I had breakfast with Chandra this past Saturday where I fangirled a little about her work. As we settled into our conversation—meals in front of us—I found myself bombarding her with questions about her musical journey between bites. With each question I asked, she was quiet for a moment and thought, often looking up. Once she replied, it was with a smile and an eagerness to talk about her passion, her process, and the intricacies of her artistry. Her eyes widened, and we were engaged in a conversation in which I learned so much. As the conversation flowed, I was engrossed. She provided a rare glimpse into the mind of a true artist. The more we talked, the more I learned, not just about her music, but about the dedication and soul that goes into creating it. Her multilateral work goes far beyond the sound, and I believe this interview shows just that.
What made you realize you want to pursue music?
I think I always knew that that’s the kind of life that I wanted to live. I always felt the happiest in my music classes. I always felt the happiest doing music and dance. I think I like to think about everything in terms of music and dance as well. And I’m, like, really grateful to be able to do this. Even to the extent that I’m doing it. Whatever art I’m doing is so small. But it just feels really good. I think whatever someone
Where do you want to go with music?
I want to explore music a lot more. I want to meet more people. I want to meet more creatives, like work on new sounds, experimental sounds and just see what’s out there. See what you can create. In terms of like, where I want to go? I don’t really know exactly, but I just want to keep doing what I’m doing. And have fun.
Do you see your music staying the same?
I have no idea. I was in a band in high school and we did r&b indie stuff. And I think since then, my style has changed quite a bit as well. So I do see it changing a lot more. I do want to write more like Carnatic-inspired things.
Your music theory knowledge must be insane, wow.
It’s actually really bad. It’s so bad because I actually like despite learning violin and things like that, like I didn’t know Western music theory that chord based stuff because violin is just like up like a melody instrument, you know? And so I only learned Western music theory once I came to college, and I took Music Theory 1 and 2—that’s basically the extent, and then I took a jazz class. And so I just know the basics, which is why sometimes communicating my ideas is a little difficult because I don’t know exactly how to translate the way I think about melody into the Western lens, because it is inherently different, which is really beautiful and I want to keep working on that.
Do you compose? What’s your music process?
I like to journal a lot. And so I journal a lot. I have a lot of writing about how I feel, my thoughts and perspectives, and things like that. And if I feel an urge to write a song—I would be humming a melody or something like that—then I’d kind of work off of that melody, or sometimes it’ll be based on the chord progression that I just really like. Then I’ll go back into my journal and explore what feeling I’m actually pursuing based on the melody—just trying to dig out the truth. From there, I try to put everything together until it becomes something cohesive. Then I’ll dig into that emotion a little bit more and like just trying to figure out what I’m feeling through both words and melody.
So is it based on a Western music theory?
The chords and everything are based on Western music theory, but my melodies are definitely inherently just Indian. Nothing is forced either. It’s just like the way that I think about melody.
Like you think in an Indian lens?
I think I do. Yeah, I definitely do. I think it’s like singing Carnatic and also violin. Like I just love violin melodies. So yeah, I think those are the things that just stuck in my brain. So now when I write music that’s how it sounds.
Is there anything else you want to add to the article?
I’m so excited for people to hear my music. And I’m really grateful that I can do this to the extent that I can. I hope people are excited!
Listen to Chandra on Spotify here.