grounded discipline of classical tabla and ragas, has completely shaped who I am as a music producer. It’s given me the versatility to operate like a 'one-man army' in the studio, while constantly expanding my musical boundaries and perspective.

Every genre, instrument, and tradition teaches you a unique way to view rhythm, melody, and space. None of that learning exists in isolation; it all bleeds into everything else you create, giving you a much richer palette to pull from when crafting your own signature sound.

Q. Every performance has two silences, one before you begin, one after you end. What do they each feel like from where you're standing?

Those two silences couldn't feel more different, even though they exist in the exact same room.

The silence before you begin is heavy and charged with anticipation. There's often a quiet storm of doubt, nervous tension, and self-expectation floating in that air right before the first note hits. It’s that moment of standing at the edge, waiting to leap.

But the silence at the end, especially after a performance where everything clicked, is pure magic. It fills you with a deep sense of ecstasy and relief. The nervous energy transforms entirely into joy. Ending a set well always reinforces a vital lesson for me: that the only true way past fear is simply to walk through it, and that musical expression will always carry you safely to the other side."

Q. Is there an album or movie you find yourself recommending to people and tell them they should check out at least once?

I constantly find myself nudging people toward those two, because both represent absolute masterclasses in tone, arrangement, and storytelling in their respective mediums.

Distractions by The RH Factor:
Roy Hargrove’s work with The RH Factor is the absolute blueprint for seamlessly blending jazz, neo-soul, hip-hop, and funk. What I love about Distractions is how uninhibited and raw it feels. It isn't trying to conform to traditional jazz standards; it’s an exploratory playground where heavy grooves, smooth horn lines, and effortless soul coexist. As a producer, I constantly re-listen to it just to take notes on space, texture, and how to make multi-genre arrangements feel organic rather than forced. It’s an essential listen for anyone who appreciates real groove and sonic character. 

Django Unchained: 
Quentin Tarantino’s execution in this film is brilliant, especially from a sound, pacing, and dynamic perspective. The way he layers the score, balancing classic Spaghetti Western orchestral elements with contemporary hip-hop and soul, creates an incredible energy that drives the story forward. Beyond the striking visual aesthetic and world-class performances, the film is a masterclass in tension and payoff. The build-up in scenes like the dinner sequence at Candyland is textbook pacing. It’s a movie that grips you from start to finish, and no matter how many times you watch it, you pick up a new detail in the direction or sound design.

BIO

Vasudev Sharma (professionally known as @vaasudevam) is a Mumbai-based music composer, producer, singer, and multi-instrumentalist whose work sits at the intersection of narrative audio storytelling, screen scoring, and independent sound production. Beginning his professional career in 2019 after training at the Sri Aurobindo Centre for Arts & Communication, Vasudev has built a portfolio spanning film and OTT web show scores, commercial brand films, audio dramas, and original music releases. Over his career, he has delivered music and sound design for over 60 project releases. 

As a composer and audio producer, he creates original theme music, background scores, and audio branding for prominent audio platforms, including Spotify Originals, Pocket FM, and Kuku FM. His commercial client experience includes ad campaigns for brands such as Heineken, Asian Paints, HDFC Bank, Aditya Birla Group, and MTV. Professionally, he has held audio production roles across MNM Studios, Pocket FM, TAG Worldwide, Sootji Boley, and AWC Studio. As an independent music creator, his debut single "Aavaaz De" earned recognition in Rolling Stone India, alongside attention for his satirical releases and multi-instrumental online sessions. Known for integrating instruments like lap guitar, sitar-style tones, and finger santoor into modern arrangements, Vasudev brings a story-driven, multi-genre approach to contemporary audio composition.

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Interviewed By Palak Soni