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10 Questions with ... Sid Sriram
June 5, 2023
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1) Thanks for taking the time to answer 10 Questions for All Access. Where does this interview find you today? What's on the agenda besides this interview?
I'm currently in Red Hook, Brooklyn. I turn 33 today, feeling very introspective. I'll be heading to my studio at Pioneerworks shortly to make some music.
2) Let's start at the beginning. How long have you been playing music and when did you decide you wanted to make music for a living?
My mother started teaching me Carnatic (South Indian Classical) vocal music when I was three. Music has felt elemental to me from that age. I think I always knew that music was the only thing that I'd ever want to do with my life. It became a conscious realisation/decision when I was a junior in high school.
3) How much has India's music scene and artists influenced you?
I started singing for South Indian films in 2012, debuting with a collaboration with the legend AR Rahman. By 2016, I started to become a household name and by 2020 I was at the very top of the industry. This trajectory has allowed me a very unique perspective on the music of the country. India is a huge country with so many layers and dimensions to its culture. My roots have informed all of my music, and there are countless artists of the past that are a huge part of my artistic vocabulary.
The moment we are currently in is very exciting, and I'm honoured to be at the forefront of it.
4) You relocated to Fremont, CA in 2015, and this is your first English speaking release. How has American music played a part in this body of work?
I was born in Chennai, India in 1990 and we moved to Fremont in 1991. I grew up in Fremont my whole life. The first form of music outside of Carnatic music that deeply inspired me was Soul music. Artists such as Stevie Wonder, Sam Cooke, and Donny Hathaway were and still are a huge part of my listening. As I grew older, my music taste diversified into artists such as Radiohead, Aphex Twin and Sigur Ros.
5) What was the inspiration for "Do The Dance"?
The search for home is at the very core of that song. It's about searching and yearning for home. And the realisation that home isn't necessarily a physical place, but a set of memories, people, and moments.
6) Speaking of the writing process, tell us how you connected with Bon Iver's Justin Vernon, who was part of your creative team.
I serendipitously connected with producer Ryan Olson (Lizzo, Polica, Gayngs) from Minneapolis. Ryan and Justin are close friends and frequent collaborators. I made a weekend trip to Minneapolis in mid-2021 on a bit of a whim. Ryan had assembled a cast of musicians to jam with, Justin played acoustic guitar during those jams. I went into that weekend with no expectations, but we ended up creating around thirty song ideas during those jams. Of those thirty ideas, thirteen songs became the album.
7) There's a definite difference between making a record and going out and playing it live in front of an audience. Many feel that the real work is making the record, and the fun part is playing it live. What's your take on both of these processes?
I think both are exhilarating. Making a record requires a different kind of patience for sure. I first performed on stage at the age of three and it's felt like home ever since. Both processes are deeply emotional and intense. I'm grateful that both processes exist.
8) Speaking of playing live. Do you have any tour plans for this year?
We will go on tour with Bon Iver in August soon after my album is released. And later on in the year we will go on a solo tour for the album.
9) Who are some of the older and/or newer artists who inspire your music?
Ray Charles, Radiohead, AR Rahman, Frank Ocean, Bon Iver
10) Finally, on a personal note, what do you like to do for fun and relaxation when you're not in your "Music" mode?
I'm spending this month in NYC and one of my favourite things to do is aimlessly walking around and exploring this wonderfully chaotic city. I love reading, watching films and basketball. But I must admit, I'm in music mode almost all the time. I view most things through the lens of music.
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