Introduction
Deepti Nair has been a pillar of support in writing up the blog feature, moral support, and eyes for keeping the highest quality singing. Deepti, an ardent lover of Indian music, has spent long hours of discussions on valuable stories to write about. Her patience to stay active behind the scene is highly appreciated. Here is a small write-up about Deepti’s music life and a few songs from her Smule profile. Deepti has wider interests like photography of nature and the environment. She learns Hindustani music actively and is a very busy mom with a career as an environmental engineer.
Please tell us about yourself?
“I am avid music, art, and nature lover. I am originally from Kerala, came to the US for my studies. I work as an environmental engineer in the Bay Area.”
Please tell me how music was a part of your growing up?
“My family moved around a lot in my growing years. But Kerala vacation remained a constant in our childhood. During one of the vacations, one of my relatives (great grandmother) discovered that I could sing. She encouraged my mother to put me in music lessons and thus started my journey in Carnatic music. Our family appreciated music and art and they were always a source of encouragement. A significant exposure happened in school (Padma Seshadri, Chennai) with my beloved late music teacher (Shri Kamala Natarajan) who taught us many semi-classical bhajans. It was in school that I got an opportunity to sing for Illayaraja for a movie alongside Chitra and other musical stalwarts. My big musical enlightenment happened in school college as I was exposed to all kinds of musical genres- Rock, Classical, Hindustani, Pop, Jazz, and much more. College was a great music learning experience for me. My family (mother and brother) continues to be my musical backbone and biggest critics. I was fortunate to learn from so many different special teachers in spite of moving every few years. I have my parents to thank, for trying to keep that continuity in me. It is a gift that they have granted me that helps in my most trying times.”
You said you learned classical music very early and please talk more about it …
“I have learned Carnatic music during my school days under several gurus. My school teachers encouraged me to join lots of school competitions including classical bhajans, light music competitions.”
Deepti went on to study at Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani (BITS, Pilani), a prestigious engineering school in India. She says that the college atmosphere really was a place of excellence as a center of academic achievements as well as colleagues who are artistically versatile. “At BITS, I was so fortunate that I was surrounded by some amazing musicians. It was a fertile ground for hard rock, classic rock, Hindi, Carnatic and regional music. A very talented senior suggested that I should try Hindustani and took me to her teacher on campus. And thus began my journey with Hindustani. It was a stimulating time musically but not much was accomplished in terms of academics. I think it helped cultivate the open-mindedness for all kinds of music.”
Deepti how did that interest change?
“I must say, I was very open-minded about music. I had no preconceived notions about anything in particular. I was in the music club at the college which has sprouted some amazing musicians that I have known. (Including Harish from Agam, Arvind who is a musician in Chennai, Aravind Murali, a musician in Chennai, Rahul Gopal who is a professional drummer). So one of the uber-talented seniors told me I should try Hindustani – it triggered a possibility in my mind.”
“Looking back, learning music for me has been in short spans with long breaks. Music took a backseat after college due to other priorities. After coming to the US for higher studies, and finally settling into a job, I found myself once again looking into all the forgotten interests. I resumed Hindustani lessons on the east coast for a short time, again taking another long hiatus. Now after more than a decade (moves, kids etc), I am back to learning music (Hindustani) and I am so grateful for that.”
What are your impressions about the Smule experience? What do you like about it most and dislike about it if any?
“Smule has been instrumental in bringing back music into my life. A good friend introduced it to me a couple of years ago. I have seen how it has transformed some people into such fantastic singers (who have never sung before). Of course, it also has to do with the effort they put into it, but Smule has provided that platform to help them get there. Through Smule, I have been exposed to some fabulous singers who inspire and captivate me. I have also made some good friends who encourage and cheer me on with my efforts. I cannot be more thankful for this community of supporters.”
Do you think lyrics are important? yes or no why?
“For a singer, while singing a composition, lyrics provide an insight into what the composer was trying to convey. Lyrics are the heart of any composition. Understanding the lyrics before singing always helps bring the soul into a song. But music without lyrics is just as important (for instance classical music by Bach, Beethoven, Haydn, etc. with no lyrics); like an instrument or a sound can move you just as well without any lyrics. Nature can be very helpful to a composer; it helps them find the mood, tune, lyrics and beat of a song they want to compose. Even the sound of the ocean or the singing of crickets and birds can be moving.” Deepti a nature photographer has a lot of inspiration to speak about here.
What is your take on India’s pop music? and new trends?
