Hitting the right notes

Music transcends barriers of language, space, and time. At the same time, it also surmounts the conventions of a 9 to 5 job, for it brings passion and career on the same table. For those who are passionate about music and wish to make a living out of the same, Yash Wadhwa, X B & Kavin Popli, XII G, AIS Pushp Vihar, bring you some probable career choices.

Tune into the job: I view myself more as a musician than a music producer. For production is a ‘lazy job’ that requires you to spend a lot of time in front of the screen. Howbeit, it is still a great outlet to bring out your creativity, and that’s what matters the most.
Trained melodies: I find formal education in this field specifically boring. For me, knowledge came primarily from YouTube and from surrounding myself with musicians who were way better than me. The same can be true for you as well.
Rhythmic skill: Discipline is key. Whatever your working hours may look like, approach them with a clear vision of what you want to achieve within that time frame. Think fast and as if you want to finish the project at hand as soon as possible.
Jamming schedules: Most music producers work as freelancers, so there are no set hours of employment. A client gives you certain work and you ought to complete it before the deadline. How you meet the same is entirely your concern.
Rock of challenges: “When grains are winnowed, the shaft falls down and the grain stays.” The challenge is to be the grain, as it can be a long haul before you finally make your mark. Completing the songs you start can be another challenge. I know several people who have made top-tier music, but haven’t yet given it that finishing touch to get it past the line and release for public consumption.
Symphony of rewards: It feels great to release a track. To get recognised for it further only acts as the cherry on top of the cake.
Beats of money: If you manage to become successful, money will follow. Music producers can easily receive payments ranging over 3-14 lakhs INR per assignment.

Meet the expert
Mohan Kumar aka Hautewulf is a Delhi-based music producer and self-trained guitarist. Having been an active participant in the music industry for over 10 years, he has headlined various major metal fests like Pyramid, Alien Sky Cult, etc., across India.

Tune into the job: I have been a vocalist for a really long time. Though Indian music industry lacks organisation, I’ve learned that people like to experiment and that there is a lot to do in the field.
Trained melodies: Vocal training is a must, particularly if you are a vocalist.
Rhythmic skill: Since music is a vast field, clarity in terms of what you want to do is a must. Then, you must be willing to practice. One should also learn the technical aspect of things. Even if you are a vocalist, you should know how to play a musical instrument or two, as it helps a great deal.
Jamming schedules: Our working hours are both demanding and dynamic. Sometimes the job begins at eight in the morning and goes on till two at night. Other times, we are practicing, which again takes up a significant amount of time.
Rock of challenges: Performing on stage is quite challenging. For when you are a vocalist, you need to interact with the crowd and ensure that everyone is having a good time, and that can get taxing sometimes.
Symphony of rewards: Writing your own song, singing it to a live audience, and seeing people enjoy it are all very rewarding.
Beats of money: An entry level vocalist can earn anywhere between 14,000-45,000 INR per month by doing gigs, giving voice overs for ads, and collaborating with other renowned artists.

Meet the expert
Aditi Sharma is a vocalist who performs for the Delhi-based bands, Salt Rock, an alternative rock outfit and The 909s, a jazz-funk, R&B band. She performs every weekend at various locations, like Depot 48, along with her band members.

Tune into the job: Through the years, I’ve learned many instruments. As a result, my relationship with instruments has only intensified. And that’s exactly what it takes to be an instrumentalist.
Trained melodies: Music is an uncertain field, so even if you take up formal training, make sure you have something to fall back on.
Rhythmic skill: One needs to be adaptive in order to learn music. You need to exert yourself in the pool of endless music that lies within you and keep learning along the way.
Jamming schedules: Sometimes you get shows and sometimes you’re just freelancing, so the number of hours you  work depends on the kind of work you get. It gets particularly busy during the later part of the year since there are a lot of music shows at that time.
Rock of challenges: There are certain shows that pay well but require you to play a certain kind of music that you may not enjoy, and vice versa; striking a balance between the two can be a challenge.
Symphony of rewards: The biggest reward is that you get to do something that you like.
Beats of money: Money is very season-based in this profession. The music industry is such that many shows only happen during the festive season. One can expect to earn over 10-15 lakhs INR p.a.

Meet the expert
Divij Kapoor is a freelance instrumentalist based in New Delhi. Having done more than 300 shows pan-India, he is someone who believes in the power of good music to influence emotions.