The guitar fret-board is his playground and his words an outlet for his observations, experiences and imagination. Delhi based singer-songwriter and producer Shubumm aka Shubham Chawla has been making a name for himself with every new release.
A love for acoustics, strings and intimate setups has influenced Shubham’s music which reflects in his performance style — bringing the every-day into music, keeping it simple and subtle — which his audience can relate to. But that doesn’t stop him from experimenting with sounds and showcasing his versatility. The process of releasing music is a way for him to find his sound and see what sticks.
In this interview spotlight, I chat with Shubumm about the latest release, challenges, technology and more.
Full Q&A along with links and music below.
Where are you from and what style of music do you create? (In your own words, not necessarily in marketing terms or by popular genre classifications.)
Born and Raised in New Delhi, India. The guitar fret-board has been my playground and words an outlet for my observations, experiences and imagination. A love for acoustics, strings and intimate setups has influenced my music which also reflects in my performance style — bringing the every-day into music, keeping it simple and subtle — which my audience can relate to. But that hasn’t stopped me from experimenting with sounds and showcasing my versatility. I like to push myself out of a box of genres and just create. The process of releasing music is a way for me to find my sound and see what sticks.
What led you down this path of music and what motivates you to keep going?
Well, I started playing the guitar at the age of 12. For a few years, I just used to play for myself. During my time in college, I used to play with a band and we used to participate in a lot of local and national competitions. We did great and that’s when I knew I wanted to work on my solo project and create music which I can call my own. It’s been quite a journey after that, I’ve gotten so much appreciation for my music. There has been an immense amount of support and random texts from people who keep discovering my music. It’s just a great feeling. People are able to relate to what you’re experiencing.
How is this new release different from previous ones? Were you trying to accomplish anything specific?
Well, I write songs in two languages. English and my regional language, Hindi. I’ve released a few singles in the past year which have done pretty well. The EP was always cooking behind the scenes for a couple of years. I finally got around to finishing it, more like I was satisfied with it. This EP is a game changer. It is completely different from what I’ve released before. Every song is so different from the other sonically but if you sit down to listen to them together, it’ll create a story. A story about modern relationships or as young guns call it, situationships. It offers a fresh vibe with familiar sounds which creates prospects for it to create global noise.
Interestingly, the name of the EP came from a live John Mayer video where he was talking about his first relationship in which he mentioned the concept of ‘Compared to Nothing’ before he went on to play ‘Your Body is a Wonderland’. Being a big JM fan, I just felt so connected with the concept that I decided to go with it as the name. I feel every art is very distinctive, it shouldn’t be compared, it should be listened/viewed with a new perspective, always!
The EP consists of 3 songs :
1. Out of Place : A very groovy track talking about how sometimes people just ended up in places they don’t belong yet they end up finding a silver lining in that situation.2. Stuck : A modern erotic pop with punchy bass which sets the tone and the mood.
3. Once More : A powerful ballad reminiscing good old days and past mistakes.
How do you feel as an indie musician in this oversaturated, digital music age? How is technology helping the scene (since we know it does help)?
It is crazy how the music industry has evolved in the past few years. They are a lot of things to be thankful about, honestly. An independent artist releasing music without the help of any label, PR or anyone but still making waves. It was considered insane to think like that in the past. No doubt that it has its cons but what doesn’t have cons? I think it’s important to use all these tools to your advantage. A lot of it is about being active and being consistent. Just make sure you’re improving everyday, the competition is always with yourself not with anyone else. But I understand, it has been difficult to stay in the right frame of mind in this pandemic. Hope for things to get better soon!
What was the last song you listened to?
I’ve been listening to a lot of Tame Impala these days. The last song I listened to what ‘Yes I’m Changing’ by them.
Which do you prefer? Vinyl? CDs? MP3s?
As a child, I used to have a lot of CDs lying around at home. But, I think I really started listening to music consciously when I got an mp3 player. So I’ve been born in the digital age which inclined me towards mp3s. But sure, I love how Vinyls are still so authentic.
How about this one…. Do you prefer Spotify? Apple Music? Bandcamp? Or something else? Why?
As a listener, I’ve been using Spotify for a long time now. Also as an artist, Spotify has been kind to my music. I’ve been featured on their editorial playlists which has really pushed my music to another level. The team in India has been really supportive towards independent artists and keeps providing them the right exposure.
Where is the best place to connect with you online and discover more music?
I’m very active on Instagram. So, if you want to reach out just drop a Hi!
I keep posting a lot of stuff about upcoming music, newly written music, random thoughts and some fun covers.
Otherwise, you can follow me on any streaming platform of your choice to find and discover my music.
Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/shubumm/