“There are so many creative musicians today. I actually discovered some through other Smule singers. There are many trends that I enjoy and some I don’t- but I chalk them to personal taste. However, I will say, simplicity in lyrics and the musical arrangement is a rarity these days. I discovered Vasu Dixit and Bindumalini who are such examples only through Smule.”
Comment about the importance of classical music in this era? yes or no why?
I think any form of music- be it classical, folk or light music is still important in this era. Music has a divine way of uniting without judgments. Classical training or any kind of training helps; however, not having it does not deter you from being a good singer. Smule has so many such examples. At the end of the day, in my personal opinion, one is as good as his/her ears and vocal cords. The more exercise you give them both, the better you become.”
What is music to you?
“It is hard to put in words. Music has been more faithful to me than I have been to it. It has silently stood by me and pulled me through all my low points in life. It has taken me so many years to realize how implicitly happy, music makes me- whether it is listening or singing or appreciating someone else’s music. I hope to keep it close to me.”
Where do you want to go from here in five years?
I loved Purbayan Chatterjee’s answer that is published here earlier to a similar question. He said that ‘he is happy where he is. That resonates with me. I did not know that music would be such a big part of my identity in college. And just like that, it was not in the years after. I am thrilled that music has seeped back into my everyday life now. I want to improve, seek and create moving meaningful music; and enjoy my journey doing that.
How do you choose a song to sing or what makes you choose a particular song?
“It is a lot of things, on a whim, on wanting to share a moment of magic at someone’s invitation; or wanting to learn composition. Most of all, it is the availability of time.”
Do you like instruments? Which one? And do you think an instrumentalist has better knowledge of music than a vocalist?
Absolutely. I wish I had learned an instrument along with the music – it helps to break down and put together music in my mind and gives a better grasp of the basics. If I had more time and some patience on my hands, I would definitely learn an instrument. There is still time to fix that one.
What makes your Smule profile an interesting place?
It is a place where I am comfortably exploring- so I am happy if someone finds it interesting as well.
What type of music inspires you?
Any kind of music that tugs at the heartstrings inspires me- be it folk, western classical, Indian classical, or any world music.
What are your thoughts about folk music in India? What sort of impact do they have on India’s music?
“I recently discovered Vasu Dixit. What an amazing thing he is doing with literature and music – making it musically accessible to every man. That is folk music to be- simple, catchy yet profound”
Do you think a classical musician can make a living in this time?
“Honestly, I am not the best person to answer that question. My family always believed that education would be the surest way to a good livelihood. All the eggs were in the education bucket. There were a few times in my life when it distinctly felt like I was at crossroads. There was a choice of staying in Madras pursuing music or going to pursue Engineering. My school music teachers encouraged and hinted that staying in Madras would be good for my musical journey. But I chose the traditional route and became an environmental engineer. I don’t regret that either as I feel passionate about preserving our environment, air, and water.”
So assume you took that route as learning music, what would have been your life like?
“Who knows? When I went to my music teacher Kalyani Menon to tell her that I got into BITS Pilani. Rajeev Menon (Director) was there. He said to me “devaidheenathinu oru devadheenam vennam” (Rough translation: you need god’s grace to receive god’s grace). He said how he was studying to be a dentist and quit and became a photographer then an ad maker. Rest is history. That stuck with me. What is yours will always remain yours.”
List all your achievements
Prizes in schools and college, Close up antakshari show runner up with Annu Kapoor, a radio show in the US, an opportunity to sing for Ilaiyaraja’ in a movie while in school.
Songs
Bhaavalokada – Bindumalini
Hone Do Batiyan OST Fitoor
Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love For You
Baawra Mann Dekhne Chala Ek Sapna
Rowdy Baby Short HQ
Vaan Megam – Punnagai Mannan
With A Little Help From My Friends
Annie’s song- John Denver
Adiye
Kaari Kaari
Rasoyayyoyyo
ENDNOTES
Deepti’s thoughts that we were able to write out here are kind of a reflection of what many of the discussions we had about writing up many features or discussing singers as subjects of interest. This feature is more than a thank you note. Deepti has strong basics in music and a high level of thinking that makes it so much more interesting when we talk, hear and write about a musician like her. So happy even it got delayed all these years we were able to finally publish a feature about her music. Please find more of Deepti’s talent in singing and photography on her Smule profile @Sarogow and on her Instagram page of nice photography. Few are shared here. Thanks all for reading about one of our peers.
