‘Cool Kids’ Singer-Songwriter Ambika Nayak On Finding Fame And Following During The Pandemic, Dabbling In Different Avenues, And More
A real-blue breakout star through the pandemic, Ambika Nayak a.okay.a Kayan is now properly and actually established as considered one of Indian social media’s most coveted artists. The singer-songwriter has actually come into her personal during the last couple of years, with songs like Please, Cool Kids and Be Alright doing the rounds throughout Instagram, and popping up throughout on must-listen Spotify playlists.
Ambika, who has earlier carried out with bands and can be a DJ, seems set to be an everyday on the indie charts for years to come back, along with her latest collaboration with OAFF — So Good — already an prompt earworm.
Part of Vh1 India’s Sound Nation League, the musician who relies in Mumbai, finds time to have a fast chat with us on her upcoming songs, her appearing debut, her social media presence and extra.
Excerpts from an interview:
Ambika, You Really Broke Onto The Scene Last Year With Your Music And Its Vibe. How Would You Best Describe Your Songs?
Typically, should you needed to put a style to my music, it’s pop, with a little bit of soul, jazz and R&B. I pay attention to numerous artists, in order that positively displays in my songwriting. The three songs I’ve put out thus far will be broadly thought of pop, however the subsequent launch that’s coming via will probably be fairly completely different from my earlier work.
But I’m not restricted to the music and songs I write, and I really feel like I’ll all the time be rising and evolving as a performer.
You Were Already An Active Performer With Your Earlier Acts, Before You Introduced Your Solo Work As Kayan. How Do You Balance Everything?
It’s not that my earlier acts Kimochi Youkai and Nothing Anonymous are inactive, nevertheless it’s simply that with the pandemic, it’s been powerful to get collectively and make music. We have all been engaged on a bunch of issues individually and with different folks, and I’m positive when the time is correct, we are going to create one thing once more. There’s sadly solely a lot you are able to do on-line with out assembly one another in particular person.
Having mentioned that, I’ve been acting at venues and actively DJ-ing, after which after all, Kayan occurred. It’s one thing I’ve all the time needed to do for myself since ceaselessly, however I suppose identical to how lots of people began writing music through the pandemic, the time simply felt proper for me to ascertain myself as a solo artist correctly.
As Someone With An Avid Social Media Following, How Important Is It For New Musicians To Engage With Their Audience Online In Different Ways? Apart From Your Music, You Put So Much Of Yourself Out There: Your Fashion, Your Friends, What You Listen To, And So On..
Well, technically, sure, social media is tremendous necessary for folks to search out me and hearken to my music, and for me to entry them as properly. But I additionally know loads of musicians and actors who aren’t on Instagram in any respect, they usually work out different methods to get their work out to the viewers.
Apart from once I’m posting a promo of a music video that I’ve shot for or stuff like that, I’m not consciously pondering of what I’m sharing in any respect. I like documenting my life as a lot as I can, I’ve fantastic family and friends who I meet usually, and I like placing all these photos on the market. I suppose, in a means, if that’s obtained my vibe throughout to folks, and in the event that they observe me for all these various things, it’s incredible. My persona isn’t just in regards to the music I make, as a result of that’s only one factor and I’m not one factor solely. So if all that’s coming throughout on my social media, that’s sensible!
You’re Part Of Vh1 India’s Sound Nation League, With Several Other Artists From Across The Country. As A Singer-Songwriter, Have You Finally Adapted To This New Normal Of Performing Virtually?
Well, we don’t actually have an possibility as of late. As people, we now have to adapt and transfer ahead, making the very best decisions with out dropping hope or religion that issues will change.
During the primary lockdown, I did a bunch of dwell concert events and performances, however then I actually simply stopped having fun with it. I realised that if I actually needed to get my music out, I might simply sing with my keyboard someday and go dwell or share tales on Instagram. I actually hit a saturation level, as everyone was doing the identical factor.
But when occasions like Sound Nation League come my means, I’m genuinely excited. It’s fascinating to sing and document this time round, as a result of it’s so properly put collectively. This occasion actually stands out from all of the others. But sure, we now have all tailored to this digital new regular of performing for now, and must dwell with it.
In A Tedx Talk From A Couple Of Years Ago, You Speak About The Importance Of Believing In Oneself When Pursuing Music As A Full-Time Profession. What Drives You Today?
My motivation is continually altering in life. But I imply, music for me, is de facto channelling my vitality in a really optimistic means, and it’s very cathartic for me. I discover it insane that I get to work as an artist, who can actually write a tune about my emotions after which share it with the world. I discover that course of wonderful. So so long as I’m going to have one thing to specific — and I’m a really expressive particular person — there’ll all the time be inspiration for my work.
My songwriting actually comes from me with the ability to channel all my energies on this lovely method which retains me sane, actually.
You Recently Also Turned Actor With The Web-Series Hello Mini. Is That Something You Want To Actively Pursue Going Forward?
I’ve truly been getting some very fascinating provides, and I’m actually having fun with the method of appearing. There’s a lot extra for me to be taught and that I need to be taught within the subject; it’s not like I’ve educated professionally or something. But nonetheless, there’s quite a bit you can be taught from folks round you, and I additionally guarantee I learn up as a lot as attainable and watch as many issues as I can to know extra about what to do on set.
And sure, I’m completely open to appearing together with making my music, as a result of it has an influence in your perspective and refreshingly modifications the way in which you carry out too, I consider.
Finally, How Would You Say The Events Of The Last Two Years Have Influenced You? And When Can We See Kayan Live?
One of my songs, Be Alright, was impressed a little bit from being caught in through the pandemic. But then once more, clearly the world round you influences the artwork you make. Suddenly all of us are simply adjusting to a really unusual new life, and it’s positively sure to have an effect not directly.
But what’s actually loopy is that I haven’t had the possibility but to carry out Kayan dwell. I’m actually excited for that to occur, however I don’t need to rush it; I’m okay with ready it out. There’s much more music popping out, one other video I’m engaged on, in addition to an excellent collaboration with some artists I’m actually keen on. So I’m okay to simply wait a little bit longer for issues to get a little bit higher, quite than go right into a frenzy of like, taking part in once more after which going again into COVID.
So at any time when it has to occur, it’ll occur. And it’s going to be insane when it does!
Vh1 India’s Sound Nation League started on July 29, and the winner will probably be introduced on August 15
