With two singles that have made waves on the net, Krithika Bala, a city-based independent artiste has the taken the lesser-trodden path to find success in the world of music.
Krithika Bala juggles many roles — singer, songwriter, music composer and the not so musical role of a corporate communications head with a health care provider.
Belonging to a family that was steeped in music, it was natural that she took to it with ease and was trained in Carnatic music. However, it was not just vocals, as she penned lyrics and verses in Tamil, Hindi, Sanskrit and English, from bhajans to slogans for social awareness programmes right from the age of eight.
“I put down what came to my mind. Of course, I was corrected when I made a mistake. Since my mother was involved in social causes, I had begun writing lyrics for drug awareness campaigns and environmental causes. Music and lyrics came naturally to me and I fuelled them to keep them alive,” she says. “I have penned a number of corporate jingles that are still being used by the companies I worked previously for,” she adds.
Insisting that she never planned to explore the cyber route to success, Krithika says that her songs have met with success as a matter of chance.
Following the path of self-discovery, her first single Kalva En Kaadhala hit YouTube earlier this year in April, with a whopping 1,27,000 hits. And just recently, her second single Vittum Chellum Podhey has yet again created waves.
Exploring relationships, love and break-ups, she has also strived to intertwine the formidable presence of technology in a relationship, through her songs.
Apart from vocals, composing and songwriting, Krithika is adept at playing instruments like the veena and has tried her hand at the keyboard and drums as well.
The musician reckons that the days are gone when artistes had to wait for a record label or films to help them launch their talent.
“The biggest advantage is being able to reach out to a wider audience, who can get back to me with a critical feedback, both good and bad, instantly. The feedback defines every artiste’s work. There is no distance between the artiste and audience,” she adds.
However, Krithika adds that she hopes to keep the momentum alive by adding impetus to create a new wave — a give a strong platform for independent artistes.
“World over, there are YouTube stars like Shankar Tucker and Karmin, I would like to see independent artistes like me making it on a listener’s playlist. I want to possibly take this up as a cause and create a resurgence for independent artistes,” she adds.
And the overwhelming response has opened a floodgate of opportunities for her. “I am working on multiple projects and music video productions I have been commissioned for, apart from jingles, playback opportunities,” the singer tells us.
Nonetheless, she says getting success has not been her aim. “Even if 10 people listen to my music and one person is moved by a song of mine, I am happy. Someone recently wrote to me and said they were addicted to my second single. Such reactions are the biggest encouragement I can get,” she adds.
You can follow Krithika on http://www.youtube.com/thekrithikala and http://www.facebook.com/krithibala
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